Middle School Shakespeare
Monologue Competition
February 15, 2006
2:30 Arrive at Imagination Stage
2:45 Warm-Up for All Contestants
3:00 Monologue Competition
Imagination
Stage, Bethesda, MD
(click here for
directions and parking information)
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This competition is designed to help you understand
a passage from Shakespeare. As you learn your monologue, you
will be both director and actor. You need to learn all about
this character. Once you do, the words you speak and the actions
you use will show what this person wants in this moment.
Choose a monologue
You should choose a piece that is no more than 25 lines (or
one that can be cut to 25 lines and still maintain the sense
and the action of the piece). We offer some choices here.
Choose a character that speaks to you; you should have a compelling
reason to inhabit the character. Is it the character's situation?
Is it attributes of the character's persona? Would you be comfortable
playing this person? You might wish to discuss different plays
and character options with your teacher.
Work on the text
You must read the entire play. You need to understand the journey
of the character from the beginning of the play to the end. The
monologue is one point on that journey, and you want to know
where the character is on the way to the end. Then, analyze your
character, and use specifics. Who is this person? What is s/he
trying to get throughout the play? What does s/he want in the
moment of this monologue? What gets in the way? Is it an external
conflict or an internal conflict? The text will provide you with
the answers; be a detective and search for the clues that will
illuminate the character!
Prepare for performance
You will need to memorize the piece, but it is not a good idea
to memorize the piece until you know what the text means. Make
sure you know what each word means. Use the dictionary and the
Shakespeare Lexicon for text that is not clear. “Translate” your
piece into modern speech; this process will help you to connect
to the text. Create your “moment before.” What happens
to the character right before s/he starts speaking? How can you
create that moment? You must know why you are speaking before
you start. Who are you talking to? What do you want from that
person? What will you do--with both text and physical action--
to get what you want? Just as there is a moment before you start
speaking, there is a “moment after.” What happens
when you stop speaking? How does that moment resonate?
Take risks! As actors, our bodies and our voices are our main
tools. Don't be afraid to experiment with physical and vocal
action. Our voices can be wonderfully expressive; we can use
pitch, pace, tone color and imagery. However, please your own
voice—stay away from dialects (just because Shakespeare
was a British playwright does not mean you need to pull out your
British accent).
Perform
Before you begin your piece, you should introduce yourself,
the character and the title of the play. Then begin! You may
use one hand prop, if needed (for example, the ring in Viola's
speech or the letter in Julia's speech). Most importantly, enjoy
yourself and embrace the moment.
It sounds like a big job! To help you polish
your monologue, Imagination Stage will hold two workshops,
one on Thursday, February 2, from 10 am to 12 pm, and the
other on Sunday, February 5, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
Dress
You may not wear a costume. You should think,
though, about the sorts of clothing your character would wear.
It might be difficult to be Helena in slacks; Caliban probably
wouldn't wear a blazer and khakis. Choose clothing that will
help you move freely and will allow you to inhabit the part.
Don't wear anything that will make you or others feel uncomfortable.
Eligibility
You must be a permanent resident of the United
States , and you must be enrolled in the 6th, 7th, 8th or 9th
grade in a public, private, or parochial school. You must not
be a professional or semi-professional actor (here defined as
a person who has received, or is scheduled to receive, payment
for a professional or semi-professional acting performance during
the school year in which the competition occurs").
If you are in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade, you
should consider the competition sponsored
by the English-Speaking Union.
Co-sponsored by the Center for Renaissance & Baroque Studies, Imagination
Stage, and the English-Speaking
Union.
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