<p>So I have my first MT auditino in 2 weeks and I cannot wait! Except for the fact that somehow, I cannot get into one of my monologues well enough and I'm not sure why. The beats in some areas are more clearly defined than others, and maybe that throws me off. Wondering if I could get any advice (not that it isn't hard over the Net, I know that lol)</p>
<p>Jeremy,
I am not an actor. That said, here are my thoughts...
I noticed you posted this same inquiry on the Arts Majors forum and hadn't any bites yet. The thing is, I can't imagine someone giving you advice about "blocking" your monologue (as you requested on that forum) or giving advice specific to your monologue over here. I can see giving general advice about approaching a monologue being doable, but not specific to your monologue and to you, over the internet. </p>
<p>My suggestion is sincere. I know you are a freshman at Tulane. Can you approach any theater faculty and see if any are willing to spend a session with you on your monologue? Are there grad students there who may be able to help? As a less ideal choice, but better than nothing, is there a senior theater major who could at least give you some advice upon observing your monologue and just be someone to throw ideas off of who can work with you as a peer (older) coach and give feedback on how you are doing it and things you might change, etc.? Peer coaching is not like having an expert coach but would be valuable with feedback and so forth. I would think there is someone on your campus who is either an adult or student who might spend a session or two with you to observe your monologue and give feedback and suggestions. If no luck there, since you are in a city, can you contact any local theater groups and explain that you are a college student wanting assistance with some monologue coaching and did they have anyone to suggest in the area who could do that. You could call a local performing arts school (either a HS or an extracurricular type studio that gives classes) and ask if they know anyone who could coach you on acting a monologue. Even if you had just ONE session with that person (ideally more) to work and rework the piece, that might give you some ideas and some confidence. That is what I suggest, rather than seek what is nearly impossible to do for you over the internet (other than general acting coaching advice).</p>
<p>Break a leg with auditions and go in with confidence!</p>
<p>Hi soozievt! You know, I would love to ask a professor/grad student, except I chose to take this semester off lol. So I am now back in pittsburgh with no transportation! Ah. But thank you for the advice--I can use it for here too!
I have NO idea why this monologue is so hard to interpret. lol.</p>
<p>Jeremy, is it possible that the monologue in question is just not one you can relate to? My guess is that if you find a monologue that really resonates with you in some way or intrigues you, this whole thing won't be such an issue. Best of luck! We all want you to do well, but this kind of thing is really, really hard to do over the Internet. Soozievt's advice to see if you can find someone at a college theater/drama dept is a good one. Try CMU or Pitt or Point Park. They might be able to recommend an upper level student who can work with you. (Have you tried the bus??? My D was in Pittsburgh for the summer and rode the bus everywhere!):)</p>
<p>Jeremy, I didn't know you weren't at Tulane any longer. My advice doesn't change much however and you are in a city. Can your parents drive you in the evening? Is there public transportation? Can you borrow their car and take them to work? Between all the colleges, high schools, performing arts studios, community theaters and professional theaters in your city, I would think you could get on the phone and ask them who they recommend and then work through your transportation issue (old high school pal to drive you?) for even ONE session with a theater/acting person. </p>
<p>Further, I originally was going to say what NMR has written and wasn't sure whether to say it but was thinking the same thing as she was and that is that maybe this monologue is not working for you. The only reason I didn't say that was I know it is late and I'm not sure if in this time frame you can find another one and work on it but that very well may be the answer if this one really doesn't feel right. If you are not in school, you could work your butt off the next two weeks on a new monologue. I still think you would benefit from having someone (even not an expert/coach) watch your monologue and give pointers and feedback and help you work through it and you can ask your questions live with someone, unlike on the internet. Who directed the shows at your former high school? Can you ask that person? Can you get a ride over to the school with former/younger classmates?</p>
<p>If this monologue is becoming problematic, it seems like you may wish to pick a different one. </p>
<p>As a last resort, if you can't find anyone who is even an amateur actor/director at a community theater or school......perform your monologue for your parents or a friend just to get opinions and some sort of feedback. Just talking about it with someone might be helpful.</p>
<p>PS.....you could post a note on a bulletin board at CMU or Point Park and ask if an upper class student in acting would be willing to coach you a couple of times for a fee and leave your number.</p>
<p>Hahahaha. I am laughing so hard right now. And that's not in response to the posts, at all! In fact, I'm happy I got good advice from you all. The reason is: I realized...Soovievt/mama rose were right! I could not connect to this one (I have to learn another one and I just picked out one I completely connect with.) I realized it took me like 3 days to memorize this b/c I could not completely GET it. And what I didn't know was it was written for a girl (I just read the play a few minutes ago and I was like oh...that's why!) So, I think I might have a shot now. WHEW!</p>
<p>And there is the perfect example of why we always say "read the whole play"!!</p>
<p>Exactly!!! HAHA. I will def. not make that mistake again.</p>