Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| frizzball724 |
overdone monologuesI'm considering doing a monologue from the Effect of Gamma Rays On Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds (the one about skinning the cat etc.) for a college audition, but I read somewhere that monologues from that play are overdone. Do you think I'd be ok doing it?What are some other monologues I should stay away from? I have a very nice dramatic monologue that I'm pretty confident with, but I'm looking for some more good, age-appropriate comic monologues. |
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| Salome |
Avoid anything from:
Our Town Oleanna Iportance of being Earnest Much Ado Hamlet Macbeth R&J Henry V Pygmalion Miss Julie Taming of The Shrew Hedda Gabler |
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| La Boheme |
I love that play!
I played Tillie this summer. It was fabulous. Janice is a good speech...it might play a little young for college auditions. I tend to think its better to play the upper end of your age range for school...the parts you're looking towards playing, rather than the parts you could have played a year ago. Maybe thats just me. Also, for college auditions, as long as its a good speech, and you work it...I wouldn't worry too terribly much about whether or not its overdone. Its not the same scene as a job audition. Obviously its nice to do something fresh, but don't do a piece just because its obscure. My most favorite comic piece is Suzanne from Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin, or the Blondes pieces in Hitchcock Blonde by some guy whos name I can't remember. Also Mabel Chiltern 'Tommy's proposed to me again' from an Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde. Thats off the top of my head. I've got a huge book of 'em somewhere, but I think I left it in England. When are your auditions? |
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| frizzball724 |
I've had two already, both of which I did the Understand monologue from Jean Anouillh's Antigone.
I've worked on Janice in the past which is why I was thinking of doing it. I just need another monologue because a few of my schools want two. Catholic U- Feb 11 Penn State- Feb 18 Michigan- March 10 I've got a few more to schedule and I'm sending tapes to one or two. |
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| Would You Light My Candle |
Don't forget that damned Luisa monologue from "The Fantasticks"...something about feeling her eyelids? 
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| what_the_heck013 |
The Tuna Fish monologue from (I think) "Laughing Wild"--outrgaeously funny, horribly overdone.
Actually, avoid most of Chris Durang's stuff. It's hilarious but overdone. And overdone because its hilarious. |
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| kakoforever |
If I hear the "Mr. Cornell" monologue from star-spangled girl ONE MORE TIME...... | ||||||
| Musicalfreak355 |
What about a street car named desire???
Overdone?? or still useable. |
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| Ariel |
this thread is from a few years (!) ago, but are all these still overdone? | ||||||
| Chevstriss |
especially when the Tuna Fish Monologue from Spinal Tap is far superior. |
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| Salome |
streetcar is way too overdone.
try orpheus decending if you want williams. |
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| Brigantine |
I just read "Star Spangled Girl" yesterday! Never seen it/read it before. (I would love to see it performed, I laughed out loud so many times, my husband was getting annoyed)
so WHAT is the "Mr. Cornell" monologue and is it still overdone? Is the whole play of limits? And is Durang still all overdone? What about Betty's Summer Vacation? thanks |
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| what_the_heck013 |
Durang and Star Spangled Girl/all Neil Simon plays are overdone.
While we're on the topic... is Death of a Salesman overdone? I'm thinking it is because most schools have to read it... but I thought I might ask anyway. |
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| Ariel |
copying and pasting from another thread, since so far no response. 
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| Salome |
Picnic is overdone. as is Bus Stop.
Dark should be okay. avoid moliere to over done. |
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| Webster |
If it's that one from dark,DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
SO OVERDONE!!!!!!! |
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| Ariel |
um, what? if it's what from "dark"? |
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| opheliarose |
Actually Moliere is fine where I am- I've never seen anyone else use it, especially the mono I do.
I never want to hear the Tunafish or the Peter Pan monologue ever again. EVER. I don't see too much Tennessee Williams used at auditions, so that might be a good choice. Avoid the Vagina Monologues, too. They really don't make sense outside of the context- And one poor girl who used one was forever known as "The Vagina" in that company. |
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| thirteen |
http://www.nicoth.com/articles/bad_auditions.htm | ||||||
| Cake_in_Song |
Mmm...Carol has one monologue I really like from that play, the one that talks about being a Christ-bitten reformer or whatever. I'm too young to use it, though. Boo. That's one of dream roles. |
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| Annie |
YES. there are so many great ones. The Carol Cutrere ones are some of the best for women (and the Lady ones, of course). Carol's "exhibitionist" one is great. Vee's "THE EYEEEES!!!" speach is awesome. Val has some great ones for men, but out of context, I don't think I'd advise using the "birds who sleep on the wind" speech. Too....er......odd. Would seem too intentionally slap-on-your-face symbolic. Val has tons of awesome text, though. I love Orpheus Descending. 
