The Fantasticks

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 12:16am

So, can anybody give me their opionion on this musical. I am thinking about doing a monolouge from it when I try out for Bat Boy in September at my college. I like the monolouge, it just seems kind of hard to do since it's not really full sentences. Tomorrow, I am gonna see if I can get the whole play at Barnes and Noble and perhaps the CD too but, if you have any interesting info to share, I'd like to know what you all think about it.

Also, we need to sing a song for the audition and I don't think I'm going to end up doing it, but would it be awkward to do a monolouge and a song both coming from the same musical?...in this case "The Fantasticks"

Has anybody done this monolouge and was it hard to read?

Thanks for any help

Updated On: 4/24/05 at 12:16 AM

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 12:23am

This is truly my favorite musical of all time. It was so much a part of my childhood, and my life growing up...it's my parents' favorite show, and they sang "They Were You" at their wedding. As for the monologue, which one are you doing? Personally, I did Louisa's monologue right before "Much More" for my audition for "The Mikado" several years ago, and it was EXTREMELY well-received. It's a magical, wonderful show that is so beautiful in its simplicity. Maybe it's because it played a bigger part in my childhood than Sesame Street or Mr. Rogers ever did, but it's true all the same for me.

Hope that helps! If you have any other questions about it, feel FREE to ask me! :)

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 12:28am

Lael- I am doing the monolouge where it ends: "I am special, I am special. Please god Please, don't let be be normal"...the one where she combs her hair 200 times without stopping and how it turns colors. I don't know the gist of the story yet so I am gonna go to Barnes and Noble to get the whole play if I can tomorrow.

Do you sugguest, if I am trying out for Bat Boy, not to do both a monolouge and a song from Fatntasticks?

For some reason, for me at least..I like this monolouge a lot bue it just seems very, weird...it's not sentences really but it's not a poem either. The beats are hard to figure out if you know what I mean. Any suggestions?

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 12:35am

Yep, that's the one I did. As you can see (*points to signature*), it's one of my favorites from any musical ever. I don't know BatBoy, but it's a wonderful monologue, and you can really show off your talent if you capitalize on the material, as is pretty easy to do.

Louisa's introducing herself to us in this monologue. She's a very special girl. The thing that's most important to tap into is the general feeling of the play; it's slightly off, just like the rhythm. The play has a very slight feeling of mysticism about it, personified in El Gallo (GY-o). What song are you doing?

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 12:40am

I don't know what song I am doing or if I am doing a song from this musical as I don't want it to be weird to have my monolouge and song be from the same thing. I don't even know the music that well of The Fantastiks so if I can make my schedule to fit a trip to Barnes and Noble to get the CD and the whole play, I'm going to do that. Perhaps, I can IM you tomorrow. Thanks for your help thus far.

I also am looking at a monolouge called "A Bird of Prey" By Jim Grimsely or a monolouge called "Class Action" by Brad Slaight.

Although, I really like the fantastik one alot better, it's just really hard to read with the 'non-full sentence types of beats' *if you know what I mean*

Posted: 4/24/05 at 12:52am

1) When auditioning for a show, drama or musical, you should NEVER use a monologue from a musical. The director wants to see if you can tackle actual drama.

2)If you choose to do the Fantastiks monologue, you should at least attempt it. You're not much of an actress if you can't at least attempt something that's challenging.

3)Buy the Cast Recording of Bat Boy and listen to it's style of music. Then try and find a musical by the same composer or at least a musical with the same style as the songs in Bat Boy. The Fantastiks is nothing at all like the music in Bat Boy.

Overall, not some good choices.

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 12:59am

ok- if this doesn't make sence- its cause my sleeping pill has kicked in...alot.
my theatre teacher said that the monolouge from fantastiks would be a gret monolouge choice for bat boy since they are both musicals. My problem with this fantastiks monolouge which I love is that it kinda hard to read and the beats/objectives are in weird places. I am most likely going to do this monolouge for auditions but still not quite sure which song I am gonna do. We'll see...Its not till september anywayz...i worry too far in advance- I need to shut my brain off which is what these sleeping pills seem to be trying to do. night everyone!

[apdarcey]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:59am

findyourgrail is way off here. this would be an excellent monologue choice for your auditions... i don't think it's as hard as you make it out to be... i think that if you just keep reading it it will make sense to you... it's louisa's thoughts, that's why it's not full sentences... she's not talking to the audience, she's talking to herself.

second, do not do a song from the fantasticks... i assume you were going to do much more, and while i think the song is great, not for an audition for bat boy... you need to sing something in the style of bat boy... off the top of my head i would say somewhere that's green is a much better choice.

