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An actor's take on the audition monologue

Insights from twenty years of acting on Stage, and television. Throughout the years that I have been auditioning for theatre, whether it be for equity, non-union or equity waiver productions, I have always performed a monologue.
A reading of the play in question may be part of the first audition, but a monologue will almost certainly be expected. Naturally, I am referring to the first time audition, and there will be plenty of these. An audition where you are unknown to the director or casting person.

The rules are different once they are familiar with your work.
There are many factors to be considered in the preparation for an audition monologue. Here are some;

The first, may seem obvious to most actors, but you'd be surprised.
Is the piece any good?
Pick a monologue that is tried and tested. Choose it from a successful stage play or movie that has been performed and appreciated; Not an unknown piece or something a friend wrote, or even more important, that you wrote. It may be fantastic and I am sure that you think it is, but why take a chance?
The producers and director of the play that you are auditioning for are interested in you as an actor, not a writer. If they are not familiar with your work they will be looking to see your range, your ability to take a writer's words and make them your own.
Most actors can perform their own dialog, the test is to perform someone else's.
Believe me, with all the other stuff that is going on at an audition, wondering how your writing will be received is an extra concern that you don't need.
Get the part first, and then you have time to promote your writing to interested ears.

Take plenty of time to consider your type.
By this, I mean what you are most likely to be cast as, and not what you think you should be cast as. Try to be honest about yourself. It isn't easy.
We may all be capable of playing Hamlet, or Cleopatra, but will we all get the chance?
I'll use an example; An actor loves Shakespeare, and badly wants to play the role of Iago in Othello.
Every time he sees a casting notice for the production, the actor auditions, unsuccessfully.
The casting directors of these productions, seem to like his work, and even ask him to read for Cassio, another main character in the play, but he wants to play Iago. He has studied the part since school, loves the character, and feels he has great ideas to offer the role.
So he auditions five times for the role of Iago, and still does not get the part. This

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