Oh god, yes. The "Mr. Cornell" speech.......lordy. One more time... Annie |
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| i'm_back |
Brighton Beach Memoirs (Especially Eugene's stuff)=overdone | ||||||
| Fantine |
Wow, this topic has really been brought back from the dead. | ||||||
| Webster |
That one male monologue from "Dark at the Top of the Stairs" is SOOO overdone. Don't touch it. |
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| star2ballie |
becuase this thread is getting a lot of action...
is it acceptable to do a monologue from a one-act? my school did a competitive touring show this year with good girl monologues in it...one or two i could potentially use. is it okay if its not from a full length show? |
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| opheliarose |
One-acts are fine. Greek plays are technically one acts 
The general rule of thumb is any published work. So don't write anything yourself. |
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| Ariel |
good thing i'm a girl. there are also a few male monologues, so it's kind of impossible to know which monologue you're talking about. can anyone point me in the right direction to picking out a shakespeare monologue? i'm 17, female.... |
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| i'm_back |
haha |
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| star2ballie |
dang...there goes my idea of reading my emo xanga blogs from seventh grade out loud...shoot.
hehe. 
thanks for the info, ophelia!! the play was specifically picked to showcase a bunch of strong girls we had, and each of them got a monologue. another question. i know i have to pick within my range, age and 'type'-wise, but...if i...stretch it a little, would that be okay? here's my dilemma. there is a monologue from said play that is...incredible. the girl who performed it got top honors at our state competition and was asked to perform it alone at michigan youth arts festival. yeah...amazing. ANYway. the focus of her character is that she is not skinny like the other girls. no where does it explicitly say she's overweight, or fat, or anything...shes just not skinny like the rest of them. now, i'm not overweight or fat or anything either, but most of my friends are twigs. would it be okay for me to do this monologue? or would it be too odd out of context for them to see a healthy looking girl complaining about her weight? ...hm. |
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| kakoforever |
It depends on you. If you're twig-like, then yes, it will look odd. But if you're average you're fine. We've all heard the complaints about the media wanting us to be skinny and girls being all insecure- it should play fine. | ||||||
| pinkstiletto510 |
well, if you can pass for the age of the character but it's pretty mature |
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| Ariel |
Re: overdone monologues
is this play still overdone for auditions? |
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| avalanche14 |
Could you please please please post the monologue about "being overweight" on here? I'd REALLY LOVE to read it because I'm in a desperate attempt to find a great monologue for an upcoming audition! So please do-- I'd appreciate it so much! thanks!
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| Francois |
Hmm, I've proctored professional monologue auditions for the past 7 years or so, and never heard such a rule...nobody announces where their monologue came from, and I seriously doubt that the auditors know the provenance of every audition piece. When I took a monologue class, we were *encouraged* to adapt things into our own monologue. What should count is how you DELIVER it, not where it's from--that is, after all the point of monologue auditions 
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| Vice |
Opinions on Snoopy's Red Baron monologue? | ||||||
| what_the_heck013 |
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| LaurelDP |
I would guess it's from "The Most Massive Woman Wins". There a several good monologues about body image and weight issues in that. |
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| star2ballie |
^ Never heard of that play, Laurel.
This one is from a one-act my school did this year. It's called "Once Upon a Playground'. |
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| LaurelDP |
I see, I see...
"The Most Massive Woman Wins" is a good one. I found it in a book called "Plays for Actresses" edited by Eric Lane and some lady. I don't remember if it's full length or one act, though. Never heard of "Once Upon a Playground". |
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| star2ballie |
It's very cute. We took state with it this year. Woo!!
Well, we took our division in state. Another school's Urinetown took top place in their division, so we are technically second, I guess. ANYway. I like it because there are lots of good girl monologues in it. |
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| avalanche14 |
is it possible for you to email me the monologues that you said are pretty good? | ||||||
| Roger's Chica |
The number one most overdone monologue I've ever seen in the one from "See Bob Run" where she's talking about her day at work, kitchen chairs in the kitchen and it segues into talking about when she killed him.
