Expert: Peter Messaline - 4/30/2009

Question
Hello
I am auditioning for Helen Keller in the miracle
worker and am asked to prepare a monologue
under 2 minutes. Any advice? Thanks for your
time.

Answer
No-one can advise you on a really good audition speech, because the speech is a product of the audition, the theatre producing the play, the play itself, and what you are bringing to the  mix. You need to know the whole play (not just your scenes!) you need to write your own story about why the character makes the  choices she did.

You must look at speeches until one catches your attention. If you liked it straight off, it's probably worth looking at more closely.
Ask for help at your library. Playscripts and books of audition speeches are around the 800 to 812 area in the Dewey Decimal system.

If the audition is soon, you might not have the words quite learned. Carry the script! It's not ideal, but it will enable you to show that you can develop a real character and tell a story to the audience.

Make the speech short!! Better one minute than two minutes and five seconds. They don't need a lot of time, the director has probably decided about you before you begin to speak. You either feel right to him or not.

Start the audition as you head for the audition room. Play the part of a young actress celebrating her success by showing off to her friends-- "this is what I did at that great audition." Don't be distracted from what you have prepared around the play and your character.
Casting isn't deciding who's best, it's looking for the best match with the director's ideas. There's nothing you can do to affect that, so the audition is really just an exercise, and so that the director can look at you.

A lot of work ahead. Enjoy it as you do it. Enjoy the chance to skim through a couple of dozen plays. Enjoy being the Star!