How to Use this Website

This website is made up of three main sections:

Plays

There are 8 monologues contained in the Plays menu. Each is performed on video by a student of Dawson College Professional Theatre. Each video focuses on a specific challenge of the audition process and is accompanied by an annotation with direction for students preparing their own audition pieces.

How to use the Play pages

More about the Icons

How to use the Icons

For more information, mouse over the genre or type.

 

A speech intended to amuse the audience or poke fun at other characters and events Comic	A speech that is more about what it describes than about the character speaking it, although the way it is spoken will reveal much about the character Descriptive
A sad speech related to grief, destruction, death or other unfortunate situations or emotions Tragic	A speech in which action that has taken place elsewhere (usually off-stage) or in the past is verbally described rather than visually represented for the audience Messenger
A speech related to love and/or desire Romantic	A speech in which the character reveals to the audience her/his true feelings or intentions Soliloquy
A speech of importance, delivered in earnest with consideration for the consequences Serious	Monologues with a blank icon are of a type other than Descriptive, Messenger or Soliloquy N/A

Scansion

Actors in acting schools and those auditioning for roles with theatre companies that perform Shakespeare cannot afford to be without a solid knowledge of Scansion; it is the key to how Shakespeare�s verse works. Understanding Scansion will help students become aware of important rhythmic changes in their lines, note key words that are set against the prevailing rhythm and pronounce words and names correctly.

This website seeks to demystify Scansion by demonstrating its correct use through a multimedia presentation that explains the method simply while encouraging the student to have fun. The presentation serves to complement the chapter on Scansion in the manual ...and One Classical: A Shakespeare Audition Handbook.

Links

Montréal is famous for its thriving arts and cultural communities but it is not always easy for the anglophone actor to find resources, educational materials and places to develop acting experience. The Links page lists all the major schools available in the area, as well as other organizations that may prove helpful to the young actor.