U of MN/Guthrie BFA Acting Audition...Questions on monologues

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>Hello everyone!</p>

<p>I'm very close to my UMN/Guthrie BFA acting audition, and I admit, I'm feeling the nerves. I have some questions, and would love input, especially from current/past students of that program. Here's the background:</p>

<p>I'm something of a non-traditional student; due to illness, my high school career was stunted. My grades dropped, though my SATs were quite good. I eventually left and received my GED in lieu of a diploma. I did not have the good fortune to attend an arts-specific/conservatory high school. Most of my acting credits are from middle school and high school. </p>

<p>I've been reading posts on this site, and while I'm finding some good information, I'm also finding that many of the students that are accepted to selective BFA programs have more traditional backgrounds and formal training. This makes sense, obviously, but now I'm wondering.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The program's site emphasizes "passion over polish" (paraphrased). But it seems like many of the people I'm reading about here who did make it had the advantage of polish. Am I reading into it too much? I have great passion for acting; it kept me afloat through a very dark patch. In high school shows, I beat out upperclassmen as a freshman for parts in small casts. I've logged a few leads. I've been told I have talent; I'd like to believe that. I just don't know if what I have is enough, and if it is, if it's too raw. </p></li>
<li><p>Monologues. Monologuesmonologuesmonologues. All right. My three are close to me in age. First is Tillie's opening from "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds," the second is Annabella's lament from "'Tis Pity She's A Whore," and the third is Beneatha's musing about what made her want to be a doctor from "A Raisin in the Sun." </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Do these sound like good choices? Tillie's a young high-schooler (who finds solace and purpose in the revelation that we're all made of stardust), Annabella's a teen, and Beneatha is twenty. </p>

<p>I don't know. I guess I want to ace this, and I feel like I can; but at the same time, seeing how others have had years of specialized preparation, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm deluding myself. I have the passion, I know, but I don't know if it'll be enough.</p>

<p>If I don't make it, I'm planning on trying for the BA program, and then a re-audition/transfer next year.</p>

<p>Anyone out there who made it in with mostly high school shows and no specialized schooling? Any input from anyone with experience in this area?</p>

<p>Thanks to everyone who reads this, and especially to those who respond.</p>

2

<p>I hope our UMinn/Guthrie folks will chime in on specifics, but for the time being I’m going to say this: If your goal is a BFA in Theatre, you cannot focus on one school and try to do all of the right things to get into it. This process is not quantitative nor statistics-driven, and there is no substantive reason why one person will get in or another person won’t.</p>

<p>Your qualifications are just fine. Your monologues are just fine. No one here can assess your talent (we all just take it as a given that everyone who posts here is plenty talented - why not?), and we definitely can’t assess whether the faculty will like what they see in your audition. If you have reasonable material and you work hard at preparing it, you have as good a chance as anyone.</p>

<p>What is important is that you are applying to programs that appeal to you in terms of curriculum, focus, philosophy and general campus experience. Have a balanced list, know that admissions rates are low, have a plan that gives you alternatives if you don’t get into any of the auditioned programs (which would include academic safeties, BA matches, non-auditioned BFAs, training programs or a gap year). Look at finances and be prepared for how your education will be funded at any of the schools you apply to.</p>

<p>Your idea of going to Minn for the BA and trying to re-audition makes sense, but you have to be prepared for whether you’ll really be happy at a school where you were rejected from your preferred program, and whether the BA really suits you, because there is a very real chance that you may never get into the BFA. </p>

<p>Anything you do to help your UMinn audition will help you at all of your auditions. I hope you have a nice, balanced list of schools and that you get a nice group of admissions to choose from in the spring! Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks for taking the time to respond.</p>

<p>One reason I’m especially driven to make it into this program (aside from its’ excellence) is that, barring any unforseen circumstances, I will be located in Minneapolis next year (longish story, kind of off-topic). This is my gap year.</p>

<p>I’m not opposed to other schools, they’re just not geographically feasible (though if it were say, LAMDA, RADA, or Guildhall, I would find -some- way to make it work). My attitude towards the low rate of acceptance has been, “Someone’s going to get those spots. Who says it can’t be me?” This program offers what I’m looking for; now I have to try my best to offer them what they’re looking for.</p>

<p>I hope that didn’t come across as conceited. That was certainly not its intent.</p>

