The best monologues from 15 years of American Theatre magazine plays. These monologue books present the best audition pieces for actors selected from over 80 plays first published in American Theatre magazine since 1985. The magazine has published many of the most important contemporary American plays over the last 15 years, including Angels in America, Three Tall Women, M. Butterfly, Talk Radio, The Baltimore Waltz, Buried Child, to name a few. Chosen by Stephanie Coen, the former managing editor of American Theatre, these books provide a remarkable array of styles and characters for use in auditions or scene study classes by male and female actors. Selected from the work of the following playwrights: Edward Albee, Jon Robin Baitz, Eric Bogosian, Pearl Cleage, Don DeLillo, Rita Dove, Christopher Durang, Horton Foote, Maria Irene Fornes, Athol Fugard, Vaclav Havel, Danny Hoch, David Henry Hwang, Moisegrave;s Kaufman, Tony Kushner, Craig Lucas, Emily Mann, Steve Martin, Reynolds Price, Dael Orlandersmith, David Rabe, Sam Shepard, Paula Vogel, Lanford Wilson and George C. Wolfe. Stephanie Coen is the former managing editor of American Theatre magazine. She is currently associated with the Intiman Theatre in Seattle, Washington, where she lives.

Introduction

xi

Be Specific: The Actor's Approach to the Monologue

An Interview with Bartlett Sher

xv

1. "WAS I WRONG TO SIDE WITH THE LIVING?"

1

(8)

Angel, Marisol (José Rivera)

3

(1)

Susanah, A Question of Mercy (David Rabe)

4

(1)

Miss Evers, Miss Evers' Boys (David Feldshuh)

5

(2)

Phebe, The Darker Face of the Earth (Rita Dove)

7

(2)

2. "I HAVE TO DO PENANCE."

9

(8)

Marion, Abingdon Square (Maria Irene Fornes)

11

(1)

Judith, An American Daughter (Wendy Wasserstein)

12

(2)

Alexis, The Gimmick (Dael Orlandersmith)

14

(3)

3. "MY BABIES!"

17

(12)

Bette, The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Christopher Durang)

19

(1)

Bette, The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Christopher Durang)

20

(1)

Dessa, Tongue of a Bird (Ellen McLaughlin)

21

(1)

Dessa, Tongue of a Bird (Ellen McLaughlin)

22

(2)

Hafie, Buried Child (Sam Shepard)

24

(2)

Normal, The Colored Museum (George C. Wolfe)

26

(3)

4. "HAPPIER EVER AFTER ..."

29

(10)

Wanda, The Waiting Room (Lisa Loomer)

31

(2)

Wanda, The Waiting Room (Lisa Loomer)

33

(1)

Hester, La Negrita, In the Blood (Suzan-Lori Parks)

34

(2)

Rachel, Reckless (Craig Lucas)

36

(1)

Rachel, Reckless (Craig Lucas)

37

(2)

5. "YOU WILL :REMEMBER THIS."

39

(12)

Maxine, Tongue of a Bird (Ellen McLaughlin)

41

(1)

A, Three Tall Women (Edward Albee)

42

(3)

Claire, Fuddy Meers (David Lindsay-Abaire)

45

(1)

Roma, August Snow (Reynolds Price)

46

(1)

Taw, August Snow (Reynolds Price)

47

(1)

Sky, The Monogamist (Christopher Kyle)

48

(3)

6. "I CROSSED THE LINE."

51

(10)

The Welfare, In the Blood (Suzan-Lori Parks)

53

(3)

Suzie, Silence, Cunning, Exile (Stuart Greenman)

56

(1)

Barbara, Three Hotels (Jon Robin Baitz)

57

(4)

7. "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"

61

(12)

Callie, Stop Kiss (Diana Son)

63

(1)

Miss Pat, The Colored Museum (George C. Wolfe)

64

(2)

Topsy, The Colored Museum (George C. Wolfe)

66

(2)

Shelly, Buried Child (Sam Shepard)

68

(1)

Pooty, Reckless (Craig Lucas)

69

(1)

Jolene, The Day Room (Don DeLillo)

70

(3)

8. "IT'S MY FATE, DO YOU SEE? THIS LOVE."

73

(10)

Masha, The Three Sisters (Anton Chekhov, adapted by David Mamet)

75

(1)

Yachiyo, Ballad of Yachiyo (Philip Kan Gotanda)

76

(1)

Lee, The Chemistry of Change (Mariane Meyer)

77

(1)

Mom, Lloyds Prayer (Kevin Kling)

78

(2)

Genevieve, August Snow (Reynolds Price)

80

(3)

9. "ART WAS NOT A PART OF OUR LIVES."

83

(8)

Bob's Mom, Bobrauschenbergamerica (Charles L. Mee)

85

(1)

Marie, Search and Destroy (Howard Korder)

86

(1)

Alexis, The Gimmick (Dael Orlandersmith)

87

(1)

Alexis, The Gimmick (Dael Orlandersmith)

88

(3)

10. "THERE'S BAD BLOOD BETWEEN US ..."

91

(10)

Myrna, The Mineola Twins (Paula Vogel)

93

(2)

Mrs. Siezmagraff, Bettys Summer Vacation (Christopher Durang)

95

(3)

Nan, Three Days of Rain (Richard Greenberg)

98

(3)

11. "THE ONES WHO CROSSED THE OCEAN ..."

101

(8)

Rabbi Isidor Chemelwitz, Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches (Tony Kushner)

103

(1)

Zofia, Tongue of a Bird (Ellen McLaughlin)

104

(2)

Anka, Hunting Cockroaches (Janusz Glowacki)

106

(3)

12. "YES, YOU ARE, HE SAID; YOU'RE THAT KIND OF GIRL."

109

(8)

C, Three Tall Women (Edward Albee)

111

(3)

Suzanne, Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Steve Martin)

114

(1)

Chata, Roosters (Milcha Sanchez-Scott)

115

(2)

13. "AREN'T HUMAN BEINGS THE SADDEST PEOPLE YOU EVER MET?"

117

(14)

Dora, The Swan (Elizabeth Egloff)

119

(1)

Dora, The Swan (Elizabeth Egloff)

120

(1)

Harper, Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches (Tony Kushner)

121

(2)

Corlis, The Chemistry of Change (Mariane Meyer)

123

(1)

Bessie, Marvins Room (Scott McPherson)

124

(2)

Linda, Talk Radio (Eric Bogosian)

126

(2)

Denise, Talk Radio (Eric Bogosian)

128

(2)

Blonde, The Incredibly Famous Willy Rivers (Stephen Metcalfe)

130

(1)

14. "THE HAPPIEST MOMENT OF ALL?"

131

(10)

A, Three Tall Women (Edward Albee)

133

(1)

Emma, Pterodactyls (Nicky Silver)

134

(2)

Betty, Betty's Summer Vacation (Christopher Durang)

136

(2)

Marisol, Marisol (José Rivera)

138

(3)

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American Theatre Book of Monologues for Women

9781559361989

1559361980

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