14 New York actors with no previous experience in Karen’s monologue workshops or Atlantic Acting School classes watched THE MONOLOGUE AUDITION VIDEO and wrote their comments. They were asked: 

What are monologue auditions like for you right now?
“I avoid monologues like the plague”

“I haven't done a monologue audition in years”

“I always feel very uncomfortable acting alone”

“I feel that staging is a major obstacle for me - I tend to be stuck in one place”

“I feel uncomfortable with monologue etiquette”

“I don't have a regular, dependable way of finding and working on monologues”

“I always feel like I am the only actor who can't just do a monologue and enjoy it”

What did you get from watching THE MONOLOGUE AUDITION VIDEO?
“I'm not alone! The steps that you suggest for rehearsing the monologue into a full performance are wonderful.”

“Just watching it once made me less anxious about monologues and excited to try the technique. I will watch it over and over!”

“My overall reaction is that this is a wonderful tool for actors and something that is so rarely addressed in college theatre or conservatory programs, both of which I have been a part of.”

“This video is all about supporting the actor and moving into a place of enjoying and succeeding at monologue auditions!”

“I learned that a good monologue has direction and staging – who knew?”

“I love the extra features, especially the industry interviews. That advice is INVALUABLE.”

“I came away from the video feeling motivated to learn new monologues - maybe even 20!”

“I am so glad to have my own copy that I can just pop in when I need a little encouragement and support because it really did inspire me to want to work on my material and enjoy myself!”

More excerpts:

Shirley Chan
One of my biggest problems is my nerves. I'm a friendly and approachable person but somehow an audition, especially a monologue audition, can reduce me into a bumbling idiot. The video helped me tremendously. I liked the step by step process of what to do on auditions beginning from when we first walk in the door to the entrance. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that a step by step process of TO DO's were listed at the ADDITIONAL FEATURES section of the video. Additionally, information on the bios, playwrights and further interviews were a pleasant addition. I will be viewing this video many, many times so that I can get the entire process without even having to think about it.

Lori Faiella
[The video] hit the nail on the head for me all around. It was so nice to hear other actors discussing their concerns regarding monologue auditions. I especially like the "staging square" and think that by creating a specific playing field for myself I will feel comfortable in any space I have to audition in and I can't wait to try it. I am so glad to have my own copy that I can just pop in when I need a little encouragement and support because it really did inspire me to want to work on my material and enjoy myself!

Susan Godwin
I found the actors on the video very entertaining. Watching them use your technique was very helpful and made the entire process of learning a new monologue look like fun! Your explanation of each step was precise. I enjoyed the segments of an actor in an actual audition and the thoughts that run through all our minds! I think all actors can relate to that! Overall, I came away from the video feeling motivated to learn new monologues - maybe even 20!

Sara Haley
I do monologue auditions about once a week. I feel uncomfortable with monologue etiquette, such as, how do I introduce and conclude my monologue? Do I look at the casting director when I'm auditioning? The video is very easy and fun to watch; the hour and half flies by. There are so many different perspectives presented, from different casting directors to actors of various types and ranges. Plus, I was never bored due to the comic relief throughout. I felt like just when I was about to ask a question it was answered. The video made me realize I was not taking full advantage of my monologue. There is so much more I can do with it than I'd ever realized.

Jules Hartley
I usually get mad at myself for using the same four pieces over and over and over. I feel that monologues need to be kept fresh, and I don't have a regular, dependable way of finding and working on monologues so that I can build up a dependable arsenal to work with at any given audition!

What I got from the video:

• The idea that this audition should really be about ME having fun doing my material!

• I agree with the lack of direction stuff! Specific choices that are not "winged" so that you can be free to have experiences

• Sizes and speeds – never looked at it that way – I'll never forget "big and slow"!

• The audition is really within my control – and that by observing what went well and understanding what's within my control to do better the next time, I can always continue to improve my auditions!

• 20 monologues!!! That is a great exercise to practice. I want to do it.

