Journal Have you ever auditioned or interviewed for something? What did you have to do? What kind of questions did they ask you? How did it go? Have you

JournalJournal

Have you ever auditioned or Have you ever auditioned or interviewed for something? What did interviewed for something? What did you have to do? What kind of you have to do? What kind of questions did they ask you? How did questions did they ask you? How did it go?it go?

Everything About Everything About AuditionsAuditions

Before the AuditionBefore the Audition

Study!Study! What What

company/school/company/school/

department are you department are you auditioning for?auditioning for?

What is their What is their production history? production history?

How many people How many people do they need?do they need?

What kind of What kind of people? Male? people? Male? Female? Specifics.Female? Specifics.


Get to know the audition:Get to know the audition:What production is it?What production is it?What role(s) are they casting?What role(s) are they casting?Are there other roles in the show you Are there other roles in the show you

haven’t considered?haven’t considered?Read the play/listen to the soundtrack a Read the play/listen to the soundtrack a

few timesfew timesYou might be asked to read/sing from You might be asked to read/sing from

the script!the script!


What to prepareWhat to prepare Generally: 60-90 sec. monologue & 16 bars of a Generally: 60-90 sec. monologue & 16 bars of a

song.song.They should specify what type of monologue/songThey should specify what type of monologue/song

ComedicComedic DramaticDramatic Classical (Shakespeare, Moliere, Sophocles, etc.)Classical (Shakespeare, Moliere, Sophocles, etc.)

Songs:Songs: Contemporary (newer musical)Contemporary (newer musical) Classic (Golden Age and before)Classic (Golden Age and before) Specific genreSpecific genre

A professional actor keeps a “repertoire” of varying A professional actor keeps a “repertoire” of varying pieces to perform at the drop of a hat!pieces to perform at the drop of a hat!

Where Are These Where Are These Monologues?Monologues?

Read plays!Read plays!RecommendationsRecommendationsMonologue BooksMonologue BooksThe InternetThe InternetYoutubeYoutubeMovies/TVMovies/TVBooksBooks

What is 16 bars?What is 16 bars?

How Long Does 16 Bars Last?How Long Does 16 Bars Last?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUl-IbuQ6Dkv=GUl-IbuQ6Dk

PREPARE!PREPARE!

Have your monologue memorizedHave your monologue memorizedKnow the piece it is from and who wrote Know the piece it is from and who wrote

ititKnow the name of the character and Know the name of the character and

their background storytheir background story

Prepare!Prepare!

Have your sheet music preparedHave your sheet music preparedBest practice: put it in a 3 ring binderBest practice: put it in a 3 ring binderHighlight where the pianist should begin Highlight where the pianist should begin

and where they should endand where they should endIf you use sheet protectors, make sure If you use sheet protectors, make sure

they are not glossy (creates a glare)they are not glossy (creates a glare)

Prepare!Prepare!

Some auditions ask for you to come Some auditions ask for you to come “prepared to move” or “ready to “prepared to move” or “ready to dance”dance”

This means you are This means you are willing to willing to auditionaudition for a dancing role for a dancing role

Dress comfortably or find out if there Dress comfortably or find out if there will be a place to change for the will be a place to change for the dance portiondance portion

Questions?Questions?

Activator:Activator:

Exercise!Exercise!Pass a sheet with your name around Pass a sheet with your name around

the classthe classEveryone leaves a one – two word Everyone leaves a one – two word

character type (character type (constructive not constructive not destructivedestructive))Ie: quirky friend, love interest, Ie: quirky friend, love interest,

overprotective mother, damsel-in-overprotective mother, damsel-in-distress, etc.distress, etc.

Activator: What’s Your Type?Activator: What’s Your Type?

Tell us what you got!Tell us what you got!

Prepare!Prepare! A theatre resume & 8” x 10” headshotA theatre resume & 8” x 10” headshot

Look up templates online.Look up templates online.

Good Headshot vs. Bad Good Headshot vs. Bad HeadshotHeadshot

Good vs. BadGood vs. Bad

Good vs. BadGood vs. Bad

Now it’s your turn!Now it’s your turn!

Divide into two groupsDivide into two groupsGrab a whiteboardGrab a whiteboardCreate the best looking, most Create the best looking, most

professional resume you canprofessional resume you can(fictional person or member of your (fictional person or member of your

group with some experience)group with some experience)

ActivatorActivator

What would you look for on What would you look for on someone’s resume if you were doing someone’s resume if you were doing the hiring? Why?the hiring? Why?

At the AuditionAt the Audition

Get to the correct space Get to the correct space at leastat least 30 30 minutes before you are scheduled to go.minutes before you are scheduled to go. ““there was traffic”, “I got lost”, “I didn’t know” there was traffic”, “I got lost”, “I didn’t know”

will not go over well with directors. Plan for the will not go over well with directors. Plan for the unplanned!unplanned!

