What kind of monologue should you use?

Question

If you're auditioning for an agent, should you get a real play monologue? Is it wrong to use one from a book of monologues or from the internet? Can you write one or have one written for you? This is for a teenager. Will they ask you where the monologue is from? What kind of questions do they ask about your monologue?

Answer 1

I second what Theatre Doc wrote, but have one thing to add [which I was reminded of when reading the first answer].

Never use Shakespeare for auditions unless you're auditioning for one of Will's plays. I have seen actors do a comedic speech by Will at an audition for something like a Neil Simon comedy. Very odd -- and not doing them any favors.

Always choose something of a tone similar to what you're auditioning for. In the case of your agent audition, choose something from whatever genre you're targeting.

Answer 2

Harold unfortunately knows nothing about auditioning for an agent, You should have a short, comic monologue from a play or movie. Do not write one yourself. You should introduce your monolgue so the agent knows where it came from. They probably wont ask you anything about it.
NOW be careful you are not walking into a scam. If at any time they ask you for money or want to sell you classes or anything, say no, thank you and leave, cause they are crooks.

Answer 3

Theater Doc has it right but I would also recommend that you have more than one monologue. One comedy, one drama and one classic. They will likely not ask you about the play that the monologue comes from but you should be familiar with it and have read it.

Answer 4

Choose a classic well known monologue. I would pick Mark Anthony's speech from Shakespeare's play of Julius Ceaser that starts with, "Friends, Romans, and countrymen lend me your ears."

With proper enunciation and key words impressed upon during it the agent will be well impressed at the acting skills and not a drone outpour of words without meaning.