Monologue Mastery : The Actor's Guide to Selecting and Performing Monologues

by Holmes, Prudence Wright

• ISBN13: 9780879103705
• ISBN10: 0879103701
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-02-01
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corp

Summary

Monologue Mastery is a manual and workbook for the beginning actor as well as the seasoned professional. It addresses in specific detail every phase of monologue preparation from selection to performance. It covers in great detail the three most important phases of monologue selection and performance: how to find great little-known monologues, how to find monologues that fit you perfectly, and how to act the monologue brilliantly and capture the auditors' attention. Monologue Mastery is easy reading, full of entertaining anecdotes, and intensely practical, providing a step-by-step approach to doing monologues in a very concise manner. Monologue Mastery is a handbook that actors will rely on for years to come. HIGHLIGHTS: A workbook that gives specific exercises to help the actor discover his/her type and to learn how to rehearse and prepare his/her monologue.

Author Biography

Prudence Wright Holmes, also known as the Monologue Detective, is a veteran actor and teacher who has been coaching actors for more than twenty-five years. Her students have appeared in films, on television, and in Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional theater. Her own extensive acting credits include the film Sister Act and the original off-Broadway casts of Godspell and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You. She comes from Bexley, Ohio, and lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Finding Little-Known Monologues	p. 1
Plays and Films	p. 2
Workshops and Readings	p. 2
Plays of Other Eras	p. 3
Other Literary Sources	p. 3
Audio Books	p. 5
Film and TV Scripts	p. 5
Become a Reader	p. 6
The Internet	p. 6
Monologue Books	p. 6
Auditions	p. 7
Writing Your Own Monologues	p. 7
Exceptions to the Rules	p. 9
Summary	p. 9
Discovering Your Unique Qualities	p. 11
Who Are You?	p. 11
Questionnaire	p. 11
Take a Survey	p. 13
Problems and Conflicts	p. 13
Age	p. 14
Act What You Know	p. 15
Typecasting Yourself	p. 16
Influences That Shaped You	p. 17
Researching Actors Like You	p. 18
Feedback from Strangers	p. 19
Updating Your Product	p. 20
Fantasizing About Your Ideal Role	p. 20
Review Your Resume	p. 21
Breaking the Rules	p. 21
Race	p. 21
In Conclusion	p. 22
Summary	p. 23
Shaping Your Monologue	p. 25
Hit the High Points	p. 25
Make the Circumstances Clear	p. 38
Create a Conflict	p. 39
Summary	p. 39
Audition Preparation	p. 41
Rehearsal Techniques	p. 41
Working with a Partner	p. 41
Creating a Character History	p. 42
Character History Questions	p. 43
Life Improvisations	p. 46
Collecting Objects	p. 47
Memorization and Staging	p. 47
Keeping in Shape	p. 48
Stage Versus Film Monologues	p. 49
Beginnings and Endings	p. 49
Summary	p. 50
Script Analysis	p. 51
Emotional Preparation	p. 51
Emotional Recall Techniques	p. 52
Crying on Cue	p. 56
Where Are You?	p. 56
Style	p. 57
High Stakes	p. 58
Identifying the Conflict	p. 58
The First Ten Seconds	p. 61
Relationship	p. 62
What Do You Want?	p. 62
Beats	p. 62
Action Verbs	p. 63
Making the Monologue into a Scene	p. 65
Summary	p. 66
Frequently Asked Questions	p. 67
Ask the Experts	p. 91
Monologues They Never Want to Hear Again	p. 101
Female	p. 101
Male	p. 101
Your Audition Diary	p. 103
Bibliography	p. 115
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