SPEECH NOTES -

.Name (introduce self)

.Currently studying (BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Musical Theatre)

.Performances & workshops (Dancebox & 'Dirty Dancing')

.Musical lead role ('The Little Shop of Horrors')

.Extra Lessons (ballet, tap & jazz)

.A-Levels (dance & theatre studies)

.MK Theatre performance (DanceXChange)

.Musical theatre experience (Oklahoma)

.Independent fundraiser ('Hard Candy')

.FMP director ('A Chorus Line')

.Future (vocational/dance school

.Skills (improve & learn)

.Thank you & questions

STRENGTHS - Comical, animated, over-the-top, farcical, funny facial expressions, projection, bold movements, accents, evil & exaggerated characters.

WEAKNESSES - Emotional pieces, crying on queue, serious, troubled, subtle, introverted characters.

STRENGTHS - Acting through song, character songs, humorous songs, songs with a lot of movement, projection, diction, tone, pitch & facial expressions.

WEAKNESSES - breath control, vibrato, ad libs & technique.

On the day of the audition we will be asked to present to the panel two contrasting musical songs (providing sheet music for both) and a monologue of your choice (lasting no longer than two minutes). 

The audition day consists of:

A jazz class (with a chance to freestyle in any genre of dance), a ballet class, a solo song presentation, an acting presentation & a physical assessment followed by an interview.

We will be expected to prepare: Two contrasting songs from the musical theatre repertoire, one Shakespeare monologue & one monologue from a modern play (written after 1979). The monologues must: Last no longer than two minutes each from published plays and should not be extracts from poems, novels, films or television scripts. They must also Involve a character chosen from your own gender & close to your own age, also to be performed in your native accent. Our songs must: Last no longer than 2 minutes each. They must also be performed in the key in which the music is written. The pianist will not transpose, at sight, into a different key. The songs will also give me the opportunity to act through them. We will also take part in a Jazz class which will include a warm up, stretches and corner exercises. Following this we will be taught a short dance routine which will then be performed to the audition panel

Dance, Acting & Singing Warm-up classes and physical assessment. All applicants will normally participate in group warm-up classes and will also be given a physical assessment.

ACTING - should please learn two contrasting pieces of approximately 1 minute 30 seconds each. All Applicants – may also be asked to sight read.

DANCE - Candidates should prepare two contrasting dance styles of their choice in any dance discipline which should be no longer than 1.30 minutes in length. Candidates may only be required to show one of these pieces.

SINGING - Two songs. One song in any style showing vocal range. One song in musical theatre style combining movement / dance as appropriate. Both songs should be no longer than 1.30 minutes each Interview – the applicants may be invited to attend a short interview.

VISION - I wish to gain confidence in my pieces. I also want to be able to perform them off script with confidence.

AIMS - My goal is to achieve a distinction in this unit.

OBJECTIVE - To perform my monologues believably, with personality & flare.

A Chorus Line is a musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch,
lyrics by Edward Kleban and a book by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante.
Centred on seventeen Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line,
the musical is set on the bare stage of a Broadway theatre during an audition
for a musical. A Chorus Line provides a glimpse into the personalities of the
performers and the choreographer as they describe the events that have shaped
their lives and their decisions to become dancers.

Following several workshops and an Off-Broadway production,
A Chorus Line opened at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway July 25, 1975, directed
and choreographed by Michael Bennett. An unprecedented box office and critical
hit, the musical received twelve Tony Award nominations and won nine, in
addition to the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Please, God, tell me

I've not inspired something burgundy.

Red.

Red.

Red.

Red. Charlie boy.

Rule one. Red...

...is the colour of sex.

Burgundy is the colour of hot water bottles.

Red is the colour of sex and fear and danger and signs
that say, "Do Not Enter."

All of my favourite things in life.

Comfy? Sex shouldn't be comfy

I don't know what you're used to makin', but now you're
making sex.

Two-and-a-half feet of irresistible tubular sex.

I mean, that heel. For God's sake.

Not if it means looking like a Ukrainian peasant.

You wanna show your niche market a little more respect,
Charlie.

Let's ask your girls.

Girls. Would you wear something like this to go out?

No.

The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress. The show uses a form of storytelling in which Cathy's story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and Jamie's is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have first met). The characters do not directly interact except for a wedding song
in the middle as their timelines intersect.

The Last Five Years was inspired by Brown's failed marriage to Theresa O'Neill. O'Neill threatened legal action on the grounds the story of the musical represented her relationship with Brown too closely, and Brown changed the song "I Could Be in Love With Someone Like You" to "Shiksa Goddess" in order to reduce the similarity between the character Cathy and O'Neill.