Rebecca Jupiter
I have about 10 [monologues] that I use based on what the breakdown calls for. At the moment, I feel that staging is a major obstacle for me - I tend to be stuck in one place even if I have made strong choices about the pieces. I thought the video was a great analysis of what steps to take to succeed in monologues - I loved the part about big/small, slow/fast because that is a really simple strategy that I had never thought of. I also liked breaking the piece into chunks I would definitely recommend this video to any actor who is working on monologues, and I really appreciate the chance to see it.

Bill Knepper
As someone who is very frightened by auditioning and has only recently begun to get back out there after a six year hiatus, I found this DVD to be very exciting and user friendly. My overall reaction is that this is a wonderful tool for actors and something that is so rarely addressed in college theatre or conservatory programs, both of which I have been a part of. I loved the five questions section and hearing other actors voice my concerns/feelings/thoughts of the auditioning process, it's comforting to realize that all of us go through these feelings. I found the DVD both fun and educational to watch. The production quality is great and the DVD is classy.

Janine McGrath
I avoid monologue auditions now -- and it's not that I don't think I know how to act - it's because I don't have any confidence in my ability to make a monologue look like a good piece of acting! This video made me realize that many actors feel uncomfortable with monologues and sets out to give actors a method to deal with, and in the end, feel great or at least good about, performing monologue auditions. Just watching it once made me less anxious about monologues and excited to try the technique. I will watch it over and over! The bottom line, I have learned that doing a monologue does not mean you are alone!

Caroline Memnon
I thought the video was great and extremely informative. My problem is that I don't own the space and don't know where to move. I also tend to be one dimensional in my delivery. I found the information in the video to be very helpful. It was a lot of information to take in at once. However, it was clear, well presented and organized. Finally to my surprise, the video was very entertaining and beautiful to watch. I was expecting a taped lecture with a lot of boring information. I even noticed the packaging. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the video, and would watch it over and over again. Ze Frank was awesome, and the writing directing, and editing was superb.

Anhelaisha Montmory
I am sixteen years old. I have performed monologues for films and theater. I have a problem staying still during a monologue. I sometimes get nervous and try to rush through a monologue. (The video) helped me understand that the people that are auditioning you want to know who you really are as a person. There is a very good balance of what and what not to do. Step by step instruction on how to overcome your fears and how to walk in an audition etc. were all extremely useful and detailed. The video helped me to feel more confident about my capacity to do monologue auditions.

Jesse Michael Mothershed
I found the video and your approach very useful and very helpful. Though I was not previously familiar with some of your terminology (from Atlantic ...) I found it fairly easy to follow; it made sense to me. I also found the interviews very helpful, and the mock auditions with the different scenarios were interesting, funny and insightful.

Joe Whelski
It's strange how actors who perform competently on a stage on a consistent basis can feel so lost when approaching the performance of a monologue. I definitely feel that your technique allows the actor to embrace the monologue as a type of "mini performance" --as an opportunity to showcase their stage abilities! This is a positive, proactive approach that I will begin to employ immediately in my own work.

Julie Reed
One of my current issues with monologues are that I never know when and how to move – and your video was very illuminating in its explanation of the 4 basic types of movements and how to relate them to your script. I had never thought of putting a system into place that would take my mind off of movement; that part of your video made a very amorphous area seem crystal-clear.

I also liked the “5 questions” at the end of the video – I had also never thought about a way to check-in with myself about how to make sure I could chart some sort of progress in my auditioning. Overall, your video inspired me to perform monologues; it made me realize the complex process that goes into a successful monologue and how, if you do your homework, you can have much more fun in the audition. I believe it was Charles Tuthill who said, “learn to love to audition” – and that is the major, perception-changing idea I took away from the video.

Dawn Young
Working on both sides of the lens myself, I particularly liked the points of view of the actors auditioning as well as the viewers who are casting and evaluating the presentation. It's good to know what works and what doesn't for them. The fact that they don't all agree is also important to note since we can't, of course, please all of the people all of the time.

I liked that you stressed the importance of being ourselves, liking the process of what we are doing, staying positive and giving off a vibe that we are enjoying being there! You've made a funny, insightful, helpful, practical video on the business of presenting monologues!