A Monologue is an Outrageous Situation! from Focal Press explains how to successfully tackle the cattle call acting audition with a sixty-second monologue. Through Q&As, tips, director's notes, and a glossary full of outrageous actions meant to inspire the actor into truly connecting with the piece, this book shows actors where and how to find a monologue, edit it, and give the best audition possible.
Author Herb Parker is the Associate Professor in the Division of Theatre and Dance, Department of Communication and Performance at East Tennessee State University. He is a recipient of the KCACTF Excellence in Directing Meritorious Achievement Award and a 35-year member of Actors Equity Association.
Part One: A Monologue is…?
- An Audition is an Outrageous Situation
- The Sixty Second Dilemma
- What is a Monologue?
- A Monologue is an Outrageous Situation
- What to Look for When Choosing a Monologue
- What to Avoid in a Monologue
Part Two: Working on a Monologue
- Read the Play
- Ask the Stanislavski Question
- Given Circumstances
- Take 3 Tips from the Script
- Editing a Monologue-include Table
- Piecing a Monologue Together-include Table
- Memorize-ASAP
- Blocking
- How to Move (Because you Must)
- Monologue Pitfalls
- Outrageous
- Exercises and Improvs
Part Three: Time to Audition
- Steps of Your Audition
- How Should I Introduce my Monologue?
- Where Should I Place My Focus? Focus 1.0, 2.0
- Should I Take Time to 'get into it' Before I Start?
- Your Actual Run Time
- Your Audition Must Show…
- Your Sixty-second Audition Must Prove…
- How Much Can the Auditors See in 60 Seconds?
- What Do the Auditors Want to See in a Call Back?
- When Does the Audition Really Begin?
- When Does the Audition End?
Part Four: "Just a Few Notes."
- Realism is Not Real
- Positive
- Negative
- Playing Emotion
- Playing Explosions
- Playing Characters that are Rich
- That are Poor
- That are Heroic
- That are Evil
- That are Courageous
- That are Cowardly
- Crying and Yelling is Not Dramatic
- Don't TRY to be Funny
- Dress and Hygiene for Men
- Dress and Hygiene for Women
- Final Thought on Clothes
- Tattoo is Taboo
- Exit
Appendix
- Monologue Suggestions
- Where to Find Monologues
- Unified Auditions
- Head Shot Production