Seeing shows-finding material

(Links are included this post - click and have fun!)

Well - due to the URL confusion I have not been able to Post Building Your Book just yet. So some quick advice on finding new material other than Read Read Read - is SEE SEE SEE

This weekend I am seeing 3 of the 6 Village Original Shows. Over the past two weeks I have seen Ruined at Intiman, Man of LaMacha at Taproot, Yankee Diner at ACT and the new play WOOF! by Y York still in the workshop phase.

I have seen some great theatre over the past two weeks. Ruined has some great scenes for you KCACTF lookers - Yankee Diner has some great Men's monos - read them to make sure they are not M&Ms. I am pretty sure there are Active and M&Ms. WOOF! has a pleathera of material. In Your Eyes has wonderful material for teenagers. Some of these may be hard to get a hold of because they are so new. There are ways however...but this is a short post!Yeah that was a teaser! Have a lovely Sunday and SEE A SHOW!

So - SEE SHOWS!!!

Choosing a Monologue Part 3: What's The Quick and Easy Way To Find A Monolouge?

What is the quick and easy way to find a great Monologue?

There isn’t one. Ok – there might be one –if happen to know an amazing playwright, who writes plays that happen to have amazing monologues in them. As much as I’d like to claim Dennis Schebetta as my private playwright….sigh…I have to share him with all of you.

The best way to find great monologues is to READ PLAYS. Skim them if you have to. Look for chunks of text – paragraphs to start. They are out there. Keep reading (plays...and this post!)

Sometimes you can “Piece” a monologue together. This can be tricky.*note below.

The following is an example of piecing:

Original Text:

Queen Christina

(lots more text before )….. I am allowed to bring forth in unimaginable pain, a vegetable a dwarf, a monster or if I’m supremely fortunate – another creature such as myself.

Oxenstierna

Ordinary women do this daily.

QC

I am not ordinary! If there is one thing you have taught me since the moment I could hear it is the specialness of me! (lots more texts after this)

The Piecing –

Queen Christina

(lots more text before )….. I am allowed to bring forth in unimaginable pain, a vegetable a dwarf, a monster or if I’m supremely fortunate – another creature such as myself. Now, ordinary women do this daily. But I am not ordinary! If there is one thing you have taught me since the moment I could hear it is the specialness of me! (lots more texts after this)

I added two words to make the transition. Sometimes you can cut a line. Example – there may be one or two words from another character like “What?” but the monologue makes since if the character you are looking at just keeps going.

On the permanent pages you will find a list of playwrights. I love the work of these playwrights’s. These plays are a good place to start. I don’t guarantee you will find a great monologue – but it’s a good bet that some of you will find one you are drawn to and that works for you.Not to mention - it's time well spent. Did I mention they have written plays I LOVE! I am sure there are wonderful playwrights I have left out – please feel free to comment and add your own to this list!

*Disclaimer – when you piece a monologue you may be changing the playwright’s words. If you do this try not to change the playwright’s intent. Some playwright’s would be totally fine with this for auditions – some not so much. Most – not in the room. I say this with great respect knowing and loving many playwrights.

Choosing a Monologue Part 1 -Active vs. Memory

Choosing a Monologue Part 1

If you don’t have one already now is the time to get a three ring binder. Start Building Your Audition Book.

The audition determines the type of monologue and the length. Read the requirements and follow them! If it says prepare a 2 minute monologue don’t walk in with a 2 minute and 15 second monologue. If they ask for comic piece don’t walk in with a dramatic one. If they ask for a Modern piece don’t bring in Shakespeare. But...."Let's start at the very beginning..."

I give examples of published work below. I have not included the entire text but I have provided enough information for you to find the text if you so desire.

Find an Active Monologue – this means a monologue that happens in the now not a Memory Monologue. A Memory Monologue (or M&M) is when you are telling a story, something that happened in the past.

Examples:

An M&M might start something like this:

When I was a little girl I went into the abandoned coal mine. At first everything was fine but then I went deeper and there was a big bang. Everything came tumbling down…

Below is a couple of lines from The play “Lardo Weeping” by Terry Galloway

Dinah has a monologue that begins:

“There was only one time in my life…. –and ends- …..just not quite ruthless.

This is an M&M

An Active Monologue (AM) might start something like this:

I don’t understand you. I give and I give but you know what, I’m through giving. Get out. Right now! Go into the bedroom, pack your bags and get out! No – don’t talk. You know why? Because I’m through listening!

Below is a couple of lines from The play “Four Corners” by Wendkos and Bond

The character Jimmy has a monologue that begins:

Look, you know how dogs begin to look like their owners….. -and ends - ….couldn’t I turn into her?

This is an AM.