About Arlene Schulman Expertise I have been a director, dramaturg, actor and acting coach for over twenty-five years and am happy to share my expertise in learning to act, character development, taking direction, acting styles and techniques, auditioning techniques, how to choose an audition monologue or song (but NOT specific audition songs or monologues), learning lines, script analysis, acting in musicals, dramas, comedies, farces, mysteries and even new plays in their first productions.
I am NOT a voice teacher or vocal coach. My expertise is in acting and directing, not in singing. I can not advise you on specific audition songs, vocal exercises, how to stretch your range or on solving vocal problems. For that you need an expert on singing and vocal work. And there is at least one very good one on this list.
Experience I have been a director, dramaturg, actor and acting coach in the NYC/NJ area for over twenty-four years. I have directed dramas, comedies, musicals, mysteries, thrillers and farces as well as directing original plays in staged readings, workshops, showcases and world premieres. I have worked with all level of actors from amateurs to Equity, from children to seniors.
Organizations Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers - associate member Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of America - associate member Shakespeare Association of America The Shakespeare Instititute - MA candidate - "Shakespeare & Theatre"
Question I am trying to find a monologue to do it front of 12 agencies. I want something funny, witty, and surprising, for women 27-35. I CAN't FIND ANYTHING! Please help!
Answer Hi Shirley,
As I say in my profile, I make it a practice never to suggest any specific audition monologues for anyone I don't know personally. The right audition monologue for you can't just be classified by "funny, witty and surprising for women 27-25". It has to be right for YOU - appropriate to your acting range, exprience, talent and training as well as your look and style. And it also has to be a monologue that you can personally connect to on an emotional and personal level. There are thousands of monologues out there and what might be perfect for someone else might be totally wrong for you. Without knowing you personally there is no way that I could even guess at what might be right for you.
However there are plenty of places for you to look for a monologue. There are lots of comedic plays which have good monologues - try Neil Simon or any other comedy playwrights.
There are also LOTS of monologue books out there that have done the job for you of looking for monologues. You can find them in any library or bookstore. One caution... should you find a monologue you like in one of these books, be sure to read the play that it came from so that you understand the circumstances of the play and the scene the monologue is from, who your character is, what she wants, who she is speaking to and how she feels about them and exactly why she says the words she does. Auditors can tell in a minute when an actor has no clue what the monologue is all about.
I'm sure if you look around you'll find that there are lots of monologues that will work well for you. I wish you all the best with your audition.