Paul San Marco, a gay Puerto Rican who dropped out of high school and survived a troubled childhood. He grew up in a working class family in Spanish Harlem New York City, where he didn't fit in. Psychologically he is quite introverted & troubled, having to grow up going through therapy, due to personal issues.

WHERE AM I?

The entire show takes place on a theatre stage somewhere in New York City (exact location unknown). Paul grew up in the city so it is a familiar place for him, he doesn't seem to fit in with the other dancers whom all have large & bold personalities.

WHEN?

The show is set in the seventiess. As the musical takes place in a broadway theatre we don't know what time of day or time of year it is outside, but we do know that the scene takes place quite late on in the audition process.

WHAT DO I WANT?

Paul wants to be cast as a dancer in the show Zach is auditioning him for. Specifically at the time of the monologue Paul wants to escape the stage & avoid the personal questions that Zach is asking him, which eventually leads him to breakdown.

WHY DO I WANT THIS?

Just like all of the other people auditioning Paul is struggling to find work & pay the rent. Also the only time Paul feels as if he belongs & fits in is when he's on stage dancing or performing.

HOW WILL I ACHIEVE MY GOAL?

To stand on stage in front of Zach to explain my past.

WHAT MUST I OVERCOME?

I must let my guard down & enable myself to be vulenrable.

The subhuman son of the malevolent witch, Sycorax. He grew up quite high up in the social hierarchy as his mother was the queen of the island. He believes that he is now the rightful king of the island but Prospero (The Duke of Milan) sees Caliban as his personal slave. Caliban is not mentally stable & can switch from being very humane to very animal like.

WHERE AM I?

The play is set on an exotic island, where Prospero ship has come ashore. Specifically at this time Caliban has been captured by Prospero, keeping his away from the rest of the island. Caliban is in a familliar surrounding as he grew up on the island where he is usually free apposed to being locked up in a cage.

WHEN?

The play is set around the 1600's in the summertime. Just before this scene Caliban thought Prospero was his friend so he gave him a tour of the island.

WHAT DO I WANT?

At first Caliban wanted to take his rightful place as leader of the island but now he wishes to break free & get his revenge upon Prospero for enslaving him.

WHY DO I WANT THIS?

Because Caliban feels as if Prospero betrayed his trust & now he seeks revenge.

HOW WILL I ACHIEVE MY GOAL?

I was to move around the space a lot, coming close to the audience to make them both a bit frightened & intrigued by the character.

WHAT MUST I OVERCOME?

I must control my temper & find a way to escape from imprisonment.

Lola is a flamboyant, glamorous drag queen from London who is in search of some sturdy heels that she can wear during performances. He grew up in a working class family with his dad who did not accept the fact that he was different. Lola is very proud & assertive but become quite sensitive when asked about his relationship with his father.

WHERE AM I?

The film is set in three locations spanning from London, Northampton & Milan. At the time of the monologue Lola is in Northampton at Charlie's factory in his office. Charlie has just presented his shoe design to Lola.

WHEN?

The film is set in the modern day (date unspecified). The scene takes place a few weeks after Charlie & Lola first met, she is coming to view the shoes he has designed for her.

WHAT DO I WANT?

Lola wants Charlie to design a sexy pair of heels for her instead of the low-heeled burgundy boots he has just previous presented. She wants to make it clear to him who she is & how she wants to come across as visually.

WHY DO I WANT THIS?

Because Lola is a perfectionist & she cares about how she presents herself.

HOW WILL I ACHIEVE MY GOAL?

By showing the disgust & anger building up in Lola, but also showing the comedic qualities she possesses.

WHAT MUST I OVERCOME?

My anger so I can explain to Charlie who I really am & what I stand for

Jamie Wellerstein is a cheeky novelist on the rise. He was brought up in the Jewish community & religion which he then breaks when he goes on a date with Cathy (Shiksa Goddess). Jamie is of the normal working class & has been previously unemployed with hope of finding an agent to publish his work. Psychologically Jamie is quite flirty & cheeky as we come to learn in some later scenes where he's tempted by other women despite being married to Cathy.

WHERE AM I?

In the song Jamie is on his first date with Cathy, which is going really well. They are both in New York at a restaurant which is familiar to them as they both come from the city.

WHEN?

It takes place during the summer in the evening which is apparent by the lighting & set design of the original production. Just before we see the end of the relationship (Still Hurting) so as the audience we know the end result & that the lust they feel towards each other soon runs out.

WHAT DO I WANT?

