Ethnic pieces...yes or no?

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>Hey everyone out there.
Whilst I know this subject has been touched upon in several other threads I thought I would put the question out to people:
What's your thoughts on someone doing a monologue/song from a charachter who, in the work from which the piece comes, is not of the same ethinicity.</p>

<p>I put forward a couple of things:
- It depends if the character's story they're telling is based around their racial experience
- It makes a difference if the point of the character's ethnicity is to simply make them alien then does it matter if it's the same ethinicity always reproduced?</p>

<p>I mean, I'm Australian and wanted to do a monologue for a BFA program but the charachter is an Indigenous Australian (Aboriginie). The story he tells, however, one of family break up and loss of identity, is one I want to tell, although I am no Aboriginal man myself. </p>

<p>Your thoughts?</p>

<p>Cheers!</p>

2

<p>Most colleges want you to choose a monologue from a role which is age-appropriate; some even require that you do not attempt an accent or dialect. Some roles do not require any particular ethnicity, and some do. For example, the role of Julie Jordan in Carousel has been played recently on Broadway by an African-American actress. However, the role of Porgy in Porgy and Bess could not realistically be portrayed by a Caucasian. </p>

<p>I'm not familiar with the play you mentioned, so can't give you any more specific thoughts on whether this monologue is right for you. It also depends on where you are planning to audition -- some schools, like CCM, are very strict about their guidelines. Others may be more lenient. Err on the side of caution! There are lots of great monologues out there -- don't get hung up on one that may be inappropriate.</p>