audition technicality

[pants2]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 11:27pm

I have an audition friday for a play that's going to broadway and it's a regular "prepare a brief dramatic american monologue" type audition. My question is does the monologue ABSOLUTELY have to be from a play. My friend who is a writer, a very good one is writing a play and there's a monolgue from it that i think would be perfect BUT it's not apublished play.

Would it be okay to do this monologue or not?

[Sondheim Geek]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 11:28pm

Ask your agent. If you're really auditioning for that sort of thing (and it's not an open cattle call), your agent/manager would probably the person to go to, not a message board.

[singtopher]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 11:29pm

I have an acting teacher who suggests looking at novels for monologues. In the end its about what you do with the material. Do what you know you do best.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 12:49am

Do a monologue from a published play. Their description is very specific. Follow their directive.

[elphaba.scares.me]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 1:13am

respectfully disagree, rathnait.

my college acting teacher (from an excellent top-tier drama program) would tell you to ABSOLUTELY do the monologue you're passionate about. in fact, he would go so far as to advise us to write our own monologues and attribute them to an imaginary play called...ugh, I can't remember..."the porch swing"? "the front porch"? something like that.

if they ask where it's from, state the name of the play and the author. do not say that it's unpublished or that it's your friend.

all that matters is that you get into the room and make magic, and no one will give a flying f&@! where the monologue's from.

go get it.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 1:22am

Sorry, elphaba, but my advice comes from years of working for Broadway producers, casting directors, managers and agents. That direction pants2 was given was very specific for a reason. He/she needs to follow it. This is not the time for experimentation.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 1:30am

If it was for a regional theater, I'd say be creative. But for professional Broadway bound theater, I agree with Rath. The directions were spelled out for you.

[bially082]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:02am

I say it sort of depends upon who is in the room also.

[somuchtodo]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 11:57am

Rathnait62 wrote "Sorry, elphaba, but my advice comes from years of working for Broadway producers, casting directors, managers and agents. That direction pants2 was given was very specific for a reason."

Rathnait62, I ask this with absolute sincerity...what is the reason?
It seems that every actor is looking for the one special monologue that will allow them to stand out. Since producers, casting directors, managers and agents cannot be familiar with every play ever published, why would (do) they care about the source of a monologue?
Wouldn't something new be more interesting?

I think your answer will be very helpful.

[Boq101]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 12:00pm

Well Rath is right, do you really want to show up with like proof that the monologue is real? For all they know you're peddlings monologues written by your best friend all around the city. Pick something people know and can use as at least some posterity or point of direction.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 12:23pm

I agree with Rath, because it tells the casting director that you can not follow directions. Now, while it may seem slight, if you can't follow the direction for an audition, who's to say you will do what your director asks of you?

[Steve2]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 12:54pm

I am not in the theatre business but could someone explain specifically what "prepare a brief dramatic american monologue" means. Does that necessarily imply a "published play"? Would not pants2 be meeting the intent of this directive if he read from his friend's play, assuming his friend is American? Is the phrase "American" meant to exclude Shakespeare for example?

[pants2]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:07pm

OH i should add that the directions never actually said "from a published play"

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:15pm

That is Rath jumping to conclusions again. "prepare a brief dramatic american monologue" is all that was said.
No casting person is going to know every published American play ever written. If you say "I am doing a monologue from Blah Blah by Jane Doe" they are not going to stop you and ask who published it or when was this play produced. IT WON'T MATTER IF IT IS GOOD.
I agree with Elphaba, do what you like and what you are passionate about.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:18pm

Sue, from whence does your "expertise" come?

Don't try to f with pants's big audition just to spite me. How small a person are you?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:26pm

You have to be Fing kidding me.
How many auditions did you and your "producers and casting agents" stop and say to an actor, "Sorry, we asked for a PUBLISHED play. Get out!" At the very least they would say "Thank you, next" if they did not like what they saw or "Do you have something else prepared?" if they saw something that sparked an intrest (which, of course, any professional actor WOULD have ready.)
YOU are the one trying to F with someone's audition by telling them something that is BLATANTLY not true.
And my "expertise" is none of your Fing business.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:30pm

It is pants's business since you're acting as if you're the expert here. I've BEEN on the other side of that table and you know it damn well.

I can't believe you're actually doing this to someone who is sincerely asking for help. Just because you want to show how much more you know - which is beyond dubious, as you won't admit to any kind of education or work experience in the business.

[elimeyer]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:36pm

IMHO

There are some audition notices that read "prepare a 2 minute monologue..."

"in the style of David Mamet" or "from a contemporary comedy" or "from a Shakespeare play" etc...

I frequently do something from Neil Simon, or from some small work, a one act and such. Many times I am asked what is that from - I tell them and they reply, "Oh, I have never heard that, thank you!"

Recently, I tried my hand at writing my own comedic monologue. It has been getting laughs (in all the right places I might add) and kudos from those hearing it.

Unless the notice is for a specific style, there are NO RULES about where the monologue comes from, as long as you make it YOURS when you deliver it. They want to see you ACT. That's what it is all about.

I wouldn't do a comedic piece for a hardcore Dramatic audition, or vice-versa. But as long as you are adhering to the style of the audition, and the piece is GOOD.... then it doesn't matter who wrote it.

[rockstarland2]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:39pm

(in response to Rath..)

Please. I've booked jobs auditioning with material that wasn't exactly what the casting directors asked for. And if the casting director is really so petty to care, then F them & go book a job with someone else.
Updated On: 7/4/07 at 02:39 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:39pm

Let's see your resume, Toots. How many of those "producer, casting directors, agents and managers" would hire you BACK? And if you are such an expert how is it you are not working in the business now?
Oh, and if you ever walk into an audition that I am conducting I WILL know who you are.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:40pm

pants is new to Broadway auditions and therefore must stick to the rules as much as possible. While it may indeed be a technicality, it's just "safer" to use an already-published monologue. You'd be surprised at the lack of imagination and creativity, and tolerance for same in auditions.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:42pm

What were the "rules" that he was given? "Prepare a brief dramatic american monologue."

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:43pm

More than you think, Sueleen.

And so what if you know who I am? Are you a casting director? You don't even live in NYC. You live in Chicago. Besides, if you're going to prejudge me (as a supposed casting director) from the fact that you can't stand me on the boards (which you could until someone told you not to, as you may or may not recall), then I don't want to work for you anyway.

This is not about me, or you. It's about pants's big audition. Good job threadjacking to high heaven though.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:48pm

Well, I certainly am not casting the Yonkers YMCA production of Lil' Abner, so the chances of you being in one of my sessions is pretty nil. Oh, and casting directors from Chicago fly to New York practically on a daily basis to audition.
I suppose everyone else who disagrees with you on this topic is also trying to sabotage Pant's audition just to make YOU look stupid?

[Steve2]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 2:49pm

pants2, perhaps asking this board for advice wasn't the best idea?
I hope your audition goes well, whatever you decide.
Please keep us posted!