Jamie wants to break out of his strict religion & date outside of the Jewish community as he states in the lyrics 'I'm breaking my mothers heart, the longer I stand looking at you'.

WHY DO I WANT THIS?

Because he is fed up of living by the guidelines & rules his community forces upon him.

HOW WILL I ACHIEVE MY GOAL?

I really want to tell the story to the audience as if they were there with him on the date looking into his head to see what he is thinking. I want to use the space well & perform the song with a lot of over the top movements which relate to the lyrics.

WHAT MUST I OVERCOME?

To follow his own beliefs & instincts instead of everyone else's.

I thought I sang the song confidently with flare & characterisation. I successfully used the space of the room, so the audience could imagine where I was & where the scene was set.

WHAT I COULD HAVE IMPROVED

I don't think that I warmed up as best as I could & it did show in my performance when I got to the higher vocals towards the end of the song.

I think that my body language represented the character well & that I successfully delivered the monologue in a believable way. I also used the proxemics of with different levels as I used a chair as a prop & then continued to get up into the space.

WHAT I COULD HAVE IMPROVED

I think that I could have taken more time to deliver the lines clearer as I feel that some parts were rushed.

I think that I really used the space well, using different levels & proxemics which made the performance more interesting.

WHAT I COULD HAVE IMPROVED

I think that I could have taken it even bigger, showing more of a contrast between the different parts in the monologue.

I feel like I believe that I played the role quite believably with confidence.

WHAT I COULD HAVE IMPROVED

I think that I could have spoken more clearly & used the space more.

In the song Jamie is on a date with Cathy, he is breaking out of his culture by dating a woman outside of his jewish heritaqge so he feels a sense of guilty pleasure.  I want to set up the stage as if Cathy were there next to me, I really want this to be clear to the audience.

HOW IS THE SONG INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED?

The song is quite humorous & upbeat so I want to stick the how to song was originally intended to be performed. I want it use movement but I don't want it to look too staged so I think that I will just let the movements come naturally instead of choreographing them.

WHO IS THE PERSON DELIVERING THE MONOLOGUE

Jamie Wellerstein is a cheeky novelist on the rise. He was brought up in the Jewish community & religion which he then breaks when he goes on a date with Cathy (Shiksa Goddess). Jamie is of the normal working class & has been previously unemployed with hope of finding an agent to publish his work. Psychologically Jamie is quite flirty & cheeky as we come to learn in some later scenes where he's tempted by other women despite being married to Cathy.

WHAT ARE THEY FEELING?

He feels good about breaking out of what he has been told to do his whole life, now that's he's finally making his own choices.

WHAT MESSAGE AM I TRYING TO SEND?

That you should go with your heart instead of what people tell you to do because It will end up making you happier.

In this scene Lola is trying to get across to Charlie who she really is & what she asosciates herself with.

HOW IS THE PIECE INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED?

The monologue is very comedic, even though Lola is angry with Charlie the aim is to make the audience find humor in the situation.

WHO IS THE PERSON DELIVERING THE MONOLOGUE

Lola, the proud drag queen from London, who is in need of some sturdy heels that can support her weight.

WHAT ARE THEY FEELING?

She is repulsed that Charlie would represent her as a Burgundy low-heeled boot, when in fact she much rather prefers the color red.

WHAT MESSAGE AM I TRYING TO SEND?

That every individual has their own tastes & preferences.

In the monologue Caliban is expressing his rage & anger towards the Duke of Milan who has betrayed his trust. I want the performance to both shock & intrigue the audience, leaving them feeling quite intimidated.

HOW IS THE PIECE INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED?

The monologue is supposed to show a turning point in the character of Caliban, I really want the audience to see the psychological change, from sane to crazy.

WHO IS THE PERSON DELIVERING THE MONOLOGUE

Caliban is delivering the monologue, rightful king of the island after his mothers (Sycorax) death.

WHAT ARE THEY FEELING?

He is feeling outrage and disgust as he has shown Prospero all of the qualities of the island & he then captures Caliban, keeping him from the rest of the island.

WHAT MESSAGE AM I TRYING TO SEND?

That no character is black & white. We all have a dark side.

In the monologue Paul is explaining his dark past with Zack who is auditioning him for a role in a musical. I want the performance to be quite drawn in a reserved, just like the character I will be playing.

HOW IS THE PIECE INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED?

The monologue is supposed to be very emotional & should create empathy between the character & the audience.

WHO IS THE PERSON DELIVERING THE MONOLOGUE

Paul San Marco is delivering the monologue, he is an introverted dancer who low a low self-esteem and confidence. The only time he feels confident is when he is dancing on stage.

