Grad School Diary #1

In case you haven't been paying attention, I'm attacking my future career with two strategies. I'm applying to grad schools, and planning on moving to LA next June/July. Whichever option ends up looking better for me, is the one I'll take.

    But the grad school prep must begin now. Auditions are generally in January, and my apps and reccomendations are due dec 1 or jan 1. So I'm getting on top of everything right now. A friend of mine is going to coach me on my monologues.

    But now I'm faced with the ever-present challenge of monologue selection - how do I choose the pieces that will show me off the best. Do I go with the monologue from little dog laughed that is of the reluctant homosexual falling in love with a straight guy? Or do I go with the piece from '3 of us' with me ranting at the audience that they don't know anything? That one would be tricky to pull of well, it's never a good idea to yell at your auditioners - but it is a really good monologue for me.

    This is why I've hired a good friend and director to aid me in this process. I need a little help. It's a big job to try and figure out how to best present myself, all by myself.

    I'm only applying to 4 schools - mainly because I'm going to grad school so I'll have a leg up on an ACTING career, not a TEACHING career. If I don't have a killer MFA on my resume, it isn't really worth it to spend the time and money getting it. I know that I could probably get a degree for free, or for very little from a lesser-known school, but I'd rather move to LA in that case.

You will be thoroughly kept-up-to-date throughout the whole process, warts and all, so get ready.

-- Shawn Dempewolff

Comments

[Angela Sauer]

I hope that my school is on your list. FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. It's a great school, and we don't teach.

[david Millstone]

whatever you do, don't rant! check out the URT/A guidelines for choosing monologues. Those are good for grad school auditions.