College Auditions - Picking Material - Monologues
For my singers out there - don’t panic! Most musical theater programs don’t even require a monologue. However; you always want to have at least 2 in your back pocket, just in case. For all my actors out there, sorry, but you will inevitably be doing lots of monologues throughout your college audition process. To pick monologues there are a few guidelines I HIGHLY recommend you follow. I have picked these up from my years in college, my current connection with some college professors (who also happen to be the heads of their universities’ theatre departments), as well as my own research and experience.
Pick monologues from plays. Steer clear of those books that have monologues compiled that are stand-alone; meaning they aren’t from any show, they were written as a one-off monologue. These have wayyyy less context and are more broad than you want.
Pick a monologue that doesn’t have a ton of interjections by other characters. Sometimes, you can piece together a monologue by removing lines other characters say, but not only does this take a lot of extra work, it also can affect the flow of your delivery. Be smart about it and pick the monologue that affords you the best opportunity to show your skills.
Make sure it is age-appropriate. Not only will it be more difficult for you to relate to a character talking about their 3rd divorce, but the auditors can be distracted by material that is clearly meant for someone decades older than you.
Highlight your skills. If you are an incredible dramatic actor, pick a monologue that allows you to share this will the auditors. Are you the best comedian ever? Bring in a fabulous comedic piece to make the auditors laugh. As with singing, you want to show off your best work.
Use your time wisely. If you are a better comedian than you are dramatic actor, use more time on your comedic piece than your dramatic and vice versa. You don’t want to use 1 minute and 45 seconds of 2 minutes on one and try to squeeze in the other, but, for example, you could use 1 minute 10 seconds on your dramatic and 45 on your comedic. Use your best judgement and ask your coach if you are lost.
Pick contrasting monologues! Each school will have specific requirements, so you want to cover your bases. Some will simply ask for a comedic and dramatic, others my want a comedic, dramatic, Shakespeare, and contemporary all within 2 monologues, so you’ll have to cover all of that with your material.
Have at least one of the following ready to go at a moment’s notice: contemporary comedic, contemporary dramatic, Shakespeare comedic, Shakespeare dramatic, period comedic, and period dramatic (by “period” I mean in the realm of Oscar Wilde, Tennessee Williams, etc.).
**Pro Tip: If you know your schools are asking for different length monologues, but have similar genre requirements, pick monologues that can be cut down to all of your time requirements so you have fewer to memorize.
That’s all for now! If you are unsure of anything on here, comment below or reach out directly! I’m happy help coach you through. Better yet, schedule a lesson so I can work with you on all your audition needs!