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Another Audition Advice Post- University

Fri, 18 Jan 2008, 10:48 pm
pericleanmeehan16 posts in thread
Hi all, after searching through existing posts I couldn't find specific advice I was after. I have an audition soon for Monash Uni's Bachelor of Performing Arts, which compromises of theatre games, improv and a 2 minute dramatic presentation of any variety. I have taken a gap year after year 12 and am feeling a little rusty with the theatre games, and am wondering of what nature they would be for the purpose of an audition process? I have always loved theatre games, and am used to participating in them in a creative, warm up etc atmosphere as opposed to a competitive one. Just thought there may be some advice out there for preparing for this situation? I have mixed feelings about the dramatic presentation, I know my strength is comedy, but am unsure whether to take a scene from my year 12 monologue which I loved and received an a for- i have kept my workbook where i have it mostly scripted, or to prepare scenes from musical theatre characters I've played- particularly Dolly from Annie Get Your Gun into a mini monologue, to create something new, or to workshop some comedic monologue I get my hands on. I am not familiar with auditioning for institutions as opposed to roles/musicals etc, the notice of audition letter tells me that they are not concerned with confirming that we are capable performers, but that we are in fact creative, imaginative, and to see how we participate and contribute in groups. I would feel most comfortable with my year 12 monologue character, however I don't know whether it is assumed we wouldn't do this, that they would want to see we have things prepared aside from vce purposes, the fact that it is only 2 minutes also makes me assume they just want a compete mini monologue rather than exerts of a large one, as 2 mins isn't enough time to make use of non-nat elements etc,so really they are looking at acting ability as opposed to creativity? This is a load of vague questions, however any advice, general opinions or audition information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Wow overload of handy

Tue, 22 Jan 2008, 09:23 pm
Wow overload of handy advice *bows down* thanks guys! Yes, I am pretty sure at this stage I will be doing something of my own creation, especially considering no libraries carried 'The Glass Menagerie' by Tenessee Williams which I was considering playing with. So Sean B, did this info night actually say that showing only an exert from your monologue would be acceptable? That they understand it won't make complete sense as they haven't got the full context? If so this is good news :) I agree, I definitely have no intention of going over the two minutes-however much it frustrates me. I am currently writing a short comedic monologue about an old diva auditioning for a part she sees as beneath her. Perhaps this is the one good thing about auditions, you have a great reason to actually get working. Another hurdle I have come across, is that, a finished self devised two minute monolgue is not very full of double edged dialogue, metaphors etc as there is nothing written around it, no themes to keep in tune with, whereas when workshopping two minutes of dialogue from a character from a play/movie you have that context, and if it is well known the assessor's knowledge of this context. Again, any thoughts anyone has I'd love to hear them.

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