WHAT ARE THEY FEELING?

He is feeling at his very lowest, at the point of breaking down which we see towards the end of the scene.

WHAT MESSAGE AM I TRYING TO SEND?

That everyone has a back story that impacts on their choices & decisions that they currently make.

During the song we see young Hercules leave home to embark on an adventures to find the place where he belongs as stated in the song. I think for this piece it would be appropriate to use as much of the space as possible to show the journey & the build up of the song.

HOW IS THE SONG INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED?

The number is a breakthrough song for Hercules so the audience needs to see the growth in the character which will lead them to be proud in a way by the end of the song.

WHO IS THE PERSON DELIVERING THE MONOLOGUE

Hercules, son of Zeus was summoned down from the heavens to live a life away from his family on mount Olympus. Hercules always knew that he did not fit in & he is taking on the journey to find where he belongs.

WHAT ARE THEY FEELING?

He is feeling scared to leave everything behind but he is excited at the same time to embark on a journey.

WHAT MESSAGE AM I TRYING TO SEND?

That we all have a place we belong in life.

While his strength is above average, Hercules isn't all that intelligent. But what the hero lacks in outstanding brains, he makes up for in compassion and the desire to do good, which is especially appreciated in a world with constant turmoil around every corner, be it by the hands of a demon or beast, or The Lord of the Dead himself, Hades.

WHERE AM I?

In this song we see young Hercules set off on his journey to find his birth parents & where he came from.

WHEN?

The scene is towards the beginning of the story & takes place over a certain amount of days/weeks as we see a change in scenery, time & weather during the song.

WHAT DO I WANT?

To find my really parents & where I came from.

WHY DO I WANT THIS?

Because throughout his whole life Hercules knew that he didn't fit in with society & the place where he grew up.

HOW WILL I ACHIEVE MY GOAL?

I want the audience to see the growth in the character from the beginning of the song to the end. I intend to do this through voice & body language. At the start of the song I want to be quite shy & introverted, following the build up of the song I want my physicality to become much more bold & confident.

WHAT MUST I OVERCOME?

The fear of never being able to fit in & be loved.

Footloose is a 1984 American musical-drama directed by Herbert Ross. It tells the story of Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), an upbeat Chicago teen who moves to a small town in which, as a result of the efforts of a local minister (John Lithgow), dancing and rock music have been banned.

The film is loosely based on events that took place in the small, rural, and religious community of Elmore City, Oklahoma.

From the oldest of times, people danced for a number of reasons. They danced in prayer or so that their crops would be plentiful or so their hunt would be good. And they danced to stay physically fit and show their community spirit. And they danced to celebrate. And that, that is the dancing that we’re talking about. Aren’t we told in Psalm 149: ‘Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song. Let them praise His name in the dance’?…It was King David. King David, who we read about in Samuel, and, and what did David do? What did David do? What did David do? ‘David danced before the Lord with all his might, leaping, leaping and dancing before the Lord.’ Leaping and dancing! Ecclesiastes assures us that there is a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to laugh and a time to weep. A time to mourn and there is a time to dance. And there was a time for this law, but not anymore. See, this is our time to dance. It is our way of, of celebrating life. It’s the way it was in the beginning. It’s the way it’s always been. It’s the way it should be now.

During this scene Ren is delivering a speech in the town hall to the mayor to try & convince him to abolish the rule of not being able to dance in public, in the town of Bomont. Ren is standing at a desk, I wish to keep this the same as I don't want too much movement to distract from what I am going to be saying.

HOW IS THE MONOLOGUE INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED?

At the beginning of the film we see how care-free a rebel like Ren is, apposed to now; he has grown up & gained a sense of maturity & responsibility.

WHO IS THE PERSON DELIVERING THE MONOLOGUE

Ren McCormick, a teenager raised in Chicago, moves to the small town of Beaumont to live with his aunt and uncle. Soon after arriving, Ren makes a friend named Willard, and from him learns the city council has banned dancing and rock music. He soon begins to fall for a rebellious girl named Ariel, who has a boyfriend, Chuck Cranston, and a domineering father, Reverend Shaw Moore, an authority figure in the town.

WHAT ARE THEY FEELING?

Ren is upset & annoyed that they have taken away his freedom to dance & express himself but he Is trying to make them sympathize with him, so he remains calm & collective, like any adult would.

WHAT MESSAGE AM I TRYING TO SEND?

That we can only protect the ones we love to a certain extent & even though we care about them we have to let them live their lives to their full potential.