<p>Should I not make the program, I’ll take generals/Theatre Arts and try next year. If not then…well, I’ll be in a different position then. I may take an alternate route altogether. College is one means to an end, but certainly not the only path. I learned that in my dealings with resolving health issues and high schools. There’s a big world out there. </p>

<p>However, the assertion that my r</p>

4

<p>I presume you’ve read the thread on the UMinn BA - your posts show that you’re thoughtful and have an open mind, and you might find that degree program is perfect as a back-up, especially if you really want to be in the Twin Cities. You can do amazing things in theatre there are if you are really motivated you can have virtually the same curriculum as the BFA students. </p>

<p>My D chose another school only because 1) she did want to be near NYC and 2) she’s pretty motivated, but knew she’d benefit from the structure that a BFA does luxuriously supply. We think both programs at UMinn are excellent - in many ways, we didn’t see that the BFA there is “better” than the BA, only different. It sounds like you could make any of these options work.</p>

<p>And you didn’t sound conceited - lots of people here worry that the other posters might think they’re not qualified to pursue this field. All I can say is that it’s just not possible to assess that on paper, at least not yet. A music student has had X years of lessons and can play X repertoire, perhaps has certain quantifiable awards. Theatre hasn’t quite gone that way yet - it may in the future, but not now. Good coaching and teaching does help a lot of students, and there is such a thing as “totally clueless” about what going into theatre represents. But so far that’s not really based on what parts you’ve gotten or where you’ve gotten your experience. The auditors will decide whether you’ve got what they want for their program. Please, whatever you do, don’t take it personally, or play the “what if” game with yourself. This whole process is way too mysterious!</p>

<p>Again, good luck. Everyone here wishes you all the best!</p>

5

<p>I don’t know what it means per se but I will say that your honesty and passion comes through to me in what you write and having that good internal sense of who you are is a great starting point.</p>

6

<p>I think you are right on track.</p>

<p>I do agree with the folks who tell you to apply to more than one school, but it sounds like you will come up with a different plan if you don’t get in to your first choice. I am sure you will be able to get in SOMEWHERE.</p>

<p>Make sure that all your theatre experience and theatre training is on your resume. That’s what they are expecting, folks whose only experience is in high school.</p>

<p>Your choices of monologues are very good. They are not “overused” monologues that everyone else will be using and that the auditors are sick of hearing. This also makes it seem like you actually have a good knowledge of theatre, that you know these plays that most of the other auditioners haven’t even heard of.</p>

<p>If you are concerned about “polish”, take the time to “polish” the monologues so that you will be as “polished” as you can be for your audition. But don’t let this get in the way of your passion for theatre.</p>

7

<p>yes, a lot of kids who come to the bfa program have had a good amount of training in their past, but many others don’t. it truly ranges. i was an mt baby that had never done a straight play in my life before auditioning…had taken 1 acting class at a local regional theatre, but i was lucky enough to have a monologue coach who helped me pick out my pieces and coach me. i also didn’t start doing theatre until the middle of hs.
my experience was limited, but i was very driven and passionate that year as it was my 2nd time auditioning so i was very determined to get accepted somewhere.
and honestly i think that is the most important quality any young actor needs. a desire and hunger to learn and throw themselves into the work. acting programs are designed to give tools and to teach technique, but they cannot teach their students to have the passion that is necessary to succeed in the work. the mark of a good actor isn’t just in his technique but the willingness to take risks and to leap without looking.
looking back at my auditions and comparing the places where i was accepted/waitlisted and rejected, there is a very clear trend. all the places where i went in and really just went for it during the audition, i was accepted or waitlisted…and all the places where i let nerves get in the way or was watching myself a lot and didn’t allow myself to be honest and genuine, i was not accepted to.</p>

8

<p>and remember this bit…sometimes the best students are the ones who have the least amount of “polish” before coming in.
they are often the least resistant to the training because i know many kids who go to school and find themselves in a horrible struggle of letting go old training that might have formed bad habits in their acting.</p>

9

<p>My older son was accepted into several presitigious programs with almost entirely regular high school experience (except for one Shakespeare play at a semi-professional theatre and one community theatre piece). </p>

<p>We are not well off and couldn’t possibly afford many of the wonderful-looking theatre camps or pre-college programs. Nor could we afford a private school; our area has no arts magnet school.</p>

<p>My son’s friend was accepted into Tisch with even less experience than he: literally only two high school plays under her belt. </p>

<p>Of course it increases your odds to have more exposure and training, but it’s definitely possible to be admitted to top programs with minimal training!</p>