<p>Hi, I have an audition for Minnesota's BFA program coming up in a few months (Jan. 29) and I am extremely nervous for it. This audition has a lot of weight concerning my plans in life and I was wondering if anyone who has attented these auditions could give me some sort of idea of what to expect?</p>
<p>I live in Grand Forks, ND and Ive been heavily involved in my high school program but the most frustrating thing right now is my lack of classical training... I am afraid that this will be painfully obvious at my audition and it kills me. I have decided on a monologue from Much Ado About Nothing and I fully understand the text but I am not quite sure if there is a certain way to deliver classical monologues because what Im attempting right now isnt much different than any other monologue I have done.... Like I said my resources are limited so the best I can do is forums</p>
<p>I'm also wondering what monologues are considered no-nos as far as age range... I have found a number of monologues that I would love to do from plays like Inherit the Wind but the chararacters are much older than I am. The monologues dont really allude to the ages of the characters but supposing the auditor knew the show, would it be harmful to my audition to perform it? If it would be, an anyone suggest any plays that have young adult, male characters with dramatic moonologues? Ive been searching for months and can only find monologues that have been overdone like Biff's and Im starting to freak out because I feel like time is running short.</p>
<p>Sorry for that mass of information but ANY answers to my questions would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Welcome barder92! Hopefully someone with greater knowledge of the specifics of Minnesota’s audition will chime in. But the one thing I do know is that even though Minnesota is not an MT program, they ask all those auditioning to sing, just a couple bars of whatever song they know or Happy Birthday. So be prepared! As you probably know they have a showboat where musicals are performed in the summer so even though its a straight acting program, their students having singing and dancing chops. I assume you have read all the materials they provide about their auditions so you know to prepare a monologue for a role you would never be cast in.</p>
<p>Re: monologues. My D has found it helpful to talk to folks who know her and who know plays. They have given her lots of ideas that she has then read through. Hopefully someone at your high school could help you with that, even an English teacher!</p>
<p>I just noticed that at the bottom of this thread there are links to lots of other threads where UMinn is discussed so you may want to take a look at those.</p>
<p>For any audition I would suggest finding monologues by characters in your age range… for a HS senior this would generally be 15 - 25. Some may be able to play younger than 15 but none should really be trying to do pieces where the character is much over 25.</p>
<p>One place to start looking for monologues can be monologue books (meaning books of monologues from published plays). They are generally categorized by age, genre, etc… if you find monologues you like buy those plays and see if the character (or another young character) has any other monologues. You sometimes will also benefit by looking at other plays by the same author. Some playwrights have a number of plays with younger characters. Jonathan Marc Sherman, John Patrick Shanley (more of his early plays), Neil LaBute, Kenneth Lonergan…</p>
<p>Is UMinn Gutherie the only BFA acting program you are applying to, or one of a few?</p>
<p>Hi barder92 - The wonderful thing about the Minnesota auditions is they ask you to prepare a piece that you would love to play, but is against type - That offers a perfect opportunity for you to do a piece out of your age range (or even one of the opposite sex). Both my kids loved their audition with Minnesota and were lucky enough to be invited back to callback weekend - I have quite a few students this year I am coaching who will be auditioning for Minnesota - I have the highest regards for the program and Ken Washington.
Best of luck :)</p>
<p>Your suggestions for playwrights help a lot! I appreciate it. I can’t tell you how many monologue books and plays Ive read through. This whole expirience is making me want to scream. I suppose that its not all wasted but Im just a little nervous becuase I only have a little more than two months and I just want to have my monologues chosen already.</p>
<p>Yes, Minn is the only BFA program Im auditioning for. Unfortunately its really the only program in my region that I think suits me. I don’t really have the money to go too far out of state for college and Minneapolis seems like the perfect place to get a start in acting. This is the major reason why I want to have excellent monologues for my audition. And yes, the monologue requirements are pretty exciting, the idea that a program encourages that kind of creativity and artistry before you even start is incredibly exciting. That monologue was the first one I chose actually!</p>
<p>barder, best wishes for your Minnesota/Guthrie audition. As said above, Mr. Washington and his team are the best, and will do what they can to put you at ease so you can show yourself to best advantage. Just remember that the audition is YOUR time to show what you can do, so take advantage of it.</p>
<p>barder - I’m sure you’ve done lots of research, but I felt I should mention Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI, since you said are limited by geography and looking for programs. It has a well-respected BFA and might be a good back-up idea for you. Also UW-La Crosse has an excellent BA theatre degree. We know several students who have had wonderful experiences there and have moved on to post-graduate success.</p>
<p>You guys have your auditions tomorrow then!!! Good luck to you!!! UMinn is one of the schools I’m looking into (not into extreme detail… yet) so maybe that’ll be me next year. But I’m sure you’ll be great!! :D</p>
<p>This thread is from last year, ohhai, so I don’t think you’ll meet up with that poster. But there are many of us this year with auditions at Minn. Good luck to you! My D auditions at the Chicago Unifieds.</p>
<p>Paige, this is a very good program and seems to allow for a double major. Larger state schools or schools that have large education programs (like PPU) will be good choices for you if you want to do the double track. Minn also has a great non-auditioned BA in theatre, which definitely allows for a double major.</p>
<p>Actually, I did my audition yesterday! My monologues themselves went very well and I was quite proud of how I performed which is good. The interview itself was a different story I actually had to apologize in the middle of the first question they asked because I was so nervous and the lights were so bright I could barely even think! after that I also tried to perform a monologue from a show I did in October but was unable to recall any of lines… Long story short a callback doesnt seem like its in the cards after my rough interview but the expirience was good and Im glad to have it over with. I hope your audition went well ohaicollege!</p>
<p>Congratulations, barder! I’m sorry I misread the dates and thought you were done. You should be proud to have made it through your audition - that is a success all in itself. I hope you get into a great school this spring.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone auditioning these next few weeks!</p>
<p>My S auditioned in Minneapolis on Saturday and loved the experience. The folks in the waiting area, teachers and students, were wonderful and full of great information. Now the waiting begins, the hardest part.</p>
<p>geek theatre, best wishes to your son! My daughter, now a college junior elsewhere, also loved her Minnesota auditions (she did her first one in New York during Unifieds and then went to the callback weekend in Minneapolis) and found the auditors to be completely nice and supportive, as were the other auditioners waiting to take their turns. Just a nice experience all around. Let us know when he hears. Truly a fabulous program.</p>
<p>Couldn’t agree more! Kenneth Washington is amazing. One of the most thorough auditions and most fun (especially that third piece) and the callback weekend is such an amazing experience. Both my kids were lucky enough to have that experience. Best of luck to your son! Keep us posted! (PS Hi NMR:))</p>