A teenage boy from Chicago, Ren is a cut-up, a joker who enjoys a good time. Lately, though, his fun-loving attitude has taken on a tone of desperation, as he tries too hard to convince the world – and himself –that his father’s desertion hasn't wounded him as deeply as it has.

WHERE AM I?

In the town hall in front of the jury & mayor of Bomont.

WHEN?

The scene is towards the end of the film where we see Ren transform from boy to man.

WHAT DO I WANT?

To convince the people of Bomont to abolish the rule of not being able to dance in public.

WHY DO I WANT THIS?

Because Ren is passionate about dance & so are his friends so he wants to fight for his & their rights.

HOW WILL I ACHIEVE MY GOAL?

By making the people of Bomont sympathize with the young people, to allow them to have fun back in their lives.

WHAT MUST I OVERCOME?

My short tempter & incapabilities to stay calm & collective.

with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts. The musical has been a popular choice for amateur theatre productions because of its small cast and simple staging.

In the monologue Charlie is describing how much he hates lunchtime & then goes on to talk about some of his classmates. I want to keep the performance similar to the original, so that the audience can imagine me being there in the scene.

HOW IS THE MONOLOGUE INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED?

In this part of the musical we see a vulnerable side to charlie, which is quite endearing making the audience sympathize with him.

WHO IS THE PERSON DELIVERING THE MONOLOGUE?

Charlie Brown is characterized as a person who frequently suffers, and as a result, is usually nervous and lacks self-confidence. He shows both pessimistic and optimistic attitudes: on some days, he is reluctant to go out because his day might just be spoiled, but on others, he hopes for the best and tries as much as he can to accomplish things.

WHAT ARE THEY FEELING?

He is feeling down in the dumps & not very confident within himself. He wants to go & talk to the girl with the red hair but he doesn't have the courage.

WHAT MESSAGE AM I TRYING TO SEND?

That some people have self security issues & they may have a lot going on inside their heads which we may not consider before judging.

Charlie Brown is characterized as a person who frequently suffers, and as a result, is usually nervous and lacks self-confidence. He shows both pessimistic and optimistic attitudes: on some days, he is reluctant to go out because his day might just be spoiled, but on others, he hopes for the best and tries as much as he can to accomplish things.

WHERE AM I?

At school in the lunch hall.

WHEN?

The scene is towards the start of the musical, where we see Charlie before he gains his self-worth & confidence.

WHAT DO I WANT?

To fit in with the other kids at school & to be able to approach other people & start conversation.

WHY DO I WANT THIS?

So he can make new friends & be happy.

HOW WILL I ACHIEVE MY GOAL?

By proving to people that he is truly a good man.

WHAT MUST I OVERCOME?

His fear of being judged & rejected.

O wherefore, Nature, didst thou lions frame?
Since lion vile hath here deflower'd my dear:
Which is--no, no--which was the fairest dame 
That lived, that loved, that liked, that look'd with cheer.
Come, tears, confound;
Out, sword, and wound
The pap of Pyramus;
Ay, that left pap,
Where heart doth hop:
Thus die I, thus, thus, thus.
Now am I dead, 
Now am I fled;
My soul is in the sky:
Tongue, lose thy light;
Moon take thy flight:
Now die, die, die, die, die.

In the monologue Bottom is admiring the forest & nature one last time before he kills himself. This is a very dark moment in the play as Bottom carries the humor throughout. I want to deliver the monologue on the floor, without any movement.

HOW IS THE MONOLOGUE INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED?

As mentioned before this is a very dark part of the play which is supposed to take the audience back as they are used to seeing bottom carry humor & the fun through the story.

WHO IS THE PERSON DELIVERING THE MONOLOGUE?

Bottom is the dancer-like character who provides humor & comedy throughout the play, whom get's his head turned into a donkey's by Puck.

WHAT ARE THEY FEELING?

He is obviously feeling very depressed; to the point of wanting to end his life.

WHAT MESSAGE AM I TRYING TO SEND?

That even the boldest & funniest of people can have psychological issues which could lead to depression & even attempts of suicide.

Bottom is the dancer-like character who provides humor & comedy throughout the play, whom get's his head turned into a donkey's by Puck.

WHERE AM I?

In the forest.

WHEN?

The scene is towards the end of the play where we see the jolly character of Bottom take a dark turn to end his life.

WHAT DO I WANT?

To end my life.

WHY DO I WANT THIS?

Because I am no longer happy & I am sick of being mocked & laughed at.

HOW WILL I ACHIEVE MY GOAL?

By committing suicide (stabs self with knife)

WHAT MUST I OVERCOME?

The need to please everyone else & not get anything back.