4 people just at the callbacks for Mount Royal, one of which was a BOY. Dear god... never never never. It's a great piece but it's been EVERYWHERE lately. |
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| pinkstiletto510 |
question-
Are any of Sonya's monologues from Uncle Vanya overdone? |
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| MaryMag |
posted this a while ago in the auditions forum:
http://musicals.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=49866&start=0 The most overdone monologues, according to http://www.musicaltheatreaudition.com/performance/auditions/overdonemonologues.html "You Shouldn't Need Someone That Much" from This Boy's Life The Peter Pan monologue by Christopher Durang And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little - the squashed puppy speech Brighton Beach - Eugene's monologue Butterflies are Free - Jill Tanner's speech Chapter Two - Jenny's "I'm worth it.." speech Fantasticks - Luisa's speech into song "Much More" Durang - Tuna fish monologues Tea and Sympathy - Tom Whiskey - "Tiny had been tackled by guys..." Woolgatherer - death of the whooping cranes Zoo Story - "Jerry and the dog" Romantic Comedy - marshmallow through the nose Say Goodnight, Gracie - chunky turkey soup SLOW DANCE ON THE KILLING GROUND - Rosie's virginity SPLIT - Stevie Wonder speech STAR SPANGLED GIRL - Sophie's "Mr. Cornell" speech HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES - All Bunny and Banana speeches; Ronnie's tap nce speech I NEVER SANG FOR MY FATHER - Gene's final monologue IT'S CALLED THE SUGAR PLUM - Infamous "Strudel Doe-Strudel Dough" KENNEDY'S CHILDREN - the sex goddess speech KNOCK, KNOCK - St. Joan walking on water speech LAKEBOAT - jock who wanted to dance LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS - "humping Charlotte Korman" LONE STAR - the Grand Canyon speech LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS - trying to get out of the wedding MATCHMAKER - Cornelius' monologue MASS APPEAL - dead goldfish speech NOURISH THE BEAST - orphan speech Glass Menagerie -Tom or Jim monologues, or Amanda's jonquil speech Girl's Guide to Chaos - dating speech Wall of Water - last cigarette monologue Taking With - 15 Minutes Lone Star - Roy's Edith Ellen monologue Romantic Comedy - Marshmallow monologue Quilters - Sunbonnet Sue Shadow Box - Beverly King Lear - Edmond Love Minus - If Actors go to Hell monologue ANYTHING FROM: Laundry and Bourbon A-My Name is Alice or any of its sequels Key Exchange Proof Beyond Therapy Brighton Beach memoirs CRIMES OF THE HEART DIVISION ST. EXTREMITIES TALKING WITH NUTS PAINTING CHURCHES P.S. YOUR CAT IS DEAD QUILTERS FEIFFER'S PEOPLE Hold Me I Hate Hamlet Little Footsteps If I Only had a Brain Equus House of Blue Leaves Star Spangled Girl Baby with the Bathwater Fifth of July Boys Life Heidi Chronicles another overdone monolouge list, according to: http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/printthread.cfm?thread=308446 SERIOUS: (SHOW/AUTHOR/ROLE) Agnes of God/John Pielmeier/Agnes Antigone/Jean Anoulih/Ismene, Antigone The Ash Girl/Timberlake Wertenbaker/Cinderella Backstop/Joan Ackerman/various Beautiful Bodies/Laura Cunningham/Donna Brilliant Traces/CIndy Johnson/Roseanna Bums/R. Shaffaron/Evelyn COllected Stories/Donald Marguilles/Lisa Credeaux Canvas/Keith Bunin/ Amelia Cripple of Innishmann/Martin McDonagh/Helen Danny and the Deep Blue Sea/JOhn Patrick Shanley/Roberta The Debutante Ball/Beth Henley/Teddy The Effect of Gamma Rays .../Paul Zindel/Tillie, Ruth In the Boom Boom Room/David Rabe/Chrissy The LAramie Project/Moises Kaufman/various The Little Foxes/Lillian Hellman/Alexandra Metamorphosis/Mary ZImmerman/various Mourning Becomes Electra/Eugene O'Neill/Lavinia ROad To Mecca/Athol Fugard/Elsa Sally's Gone, She Left Her Name/Russell Davis/Sally Suddenly Last Summer/Tennessee/Cathrine Vital Signs/Jane MArtin/CLover Where Has TOmmy Flowers Gone?/Terrance McNally/Nedda A trap with Women's serious monologues, is that they often revolve around abortion, sex, or drugs, anything that is good quality and not about any of those is generally a good idea. Ones you might want to avoid: Baby with the Bathwater, Laughing Wild, Loose Ends, Beyond Therapy, Night Luster, Boy's Life, Plaza Suite, The Odd Couple, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, Wit, Quilters, Gypsy, The Fantasticks, The Woolgatherers, The Vagina Monologues, Fat Men in Skirts, Darlene Dances,Star Spangled Girl, Runaways, Butterflies are Free, Chorus Line, Diary of Anne Frank, Oleanna, and 'Dentity Crisis. this link will answer all your overdone monologue questions, i bet: http://www.monologueaudition.com/overdone.htm |