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Question: Why do auditioners like Shakespeare monologues so much!?
I was looking at acting school & classes, and for the advanced, most of them wanted or preferred you to act out a Shakespearean monologue!. Why do auditioners like Shakespeare monologues so much!?!?!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Because it shows your ability to be honest, and authentic, within language that is heightened--poetic!. It is often an easier task for actors to be theatrically engaging and honest within contemporary work; the language is more accessible and you often feel more free and 'natural'!.

That same freedom and authenticity needs to be accomplished with denser texts such as Shakespeare, Moliere, Ibsen, Chechov, Shaw!. The auditioners want to see your RANGE and your ability to make the 'arguments' in these densely worded text clear!. And obviously, the greater range you have, the more possibilites you have for casting!. It is not enough in classical texts to 'feel honest', you must also make the langauge and arguments of the text clear to the audience!.Www@QuestionHome@Com