Austin James, FSU Theatre Alum, Participates in Monologue Madness

Austin James, a 2017 Department of Theatre and Dance at Frostburg State University alumni was selected to compete in Monologue Madness, a D.C. based competition that pits 32 actors against each other head to head tournament style. There were rounds for comedy, drama, classical, and the final was a cold read where actors were given a monologue they’d never seen before and had five minutes to prepare.

Though Austin was unable to secure the top prize during the Sunday, Oct. 18 competition, he was able to ascend to the top 8 in the competition, a measurable accomplishment. Then again, reaching new heights isn’t new for Austin. Indeed, after graduating from FSU, Austin attended The Savannah College of Art and Design, graduating with an MFA in Performing arts in 2019. He currently lives in Winchester, Virginia and is actively working as a performer. He spoke with TBL about his career and competing in Monologue Madness:

What are some of the projects you’re working on right now? 

Austin: Unfortunately much of the performing arts industry is shut down due to COVID-19. I was contracted to be performing at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at this time, but they had to restructure their operations. Hopefully I will be able to join them for their 2021 season next summer. Right now, I am keeping busy doing monthly monologue shows on Facebook with Sink or Swim Theatre Company, a company I started with some colleagues from grad school. One of the other company members, Cameron Lopez, also made it into the top 32. So it’s awesome to see that our work is paying off. Sink of Swim Theatre Company can be found online here. 

Tell us about the monologues you read for the competition. Who’s the character and what is their story?

I performed three three prepared monologues for the competition. One comedic, one dramatic, and one classical. The piece I used to audition with is my dramatic piece. It’s from a play called “Blue Surge” written by Rebecca Gilman. The character’s name is Curt, a police officer in a small town. He meets a 19 year old prostitute during a police raid and tries to help her, at the expense of his job and his relationships. The monologue is from a fight between him and his girlfriend Beth. Their relationship doesn’t have much love in it. He is there more because it seems like what he should be doing, marrying a wealthy girl that is better than him. In the middle of arguing about his involvement with the prostitute, Curt opens up about some of the deeper feelings that are plaguing him and their relationship.

You mentioned that you’ve been working on this piece since your time at FSU. How has it evolved over time?

Yes! This is a piece I found through Professor Mairzy Yost-Rushton, and worked with her on it for auditions to grad school. When I first started with this piece, I was highlighting all of the anger and despair that comes out of such a deep argument with your significant other.

The character I was showing was angry and bitter, shouting and projecting at Beth. In graduate school, I had a professor who worked with me on it in class and she urged me to look deeper. She gave me one of the toughest notes to hear, ‘I don’t believe it.’ So I started back at the beginning and tried to find where these feelings of anger and despair are coming from. The end result is a man who is unheard in his relationship, he feels betrayed by his girlfriend who is constantly looking down on him. Instead of projecting his insecurities at her, he’s begging her for answers until at the end he realizes he doesn’t need them from her, he can find them for himself. Overall a lot less shouting.