<p>Hey everyone. I have a question that hopefully someone can help me out on. In terms of auditioning for college theater programs, what is the school of thought on using monologues that were written to be monologues (i.e. monologues from monologue books as opposed to those that come from a play)? </p>
<p>Ultimately, my dilemma is this - I've suddenly found out that the dramatic monologue I have won't work for my Syracuse audition in two weeks. I need a contemporary dramatic monologue and fast. I haven't done many contemporary dramas so I'm struggling to think of a monologue to use.</p>
<p>My schedule doesn't really permit me to spend hours at a time looking through scripts trying to find / create a monologue... I did find a monologue that looks really good, the only thing being that it is from a monologue book and not from a play. </p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone can offer any insight as to whether or not this is acceptable? Also, I'd be interested if anyone has specific experience on Syracuse and whether or not they will have a problem with it not being from a play.</p>
<p>I don’t have any experience with Syracuse, but the general rule for all auditions is that monologues must come from published plays, meaning, unfortunately, nothing from monologue books. </p>
<p>However, you should double check the fine print. If it says anything like “must be from a published play” or “nothing from monologue books,” then AT ALL COSTS, you should refrain from using a monologue book!! Colleges prefer to see characters that are part of a larger story or plot so you can show more depth and going against their monologue guidelines might just get your name crossed off the list.</p>
<p>But, if there’s nothing like that in the fine print, then my advice would be to send an e-mail to the school ASAP asking if a monologue book would be okay and to immediately begin a very speedy search for a quality dramatic monologue.</p>
<p>Okay, so I just looked at the Syracuse website out of curiosty and it does NOT say the monologue has to be from an actual play. So, technically, you COULD use your monologue book if you’re unable to find a speech from a play, but, BE WARNED that using a monologue book is usually looked down upon (so you probably shouldn’t use that piece for other auditions) and don’t be surprised if the auditors at Syracuse question you about your monologue choice.</p>
<p>sasha: Your own thread, you mean? On the Theater/Drama Majors Forum main page, there’s a rectangular silver button that says “New Thread” between the box with “Featured Discussions” and the box with all of the other threads.</p>
<p>college182: Disregard my last post! I misread the fine print myself! It says to pick contrasting monologues from two modern PLAYS. So don’t use the book or you’ll be going against their instructions, which i definitely what you don’t want to do.</p>
<p>While you may use a monologue book to find a monologue from a published play, and then read the entire play that the monologue is from. I would not suggest using a monologue that was written as a monologue. Particularly if a school specifies that the monologue should be from a play.</p>
<p>Isn’t it pretty standard for the student to either write the name of the monologue and play on a sign-in sheet on the day of the audition, or at least verbally to state that info before delivering the monologue(s)?</p>
<p>I totally understand your woes- sifting through stacks of plays is a lovely thing to do, but not in the midst of a busy schedule! There are books of contemporary monologues that come from actual plays which I am going through now which I found at Borders and Amazon -One to look for is “Audition Monologs for Student Actors - Selections from Contemporary Plays” Edited by Roger Ellis. I appreciate how Ellis puts the character’s age right at the top of each monologue, so you can zip through it fast looking for your type.
I found Ellis’ introduction about choosing and performing monologues especially helpful, and worth reading, even if one didn’t use any of the monologues in the book.