If there is room to warm up: WARM UP!If there is room to warm up: WARM UP! Stretch, warm up your voice, drink some Stretch, warm up your voice, drink some

water, do some relaxation techniqueswater, do some relaxation techniques Run through your material quietlyRun through your material quietly

Don’t over work your voice the day of the Don’t over work your voice the day of the audition!audition!

Pro Tip!Pro Tip!

Be courteous to every person you Be courteous to every person you come into contact with at an come into contact with at an audition.audition.

Anecdote…Anecdote…

The AuditionThe Audition

You may be given “sides”. You may be given “sides”. Cuttings from the scriptCuttings from the scriptDon’t memorize, familiarize.Don’t memorize, familiarize.Make bold choicesMake bold choicesBe flexible! They may ask you to Be flexible! They may ask you to

reread it or give you a direction. GO reread it or give you a direction. GO WITH IT!WITH IT!

The Audition PackageThe Audition Package

Walk in with confidence: calm, good Walk in with confidence: calm, good posture, smile on your face.posture, smile on your face.

Give music to accompanist, clarify Give music to accompanist, clarify details with them: details with them: what key are you singing in ? what key are you singing in ? What is the tempo? What is the tempo? Be prepared for someone who is not Be prepared for someone who is not

familiar with the song.familiar with the song.


Walk with confidence to spot where Walk with confidence to spot where you are to perform.you are to perform.

Look at audition panel (SLATE!)Look at audition panel (SLATE!)““Hello my name is ________. Today I will Hello my name is ________. Today I will

be performing a piece from [play] by be performing a piece from [play] by [playwright] and [song] from [playwright] and [song] from [musical/artist].[musical/artist].

Take a “beat” to transition from you to the Take a “beat” to transition from you to the character. character.

DO IT!DO IT!


If the worst should happen…If the worst should happen…You mess up in the beginning: ask if you You mess up in the beginning: ask if you

may start over. may start over. Don’t apologizeDon’t apologizeDon’t get flusteredDon’t get flusteredIf they say no, just roll with itIf they say no, just roll with itDON’T MAKE EXCUSESDON’T MAKE EXCUSES

Accompanist AnecdoteAccompanist Anecdote


During your package:During your package: Do your bestDo your best Do not look above the heads of the panelDo not look above the heads of the panel Do not make eye contact with anyone in the Do not make eye contact with anyone in the

roomroomThey are not there to be your scene partner, they are They are not there to be your scene partner, they are

there to assess your abilitiesthere to assess your abilitiesThis makes people very uncomfortableThis makes people very uncomfortableFind a spot between their heads, just above their Find a spot between their heads, just above their

heads, off to the side.heads, off to the side.This is you “Focal Point”This is you “Focal Point”

ActivatorActivator

Let’s practice slating!Let’s practice slating!

After the AuditionAfter the Audition

Take a beat at the endTake a beat at the endSmile at the panelSmile at the panelThank the panel!Thank the panel!Walk away with confidence: IT’S Walk away with confidence: IT’S

OVER!OVER!


You may be given a “call back”You may be given a “call back”This means they want to see you againThis means they want to see you againYou may be asked to do your piece againYou may be asked to do your piece againMost likely: You will read for one or more Most likely: You will read for one or more

specific characters from the scriptspecific characters from the scriptMake bold choices, but be flexible when Make bold choices, but be flexible when

given directiongiven direction


Be positiveBe positiveTreat it as a learning experienceTreat it as a learning experienceThe more auditions under your belt, The more auditions under your belt,

the easier it getsthe easier it getsReflect: what worked, what didn’t?Reflect: what worked, what didn’t?

Start looking for the next one!Start looking for the next one!

Last WordsLast Words

Do’sDo’sBe clean & bathedBe clean & bathedHair out of your faceHair out of your faceDressed professionally, but Dressed professionally, but

appropriately for the part you wantappropriately for the part you wantBe friendly, flexible, ready to workBe friendly, flexible, ready to workUse “sides” as a propUse “sides” as a propMake bold and committed choicesMake bold and committed choices

Last WordsLast Words

Don’tsDon’ts Wear perfumeWear perfume Prep yourself in the roomPrep yourself in the room Come in costumeCome in costume Bring your own propsBring your own props Perform elaborate stagingPerform elaborate staging Shake everyone’s handShake everyone’s hand Physically engage the casting peoplePhysically engage the casting people Chew gum, eat candy, etc.Chew gum, eat candy, etc. Make excusesMake excuses Fidget, fumble, sway, shuffle feetFidget, fumble, sway, shuffle feet

Documents

Journal Have you ever auditioned or interviewed for something? What did you have to do? What kind of questions did they ask you? How did it go? Have you