So today in my theater class we discussed acting, The previous units were on script writing and directing and brief acting history. So today we just kind of covered basic acting tips and one of the topics that was brought up was of course, the obligatory monologue.
We talked about finding monologue's for a repertoire and all that when someone brought up a question. The question was directed at the teacher who has both acting and directing experience, and it was what was his opinion of actors creating monologues out of news articles and books and all that.
His answer was mostly about how some actors trying to write monologues for themselves doesn't always work out well. I was kind of wondering more about actors taking materials that were in alternate formats and turning them into monologue.
For example, I had a brilliant actor friend who turned a famous sermon into a monologue and it was one of the best things I've ever seen in my entire life.
What are your opinions on actors turning other kinds of text into monologues and using them for auditions? Is it a good idea or no? Or for certain situations. I just kinda wanted some different opinions to see from an actors standpoint or a directors standpoint, whichever you want. For another example, a lot of books are written from the perspective of the narrator or main character so would it be appropriate to use a page or so as a monologue? Or would that be considered more of a soliloquy than monologue?

I think it's cool when people take monologues from unique sources that are not from a play or book. I have a friend who took his monologue from a Marvel Comic book.

Try to avoid doing those narrating/story monologues. A monologue is supposed to be like a conversation with an imaginary person, not some memorized speech.

Also, unless you can make it COMPLETELY different, avoid doing monologues from film/tv. The problem with this is the great actor who originates it sets such a high bar that the casting director or listener will unconsciously compare you to that actor.

For sure, not to mention that a lot of people when doing something from film, whether they mean to or not, they tend to do less of a monologue and more of an imitation. Especially with really well known pieces.
I'd never heard that narrative monologue were bad before so that's a new perspective I'll have to think more on.
The one thing I might say though, is that I'm not very good at doing the whole conversation with no one there type of thing (which I realize is sometimes needed for film and I should probably get better at it.) But I've heard teachers say before that a monologue should or at least can be addressed to the audience so in that case I wouldn't think narrative would be bad.. hmm.
Or would it be better to do a monologue in a narrative if I'm better at it, or to just stick with a convo instead?

I just find narrative monologues dull. I remember a lot of guys always steal Patrick Bateman from American Psycho's way of shaving and getting ready. It gets old.

I've always thought monologues as a conversation with a group or with one person. I find those ones more interesting. It also forces you to use your imagination, seeing the person's reaction to what you're saying or you saying a line as a reaction to what the imaginary person is doing or maybe saying. This is a skill that's VERY helpful when you cold read with a reader who's just reading and not giving you anything.

Yeah, that's a good way to look at it.
Wow I never would even attempt American Psycho (were I male of course), but talk about a classic!
Do you have any ideas of some good monologues?
If it helps anyone, I am female, and though I am 20 I look about 16 so I can play around that age.
That's just a side note though, if anyone has some floating ideas.
Oh, on the American Psycho thing, are you talking about the beginning one where he's like "I put on blah blah blah blah lotion etc" lol.. okay so that's not an exact quote but I'm sure you know what I mean ....cause I could definitely see that getting REAL boring lol.

That's exactly the Patrick Bateman speech I'm talking about.

You have to find a monologue that fits YOU.