"Monologues: Dramatic Monologues For Actors" Fills Monologue Vacuum For Black Actors

Feb. 9, 2013 - PRLog -- One of the biggest challenges for black actors, whether for Hollywood, Broadway or simply for amateur productions, is finding a "good audition monologue".

The second paragraph of the introduction in Hudson's book addresses this longstanding problem:

"Monologues by Gregory L Hudson will help to fill a very long and often ignored void in the American theatre and the performing arts as a whole. For decades, as an actor, finding good monologues for auditions (whether for film, theatre, television or otherwise) was perhaps the most difficult challenge facing black actors, and arguably it still is".

Fully understanding this problem, he goes on to say,

"He often had to use monologues from great white American playwrights, such as Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, Eugene O'Neal and others, because there simply were not very many good, well-known monologues by black authors to choose from ... and this was the inspiration and the necessity for publishing this desperately needed magnificent book of monologues".

Monologues is a complilation of thirty-two (32) original monologues and all of the monologues are from Hudson's own body of work. The monologues are taken from his stage plays (all of which have been performed successfully on the New York Stage), screen plays, tv pilots, and radio dramas.

There are several aspects of this book that separates it from other monologue books. Hudson's book has a chapter on 'stage terminology', 'film terminology', and a chapter on 'commonly used vernacular'. No other monologue book on the market can make such a claim.

"I'm still not shocked or surprised when black actors from New York, California, and other places call me and say that they are still having a very difficult time finding good monologues for black actors".

Although this book has never been reviewed, it still remains quite popular among those who have purchased it and can be found in about half of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities ("HBCU").

"Monologues is in the Yale School of Drama Library. If it's good enough for Yale ... it's good enough for any other college or university".

Surprisingly, given the need for such a book and by a black author, the black media has not reviewed or filtered news of this book into the black community. This book was published in 2008 and ranks among the top on Amazon. It is published in paperback, hardcover, and ebook.

One very important feature of the book is that "it has some very strong monologues for women". As for men, the roles are as varied as the colors of the rainbow.

"People should not be fooled into thinking that the monologues are for black actors only. I write for actors ... of all colors and so are the monologues in this book". Some of the monologues can be previewed on my website". http://www.poorpennyproductions.com/index/Monologues:_Dramatic_Monologues_For_Actors

For directors, teachers, or educators ... "Monologues: Dramatic Monologues For Actors" is gem. The flexibility of this book is unmatched. Why have students buy 3 or 4 books for stage terminology, film terminology, and monologues when this book has it all? Hudson, who teaches "Theatre/Drama" in the New York City Public School System knows the value of using this one book. "This one book gives me the flexibility as an educator, director, acting coach ... to teach stage and film directions or terminology and ... stage a production of monologues if necessary."

Actors are also discovering the follow-up book to "Monologues" called, "Showtime: Comedic Acting Scenes for Two Actors".

"For those actors who are requesting to use monologues and scenes from my books for their audition reels, contact me via phone or email and I will provide written authorization once I know which monologue or scene and that it is for an audtion reel. Also, actors and producers interested in staging productions of my monologues or scenes for showcases should do the same. For these uses, no royalty fee is charged ... just my written authorization".

Hudson is the CEO/Producer and founder of Poor Penny Productions, Inc. He has a MFA in performing arts management, a BA in theatre and teaches all aspect of theatre professionally and within the New York City Department of Education. All of his full length plays have been produced on the New York Stage. He has also written and appeared in film and television and is currently involved in a project to bring film, television, and theatre to Jamaica Queens, New York.