<p>I have a question about Monologues for MT auditions. Does it have to be from a Broadway or even Off-Broadway play? I want to do a cut from a one-act, one-woman play that I don't think has been performed on either. And the cut itself is a girl talking about how her audition experience is literally making her crazy. Since I'm auditioning for a theatre-esque program would this be considering insulting or hurt my chances?</p>
<p>I don't think that whether or not the play has been performed on Broadway/Off-Broadway is an issue, so much as it has been a published play, not something your best friends wrote. </p>
<p>As for your personal choice...I'm not the best person to respond to that. I don't know honestly. In my opinion, I would avoid it, just because its so close to what you are doing when you are auditioning. My monologues were both not related to theater at all. But by the same token, if you can nail this monologue and it shows off your skils, then by all means use it. </p>
<p>Chris</p>
<p>Dear Twisted (this sounds like an Dear Abby opening, lol):</p>
<p>Your monologues just need to be from published plays. These plays surely do not need to be ones that have been on Broadway or Off Broadway. They just must be from a play. </p>
<p>As far as the monologue you have chosen, I can't comment much about it and I imagine you need to pick more than one monologue due to various requirements for your group of colleges. I know my D had to prepare four different ones. However, ONE of her contemporary monologues, a comedic one, actually sounds similar to the one you are describing. Perhaps it wasn't the best choice, I can't say, but she did use that for several schools and had a successful admissions outcome. However, the choice of pieces needs to fit your personal strengths. Is it comedic (the one that sounds like yours was)? Does this piece really work for you? Then use it but balance it out with a contrasting monologue. What a good monologue is for one person is gonna differ from the next person. Remember that you are not graded on which song or monologue you chose but more on your talent and so find the pieces that really showcase your talents.</p>
<p>Twisted:</p>
<p>Chris and Susan are right about sources. Most of us would like the monologue to come from what is euphemistically referred to as a "straight" play as opposed to a musical. There are some decent monologues in musicals, but mostly they come with music and are called... "songs" ;) We'd like to see what you can do with Paula Vogel or Wendy Wasserstein or Maria Fornes, etc. etc. etc.</p>
<p>As for the monologue about auditioning, please don't do it. Invariably the character is unhappy about auditioning--the last thing you want to suggest--and unhappy with the people auditioning her--the very last feeling you want to engender in us. Ironically, the better you do the monologue, the more successful you are in making us feel awful for putting "you" through this horrible audition experience, the less we're going to like you. Those monologues work for real audiences, who know that they are not the target of the playwright's ire. They find them funny. The monologues don't work when the audience members are the playwright's real target. </p>
<p>Or to think of it another way: I'm sure you've heard that it is unwise to turn the auditioners into your imaginary scene partners. That's because we want to be able to watch your work, not engage in it as fellow actors. Well, "audition monologues" make us your scene partners in spades. I recommend against it.</p>
<p>As always, this isn't a rule. But I'd try out any such monologue on a teacher and ask her to act the role of an auditioner; if she doesn't feel attacked, and thinks you're hysterically funny, then it's worth trying. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>i agree wholeheartedly with doctor john</p>
<p>Listen to doctorjohn, do NOT use the auditioners as scene partners. (I know you probably knew that already.)</p>
<p>Pick a spot and act to your imaginary scene partner. The monologue you have chosen could work really well if you connect to the material and act the heck out of it. But if you are uncomfortable doing it, thinking that perhaps you will insult someone, choose another. Your audition material should allow you to connect to it and show you in the best light. If you are feeling nervous about the choice, that will come through. Good luck.</p>