finding monologues
Hi-- got an audition in a couple of weeks requiring two contrasting monologues ONE MINUTE each (which is very hard to find!). I'm really good at cutting monolgues but find it very difficult actually FINDING them. I live in Dallas, and we rarely have "monologue auditions"-- mostly, directors require cold readings. So, most actors in Dallas have the same problems I have when a monologue audition pops up--you simply find yourself unprepared. Any suggestions on where to find some really great monologues? Personally, I look everywhere from online to the library to anything in film, so I'm really open to all kinds of resource suggestions. I even tried clicking on the "free monolgue" link on your website, but I kept getting an "access denied" message. Any suggestions?? need help quickly!! THANKS!! Mo in Dallas (amovassagh@bear.com)


Monologues are a necessary evil
Ok, first of all, as an actor you should always have at least one, but preferably a few audition monologue pieces in your repertoire at all times, no matter where you live, or the types of auditions you "usually" do. They should be able to be given at a moments notice, because you should have your "pitch" ready at all times. What if they want to see what else you can do? What if you have a last minute audition (these tend to happen at the worst times, and as a result, you have to be ready at all times)?
There are lots of ways to get monologues, but the best way is to find them yourself, rather than rely on the "monologue" books. Most of the time the ones in those books are over-used, the auditors get bored with them easily because they hear the same old ones over and over, and they would much rather hear something new. Here are a few tips to help you find monologues:
--Use lines from your favorite plays, movies, TV shows, etcetera.
--They don't have to be "monologues" in the actual performance, often you can string together several lines leaving out the other character's lines without totally losing the auditors, and have a great monologue.
--Favorite books can be a source of monologues, especially those that have a lot of dialogue in them (lots of fiction has this).
--Poems can be a good monologue source, and are usually easily modified to get to the specified time limit.
--Always do things that speak to you, that you can actually get into, because if you aren't into it, the auditors aren't going to be with you (this will make the monologue easier to remember, and give a stronger sense of authenticity when you actually perform them).
--Contrasting monologues does not always mean one comedy, one dramatic. It can mean you can have one contemporary, one classic (this is usually a good question to ask).
--The web is actually a good place for monologue searches, but you have to be careful, because you will run into the same ones that have all been heard before.
--Be creative, and don't use the same ones everyone else uses, find your own, and you will be much happier with the result (and the auditors will be happier that they don't have to hear the same old monologue).
--Last but not least...It is generally frowned upon to perform a monologue from the play or movie you audition for (I know this is kind of bizarre, because isn't that what you are doing when you cold-read from the play or script?), because for some odd reason, they generally treat them separately.
As you can see, there are a lot of ways to obtain monologues, but you have to get the monologue that fits you, and the only way you will do that is if you find it, create it, or modify an existing one to fit your needs and stay within the time limit. I will state one last thing...ALWAYS stay within the time limit given.
You mentioned going to the library, so you should find some plays you liked that they have there, and take a look through them for monologues that might suit you, or a dialog exchange that you can modify to be a monologue. I am pretty sure you will be able to find one pretty quickly through this means.
Well, best of luck to you on filling out your actor's repertoire with your many monologues, you won't regret doing this now before getting another audition with that requirement, and going through this all over again...
If you have any further questions, reply back.