Also, you must know some directors or actors of your type who may have some good ideas. Best wishes for a great audition!</p>
<p>No matter what the audition requirement states, colleges want monologues from published plays. Do NOT use a monologue that was written just as a monologue!</p>
<p>The suggestion to look through monologue books that have monologues FROM published plays is a good one and if you like the monologue, then obtain the full play and read it. That is one quicker method than reading multiple plays to find a monologue. But do not use a book of monologues that are not from plays. </p>
<p>While you say you are very busy, and I surely don’t doubt that at all, I’m sorry to say that that is not a good excuse in this situation. Would you say you are too busy to write a good essay for your application? The audition counts a huge part of your admission decision. Months should be spent selecting the material and rehearsing it. This is not something you should be doing at the last minute, nor taking a shortcut that goes against the rules (if you go against the guidelines, you may as well save time and money and not audition as that will derail your chances immediately). </p>
<p>This is a very tough field. It involves a very very busy life (a BFA program itself books your days and nights solid). Even in college, you will have to obtain monologues (and songs if in MT) and prepare them, all the while being booked all day in classes and all night in rehearsals. “Being too busy” won’t cut it when it comes to showing you are adequately prepared. Then comes real life after college. This field is very very very competitive. I have a kid who is a recent graduate from a BFA program (and btw, am quite familiar with Syracuse as she was admitted to their BFA but attended elsewhere), and for example, she has an audition for Broadway, and must prepare something specifically geared to that show. She can’t decide she is too busy (and she is very busy) to not take the time to find the appropriate material and prepare it when the odds of ever being cast are very very very very slim. But to go in ill prepared or with the wrong material because she was too busy, will cut her odds to zero. This is something to think about. A college audition in a very competitive process (single digit acceptance rates) is challenging enough, but if you don’t follow guidelines, or don’t prepare adequately or take the time to find appropriate material, your odds are lowered a LOT. This will continue beyond college if you remain in this highly competitive field. This may not be what you wish to hear but I think it realistically needs to be considered.</p>
<p>(also agree with another poster that you will often be asked the name of the play from which your monologue came…either on a form or in the audition itself)</p>
<p>For a college audition, I would NOT use a monologue from a book OR from an unpublished play. I believe most colleges want monologues from published plays for their admissions auditions. </p>
<p>Now, for another situation, this might be OK. For instance, I know my kid has a monologue in her repertoire that she took from a book, and has used this in a college class and would consider it for auditions outside of college (she is now out of college). But she would never have done that for a college admissions audition as they specify usually that they want a monologue from a published play. </p>
<p>Even IF you come across a school that doesn’t have that guideline, it would be silly to prepare different material for every school. I have students look over ALL their audition requirements and come up with the fewest number of monologues (or songs) needed to fufill their college audition requirements. When my kid auditioned for college, this meant she needed four monologues (all were from published plays). It was good she even had four at her fingertips because at CMU, she was asked to do all four, even though only two were required.</p>
<p>For college auditions, the norm is monologues from published plays. I would not tamper with these guidelines. It is hard enough to be admitted even if you follow every guideline.</p>
<p>College 182 – my D is currently a senior at Syracuse, and I can tell you that they would indeed frown on a monologue that is not from a published play. If you would like any info or insight about the program there, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your thoughtful replies. I really appreciate it. Obviously, the general consensus is to avoid monologues that are not from published plays. I certainly thought this was the case, but thought it wise to check if it could have saved me some time. </p>
<p>Thanks for the book recommendation classicalbk! I’m heading out to the library / bookstore tomorrow and plan to look for that one.</p>
<p>And soozievt I completely agree with all the points you raise in your reply. Acting is an extremely difficult profession that requires a lot of outside work and preparation on top of an already busy normal schedule. Believe me, I don’t like the situation I’ve left myself in one bit, but what’s done is done and I don’t see too much point on dwelling on the past. Right now I’m focussed on finding a good monologue and making it great come my audition!</p>
<p>Anyone else know some good monologue books to look for (ones that come from plays that is)? Thanks again!</p>
<p>I agree to not dwell on the past but use this experience to learn from for the next time because if you are in a BFA program and if you are going into this field professionally, I shared a little of what will be needed and what it is like. </p>
<p>Good luck on your search and preparation and of course on your auditions!</p>
<p>You may want to take a look at the suggested monologues for auditions on the website of Marymount Manhattan College. The drama department provides a list of suggested monologues that it believes are appropriate for high school seniors and categorizes them by male and female roles. The list also notes monologues to avoid. The list could be a starting point for you - you may find one on it that is appropriate for you and you also will know the plays that at least one school thinks have been overused. Good luck!</p>