Looking for Monologue Suggestions/Tips (or Info) on Unified Auditions/Non-Unified

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>Alright, well I posted a new thread about a week or so ago, and everyone helped me out a lot! I finally settled on a group of 7 (4 of which require auditions).</p>

<p>So first things first, I was wondering about unified auditions. Really any information at all would be helpful - how they go, what to expect, best ways to prepare. I've read quite a few posts of people's experiences at the Unified auditions, but most of them dealt with experiences of people who applied to Musical Theater programs. So getting info about Acting part of these auditions would be great.</p>

<p>If it makes any difference, the Universities that I will be using the Unified auditions for are NIU, Emerson, and Point Park. So any stories or information about those Uni's specifically would be appreciated as well. I'm especially interested in how the auditions are done, since each school has their own requirements. Also, is it possible to do 3 auditions in one day there, or is it not recommended?</p>

<p>The only non-Unified audition I have is for DePaul, and their website goes into a lot of what to expect, but as with the others - any stories or details about their auditions would be welcomed!</p>

<hr>

<p>The other part to this is about what monologue to use. I don't have a set duo or trio that I already use, so I'm kind of a clean slate. Of course, I'll also be looking through a ton of these on my own, but I was just curious if anyone had some good suggestions. These could be ones that have worked well for you (or someone you know) in the past. Ones that routinely impress people, if the ability to perform them well is there.</p>

<p>Here are the requirements I know from the 4 colleges I mentioned (This is besides the obvious stuff like no dialects, choose something close to your age, choose something close to who you are:</p>

<p>DePaul:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Prepare one contemporary monologue between 45 seconds and two minutes in length.</p></li>
<li><p>Choose your monologue from a play. Do not choose a Shakespearean or classical monologue.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Point Park:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Applicants are asked to present two contrasting, one-minute, memorized monologues from works of established playwrights, including at least one contemporary selection.</p></li>
<li><p>Monologues must be from published plays written for theatre.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>NIU:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Two contrasting monologues that best represent your skill as an actor. Each monologue should be no longer than one and one half minutes in length. </p></li>
<li><p>The pieces should be selected from different plays and each should be a speech by one character only, not several characters speaking to each other. </p></li>
</ul>

<p>Emerson:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Please prepare two 2-3 minute contrasting monologues from two contemporary plays.</p></li>
<li><p>We recommend that you select contemporary monologues (written in 1950–present).</p></li>
<li><p>We prefer that you avoid verse plays as the language often becomes more of a barrier than a window.</p></li>
<li><p>We do not recommend pieces from films or original material.</p></li>
</ul>

<hr>

<p>So yeah, a bunch of the basic stuff. I'm 27, male, American if that helps with suggestions. I was thinking something geared towards slightly towards being more dramatic (at least that's what I'm researching now). However, I have no set agenda for what I want. I've dealt with depression/mental issues, shyness, etc... Maybe something conversational, and genuine? If any of those things help with suggestions at well, that'd be great to find something I could relate too.</p>

<p>Also does anyone who has auditioned to these places, or knows someone who has, know if they require a song? I thought I read somewhere that Emerson did, but I may be wrong. If so, any suggestions for that would be welcome as well!</p>

<p>I look forward to hearing from everyone! Thanks! :D</p>

2

<p>Pick monologues that really resonate with you and reveal something of who you are. </p>

<p>Many male auditioners are teenagers who need to pick monologues written for young characters. Since you are a little bit older (something auditors like to see, because of your life experience), you have a wider range of choices.</p>

3

<p>Are you going to Unifieds in Chicago or New York City?</p>

4

<p>You’re right NJTheatreMOM, and what’s what I’m looking for right now. Just looking for any quick suggestions right now, is all. And the Unifieds in Chicago dramamom.</p>

5

<p>I can answer a few of your questions. Unifieds in Chicago are held at the Palmer House Hilton. If you haven’t reserved a room there yet I would do that soon. When you stay in the hotel it makes the auditions much easier. From what I have read there are several floors of rooms/spaces the schools use to hold their auditions. After you figure out where your auditions are going to be you can relax and warm up in your hotel room and go to the correct audition room before your audition. It’s nice to have your own space rather than waiting around with the crowds like you may have to do at other auditions. That being said be sure to get down to the audition room a half hour early or so in case they are running early.
DePaul auditions are held on the DePaul campus. My D is auditioning for DePaul on Wednesday afternoon. We are going to take a taxi from the Palmer house to DePaul.
As you are auditioning for acting I would say you can safely do 4 auditions a day. Less on the DePaul day because if you are called back you will be there 5 hours.
I don’t know any specifics about the actual auditions for the schools because my D hasn’t auditioned yet. We did visit Northern Illinois and my D is also auditioning for them at Unifieds. We met with the undergrad theatre chair Professor Davis at NIU and he is a very warm and nice man. My D liked him a lot. We also met Jason Beck at DePaul and he was a great guy too.
As far as your monologues go, that is a very personal decision and it is difficult for any of us to help you with that. My D reads a lot of plays and monologue books from the drama book shop for ideas. If she chooses a mono from a book she always reads the full play as the next step. Some people frown on monologue books at all but my D has found a way to use them effectively. Her monologue books are usually for female actors, or young actors, and so are specifically published for a certain type of actor. You have to find monologues that move you and speak to you.
It seems like you could get by with two one minute contemporary contrasting monologues for all your schools. It’s a little short for DePaul but that’s ok. At this point you only have 5 weeks to find and rehearse these monos so, time for choices! You may also be able to find a mono you can do as a one minute and as a one and a half minute if you can cut some lines without losing clarity for the one minute. Then you should have one more as a backup in case they ask for something else. Maybe something from a classical play, but not Shakespeare since DePaul says no Shakespeare. My D is auditioning for 11 schools and her requirements vary quite a bit so she has 8 or 9 monos.
Neither DePaul nor Northern require singing. Don’t know about the others. That’s all I can think of for now. Good luck.</p>

6

<p>So it looks to me like you will need two one minute monologues for Point Park, and two 2-3 minute monologues for Emerson, making a total of at least 4 monologues (You could use either a one minute or a two minute for DePaul, and the two one minutes for NIU). None of the places you are looking at require a “classical”, and some require or prefer contemporary monologues. I would therefore avoid “classical” completely, unless you are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that you have the necessary skills to do classical (in which case you COULD have one of your one minute monologues be a classical to use at Point Park and NIU).</p>

<p>I know I have said it in other threads before. There are no shortcuts or quick suggestions for choosing monologues. Turn off your computer and go to the bookstore or the library, and read plays.</p>

<p>One thing that makes you different from the other auditioners is your age–27. Take advantage of this, choose monologues that would be innappropriate for an 18-year-old (but appropriate for a 27 year old) to choose. Don’t pick a monologue much younger than you are–no high schoolers!</p>

<p>Make sure you find contrasts between your monologues. One of each pair should be dramatic, the other comic. Remember these terms refer to the monologues, not the plays they come from–sometimes dramatic plays may have one or more comic monologues, and vice versa. Also think about finding other contrasts, like having one monologue be someone well-educated (doctor, lawyer, professor) while the other being more “street smart”, provided you can play both types. Show off your range at the places that allow you to do two monologues.</p>

<p>Having four monologues will also give you “backups” because after you have given the one or two required monologues, you may be asked “Do you have any other monologues prepared?”</p>

<p>Break a leg!</p>

<p>KEVP</p>

7

<p>Yes, sorry, I read Emerson wrong. You probably do need 4 monos.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I’m been doing some searching, and just looking for any quick tips like, “Hey you may find this useful!” And thanks dramamom for letting me know about some of that!</p>