[RockyRoad]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 2:58am

Don't do it if you're auditioning for a music school. It's one of the overdone ones.

[Jon]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 8:32am

Take it from someone who has had to sit through literally tens of thousands of auditions over he past 25 years: Luisa's monologue and song (Much More) are done do death, and I'd be thrilled to never hear them again. And this is coming from someone who LOVES The Fantasticks!

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 9:22am

Ok- # 1.I am not auditioning for a music school- I am auditioning for the musical "Bat Boy" at college in the fall.

#2. I've heard that you shouldn't use a monolouge from a musical when auditioning but do you think it will make a 'hit or miss' kinda thing if I do it.

#3. I have no clue which song I am doing because I have never even heard the fantastiks CD yet...(I just ordered it now.) Since you guys don't think any of the songs from "The Fantastics" fit because they are not the stye of "Bat Boy", can anybody give me some suggestions on songs they think may work.

And, I don't know my range by the way. If you could just name some songs, that would be great! I will know my range in the summer. Thanks sooo much!

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 10:02am

I believe the monologue in question is actually on the CD, so that should clear up your beat problem.

For the song I would choose something more rock or pop.

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:07pm

Thank you jacob! Do you have any spcific song suggestions?

[apdarcey]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:11pm

my specific song suggestion is somewhere that's green. look at other small pop musicals... maybe i see a river could be good for you.

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 2:41pm

So you are ready to audition for BAT BOY but you've never even heard THE FANTASTICKS?

Your ignorance sickens me.

Posted: 4/24/05 at 2:43pm

I agree, Russell.

[Jwei123]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 2:45pm

I saw a production a few days ago, and the cast was very talented, but I really don't like the show. It was really messy and all over the place. NOT a fan.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 2:49pm

I love the Fantasticks, it always reminds me of a music box, or something like that. When done correctly it can be quite lovely and even moving. A lot of people do the show, thinking it is a piece of simple cake, but I think the show is very fragile. Try to Remember...

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 8:04pm

Mister Russel and Find Your Grail- your rudenss sickens me. First of all, I've heard of the fantasticks, second of all, didn't your mother tell you if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all? If you haven't learned that lesson by now, thats just plainly sad.

[mollyllom]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 10:21pm

I just did that monologue and song for a concert for my choir, so I'm familiar with it. And I'm a humongous Bat Boy fan, so this is a fun thread for me.

I'd recommend to choose a song from something more contemporary just because Bat Boy isn't similar at all musically to anything in the Fantasticks, really.

However, for anyone doing this monologue and song or one of them, I HIGHLY recomned NOT doing it in the bland and boring way most people tend to do it. Look at the words--she's not an en genue who is naive, she's a naive girl who is very very different. When I heard the CD recording of the song I was bored to tears. Do the character justice if you're going to do her at all.

I agree with the recomendation of doing a monologue from a play, and depending on what part you want, try for something serious that shows you can act well.

Go listen to the soundtrack, whether you buy it or l isten to the clips on the official Bat Boy site (come on, you should have been there by now to find out about the show some more), and decide based on those what you think fits best.

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 10:34pm

Thanks Mollymom. I don't know if you are saying I should know Bat Boy or Fantaticks more. I do know a lot about Bat Boy. My friend was "Bat Boy" at his college when they did the play last semester. However, I do not know so much about Fantasticks. I did order the CD and the book thing from Barnes and Noble.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 2/7/06 at 9:40pm

Is there a way someone could post that monolouge for me?

[Radford]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 11:03am

I assume that the part you are going for is the teen daugheter, Shelley, in Bat Boy. It's a great part. But, totally different character from that of Louisa in The Fantasticks. If you can sing Shelley's songs, (She even raps in the play) Then something of Audrey's from Little Shop of Horrors would be perfect. Most of the music is Rock, but the composer of Bat Boy, Laurence O'Keefe does a great job of including many different styles of music.

I would sing Audrey's part in Suddenly Seymore, Something that's Green, or something from The Rocky Horror Show.

[Jon]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 1:48pm

The reason the lines in FANTASTICKS seem like fragments isthatthey are actually written IN VERSE. Many sections actually rhyme.

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 2:07pm

Yeah, the two shows are stylistically VERY different.