Where did this nonsense of auditioning for musicals with monologues originate?

Well I think mostly you would have to do a monologue at an early audition

Generally they would call an actor in just and ask them to prepare a monologue to see if they can act. It's just sometimes an actor may have the right look for the part but not have the skills to play it.

Then after that initial audtion they would give the actor a few sides of the script and ask them to go away and prepare them for a recall some days later.

Perhaps the idea of using monologues has been degenerated in time. Someone probably got the idea it is standard practice when in reality the use of a monologue depends on the type of play and the director's needs

Most musicals don't ask you to use a monologue. It's more important to hear you sing first and then if they like that they will give you sides of the script and if you can act well enough then they like to see you dance too.

Trevor Nunn for example likes to know if his singers can act first and foremost before they even open their mouths to sing

there's generally a difference between motion picture auditions and theatre ones.

Cold readings are much harder on the actor than bringing in something they are more comfortable with.

I don't know everything but i'm afraid this is something with no historical, educational or other type of factual matter to back up the why of monologues for certain performing arts . This may be just another tool that educators and directors saw fit for auditions and everyone is simply free in its use. Is every director a master talent? Absolutely not!

It's so funny, you mentioning this. I thought that only happened here in Mexico. Well, it happens all the time; and not only for musicals, but for all kinds of theatre. I suppose it has to do with saving some time avoiding the explanation of plot and characters in the texts and allowing the actor to perform something that he/she might feel absolutely comfortable with. However, I think you can't choose an actor using this because everybody ends up performing different genres or kinds of theater and probably only those who perform something similar will get it . I prefer the idea of being "measured" according to the same standard (same text for everyone auditioning for a role) and in that way the director can make sure this person matches the profile he's looking for.

Now, let's not forget that casting doesn't always depend on great acting. There could also be other aspects such as physical traits, additional skills, improv ability, etc.

I'm guessing that some teachers may be trying to aggrandize the importance of a monologue by forcing students to have an audition-ready monologue on hand. On the other hand, Community Theater auditions processes are quite often horrid and illogical, so perhaps you can attribute that with not knowing what the... heck... they're doing.

Personally, while I suggest having a monologue ready to go -- if, and only if, asked for -- I would never waste my time sitting through ten renditions of the same monologue from "Saint Joan." I don't have the time.

Hello Theatre Doc,

I am here in the heart of theatre . . . Musical Theatre, mostly. New York City. I audition, frequently, for musicals as I am a Singer/Actor (female). Not once . . . never, in fact, have I attended any sort of professional, or even semi-professional audition, in NYC, for a musical that had us do a monologue.

They have us do, as quickly as possible, 16 bars of our "best" song and even, a few times, for timing sake, 8 BARS! Not much. But, that said, unless you can sing, you do not get to do any sort of monologue until they've heard you sing.

In my community theatre experiences, the same thing applies (song first, and only, usually--until callbacks, when we read from the sides). One exception, though...In Arizona, some years ago, 1992, I auditioned for a dinner theatre musical. They had me sing a whole song (one verse) accapella, and then, asked me if I had a monologue. The only time.

Of course, if young people are being asked to do spoken monologues, at musical auditions. You can do what they taught us to do at my college. Do a song as a spoken monologue! It helps you "feel" the song, for a song is just a monologue set to music, usually!

I was cast in the dinner theatre!

Monologues are pre-prepared so this gives a director a chance to see the person convey the emotion of the character they are preforming. Doing cold reads doesn't give you that chance because the auditioner may have never seen the script before. I like the idea of monologues for plays, sure we do cold-reads AFTER the monologues, a monologue gives you a chance to REALLY see what the persons abilities are in acting.

What i was told is always have a monologue ready for any part you go up for which should be a close match to what you are auditioning for.

i.e. funny character - funny monologue

wonder if maybe they are wishing to see what choices people pick and whether they are a good judge of what they are wantin.

As i posted today in my own profile, i have been given 3 parts to audition for for a film but i dont need to do a monologue as far as i know (but i will have one on standby if needed - always be prepared) but according to the woman running the auditions, they only require the 3 pieces i am going for - nothing else.

guess different people have different ways.

I agree. At my high school we had to audition first with monologues, and we might get called back to read from the script. It was really difficult finding funny monologues for the comedies, because most monologues aren't funny.

Calm down, Doc. Three deep breaths. You know the answer. You have been a director.

One needs to know what an actor is capable of performing. If an auditionee can monologue, said auditionee has "presence" On The Stage. How else can an "auditionor" SEE the potential? Cast to your strongest actors. Bad actors equal bad show. This is nothing new to you.

My guess is because so many musicals consist of spoken word. Not only that, but when I was in musicals and/or doing design for them, many stage actors would complain about how singers could not act. It could be because the director wants to gauge if the singer can truly act whether he/she sings or not. Of course, I would hope they would later want to audition for singing with acting as well, or it's really a moot point.

I think people always try to change foundations in order to keep them "up to date with modern visions" but this only complicates the situation. Maybe the competition is higher and they are trying to make eliminations based on poor memorization etc? Anything modernity touches, it ruins. I also wanted to say hello and I was the one you helped with the theatre review writing. My marks definitely improved by following your steps so thank you :):):):):). Hope you had a wonderful New Year!