NotMamaRose

Ok, you experienced Ithaca College auditioners, I have a question:

Ithaca's audition instructions stipulate that monologues last no more than a minute and that two monologues and two songs (for MTs) total no more than four minutes. (For actors, the two monologues and introduction are not supposed to exceed three minutes.)

How strictly does Ithaca enforce this? Is it a guideline to encourage kids to avoid doing two, two-minute monologues, for instance, or do they actually use a timing device?

I recall reading a post from an auditioner in years past that said that the adjudicators do, indeed, hold a stopwatch. But a classmate of my D's who has a friend now at IC for acting said that they don't time the kids.

(FWIW, I think the adjudicators appreciate it when kids follow instructions, which are there for a reason. But this has been a source of some debate amongst some kids I know who plan to audition.)

???

soozievt

I don't remember about timing coming up when my D auditioned for Ithaca. However, I would REALLY REALLY adhere to their requirements about length. I would in NO WAY chance this by choosing longer monologues. Why risk it? They may cut you off. Just cause some kid who goes there says they won't cut you off is neither here nor there, in my view. That may be the kid's opinion. Or, that may be the kid's own audition experience. But you will never know if this will apply to you. If in doubt, ask they school if they cut you off after a minute. Also, maybe there is flexibility per piece in terms of length, but they are saying the total must be 4 min. and so there really is not much time anyway to go much over one min. on each of the two monologues and still fit in two songs. I would stay as very close to the guideline as possible to be safe. If truly wondering, ask the department directly.

NotMamaRose

I concur wholeheartedly, soozie! But I drive around a lot of teens who are auditioning for schools for drama, and overheard this conversation. I interjected in the usual adult way, advising them that there is a REASON that IC puts "NO LONGER than a minute" in capital letters on their audition instructions. (FWIW, my own kid has cut her monologues to fit the time frame. Like mother, like daughter ... both sticklers, I guess.)

soozievt

NMR....tell them I said so! LOL! But you have a great point....if the school put this in capital letters, it was for a reason....too many must have disregarded it in the past. Further, if these kids doubt you, tell them to call IC and ask. My D got in but I don't recall her being cut off, but I do recall her preparing according to requirements. I recall at this particular audition, it was very cut and dry....she did what was required and there wasn't discussion with the auditors or remarks, etc. It is a good example, actually, of not judging what was or wasn't said in one's audition as a reflection of the admissions decision!

NotMamaRose

I AM going to tell 'em that you said so. Not only are you a college counselor, but you are also the mom of a kid who went through this process in an extraordinarily successful way, so maybe they will listen to you!
I do think the college emphasized the time limits for a reason. They have a lot of kids to see and hear from. And thanks for the reminder to us all that one cannot always tell from the interactions with adjudicators how things went.