Alterman - 2 Minutes & Under, Volume 1 70 Short Character Monologues for Actors

Minutes and Under

GLENN ALTERMAN is the author of Street Talk and Uptown, both featured selections for Doubledays Fireside Theater Book Club. His monologue plays include: Kiss Me When Its Over, which starred Andre de Shields (La Mama); Tourists of the Mindfield, a semifinalist in the L. Arnold Weissberger Playwriting Competition at New Dramatists in New York; Dirty Prayers, commissioned by Sydelle Marshall Productions; and God in Bed, which premiered at the West Bank Cafe Downstairs Theater Bar in New York. The first production of Street Talk/Uptown (monologues from the books), premiered at the West Coast Ensemble in Hollywood, California. Another production of Street Talk/Uptown is planned for The Fountainhead Theater in Los Angeles. Heartstrings The National Tour, commissioned by the Design Industries Foundation For AIDS, received a 30 city tour with a cast of 35 including Michelle Pfeiffer, Ron Silver, Christopher Reeve, Susan Sarandon, Marlo Thomas, and Sandy Duncan. His first dialogue play, Goin Round on Rock Solid Ground, was a finalist at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, and received workshop productions at the Circle Rep Lab and The West Bank Caf Downstairs Theater Bar. His first full length play, Nobodys Flood, recently won the 1993 Bloomington Playwrights Project Contest and will be produced this fall. His play Toxic Redemption was part of Primary Stages Planet Earth festival and his play Once In A Blue Moon recently received a workshop production in the Circle Rep Lab. Mr. Alterman is currently working on a full length play and several one acts.

Minutes and Under

Original Character Monologues for Actors

Glenn Alterman

For Gloria Slofkiss.

Published by Smith and Kraus, Inc.
Hanover, New Hampshire
smithandkraus.com

Copyright 1993 by Smith and Kraus, Inc.
All rights reserved

COVER AND TEXT DESIGN BY JULIA HILL GIGNOUX
Manufactured in the United States of America

First Edition: October 1993
6 5 4 3 2 1

CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that the plays represented in this book are subject to a royalty. They are fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America, and of all countries covered by the International Copyright Union (including the Dominion of Canada and the rest of the British Commonwealth), and of all countries covered by the Pan-American Copyright Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention, and of all countries with which the United States has reciprocal copyright relations. All rights, including professional, amateur, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio broadcasting, television, video or sound taping, all other forms of mechanical or electronic reproductions such as information storage and retrieval systems and photocopying, and the rights of translation into foreign languages, are strictly reserved. Inquiries concerning all rights should be addressed to Glenn Alterman, 400 West 43rd Street, Suite #7G, New York, NY 10036.

Alterman, Glenn, 1946

2 minutes and under: character monologues for actors / Glenn Alterman. 1st ed.

p. cm.

ISBN-10 1-880399-49-0 / ISBN-13 978-1-880399-49-1: $11.95

1. Monologues. 2. Acting. [1. Monologues. 2. Acting-Auditions.]

I. Title. II. Title: Two minutes and under.

PN2080.A44 1993

812.54dc20

93-30434

CIP

AC

Acknowledgments

The playwright wishes

to thank the following:

Circle Rep Lab,

Polaris North,

American Renaissance Theater,

The West Bank Cafe Downstairs Theater

(Rand Foerster, Steve Olson, Patricia Miller),

Jo Twiss, Larry Fleischman,

Alice King, Michael Pardy,

Herbert Rubens, Seth Gordon,

Dustye Winniford, Jane Moore,

Nelson Avidon, Bob Ari,

Charlotte Colavin, Carol Halstead,

Marilyn Chris, Lee Wallach,

Anita Keal, Peter Jacobson,

Terry Schreiber, Troy Rubtesh,

Hugh Karakker, Daniel Dassin, Viv Bell,

and the many other

actors and directors

who gave their

time,

energy,

and creativity.

The following monologues are from
plays by Glenn Alterman

Sheridan & Pamela from The Pain In The Poetry

Carlie from Once In A Blue Moon

Mort & Harry from Goin Round On Rock Solid Ground

Herb (called Man in the play) from The Dangers Of Strangers

Dave & Vernice from Nobodys Flood

Other Books by Glenn Alterman

Glenn Altermans Secrets to Successful Cold Readings

The Perfect Audition Monologue

2 Minutes and Under Volume 2: More Character Monologues

2 Minutes and Under Volume 3: Even More Character Monologues

60 Seconds to Shine Volume 3: 101 Original One-Minute Monologues

Street Talk: Character Monologues for Actors

Uptown: Character Monologues for Actors

Introduction

When I first met with Glenn at a coffee shop in New York, he seemed very friendly and fun to work with, but I left the meeting knowing, as Ive directed these monologue evenings before, that the writing and the characters would have to be very, very vivid to keep this thing going. I was dubious.

Then I went home and read his work. I knew right away that this was a special writer. A Glenn Alterman monologue is singular. Some of them are very naturalistic, others are outright fantasies, yet they all have his sense of fun, fancy and sensitivity. You cant mistake his work for anyone elses.

When I directed his work in New York, it struck me that all his monologues, whoever the character and whatever form of reality it might take, tell the story of the most important moment in the characters life. Everything is so important, so vivid, so poetic, yet told so simply and directly. This made the whole project very easy to direct (though I would never admit that to him), and lots of fun to work on (which I told him all the time.)

What is most important is that the actors responded positively to the monologues. These make great audition pieces because they are rich, dimensional, colorful characters telling great stories. This happens to be a rare commodity.

What is most important to me is that this stuff is fun to work on. After all is said and done, this stuff is great fun to work on.

Seth Gordon, Associate Director at Primary Stages, NY

Foreword

When I first began work on this book I quickly learned that the challenge Id be facing was the same one actors have before a two minute audition. That is, trying to say and show so much in so little time. I realized quite soon that these monologues, unlike the ones in Street Talk and Uptown wouldnt have the luxury of extra time or words. That theyd have to be condensed moments. That the characters needs in each one would have to be strong and urgent. And that the situations would have to be compelling and immediate. Add to that a variety of character types, dramatic and comedic moods, age, etc. It was a tall order to be sure. But judging by the response we had at the readings, it was a challenge I feel these monologues met up to.

There are several one minute monologues for the even shorter auditions. And just a couple of three minute monologues for the longer ones. But basically this is a book of solid, two minute monologues.

Once again Id like to thank the many actors, casting directors, and directors who have contacted me with their comments and encouragement. I wish you all the best of luck in those auditions and hope you get the job!