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

Everything About Auditions

Before the Audition Study! Study! What company/school/ What company/school/ department are you auditioning for? What is their production history? What is their production history? How many people do they need? How many people do they need? What kind of people? Male? Female? Specifics. What kind of people? Male? Female? Specifics.

Before the Audition 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 haven’t considered? Are there other roles in the show you haven’t considered? Read the play/listen to the soundtrack a few times Read the play/listen to the soundtrack a few times You might be asked to read/sing from the script! You might be asked to read/sing from the script!

Before the Audition What to prepare What to prepare Generally: sec. monologue & 16 bars of a song. Generally: sec. monologue & 16 bars of a song. They should specify what type of monologue/song They should specify what type of monologue/song Comedic Comedic Dramatic Dramatic 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 genre Specific genre A professional actor keeps a “repertoire” of varying pieces to perform at the drop of a hat! A professional actor keeps a “repertoire” of varying pieces to perform at the drop of a hat!

Where Are These Monologues? Read plays! Read plays! Recommendations Recommendations Monologue Books Monologue Books The Internet The Internet Youtube Youtube Movies/TV Movies/TV Books Books

What is 16 bars?

How Long Does 16 Bars Last? IbuQ6Dk IbuQ6Dk

PREPARE! Have your monologue memorized Have your monologue memorized Know the piece it is from and who wrote it Know the piece it is from and who wrote it Know the name of the character and their background story Know the name of the character and their background story

Prepare! Have your sheet music prepared Have your sheet music prepared Best practice: put it in a 3 ring binder Best practice: put it in a 3 ring binder Highlight where the pianist should begin and where they should end Highlight where the pianist should begin and where they should end If you use sheet protectors, make sure they are not glossy (creates a glare) If you use sheet protectors, make sure they are not glossy (creates a glare)

Prepare! Some auditions ask for you to come “prepared to move” or “ready to dance” Some auditions ask for you to come “prepared to move” or “ready to dance” This means you are willing to audition for a dancing role This means you are willing to audition for a dancing role Dress comfortably or find out if there will be a place to change for the dance portion Dress comfortably or find out if there will be a place to change for the dance portion

Questions?

Activator: Exercise! Exercise! Pass a sheet with your name around the class Pass a sheet with your name around the class Everyone leaves a one – two word character type (constructive not destructive) Everyone leaves a one – two word character type (constructive not destructive) Ie: quirky friend, love interest, overprotective mother, damsel-in-distress, etc. Ie: quirky friend, love interest, overprotective mother, damsel-in-distress, etc.

Activator: What’s Your Type? Tell us what you got! Tell us what you got!

Prepare! A theatre resume & 8” x 10” headshot A theatre resume & 8” x 10” headshot Look up templates online. Look up templates online.

Good Headshot vs. Bad Headshot

Good vs. Bad

Now it’s your turn! Divide into two groups Divide into two groups Grab a whiteboard Grab a whiteboard Create the best looking, most professional resume you can Create the best looking, most professional resume you can (fictional person or member of your group with some experience) (fictional person or member of your group with some experience)

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

At the Audition Get to the correct space at least 30 minutes before you are scheduled to go. Get to the correct space at least 30 minutes before you are scheduled to go. “there was traffic”, “I got lost”, “I didn’t know” will not go over well with directors. Plan for the unplanned! “there was traffic”, “I got lost”, “I didn’t know” will not go over well with directors. Plan for the 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 water, do some relaxation techniques Stretch, warm up your voice, drink some water, do some relaxation techniques Run through your material quietly Run through your material quietly Don’t over work your voice the day of the audition! Don’t over work your voice the day of the audition!

Pro Tip! Be courteous to every person you come into contact with at an audition. Be courteous to every person you come into contact with at an audition. Anecdote… Anecdote…

The Audition You may be given “sides”. You may be given “sides”. Cuttings from the script Cuttings from the script Don’t memorize, familiarize. Don’t memorize, familiarize. Make bold choices Make bold choices Be flexible! They may ask you to reread it or give you a direction. GO WITH IT! Be flexible! They may ask you to reread it or give you a direction. GO WITH IT!

The Audition Package Walk in with confidence: calm, good posture, smile on your face. Walk in with confidence: calm, good posture, smile on your face. Give music to accompanist, clarify details with them: Give music to accompanist, clarify 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 familiar with the song. Be prepared for someone who is not familiar with the song.

The Audition Package Walk with confidence to spot where you are to perform. Walk with confidence to spot where you are to perform. Look at audition panel (SLATE!) Look at audition panel (SLATE!) “Hello my name is ________. Today I will be performing a piece from [play] by [playwright] and [song] from [musical/artist]. “Hello my name is ________. Today I will be performing a piece from [play] by [playwright] and [song] from [musical/artist]. Take a “beat” to transition from you to the character. Take a “beat” to transition from you to the character. DO IT! DO IT!

The Audition Package If the worst should happen… If the worst should happen… You mess up in the beginning: ask if you may start over. You mess up in the beginning: ask if you may start over. Don’t apologize Don’t apologize Don’t get flustered Don’t get flustered If they say no, just roll with it If they say no, just roll with it DON’T MAKE EXCUSES DON’T MAKE EXCUSES Accompanist Anecdote Accompanist Anecdote

The Audition Package During your package: During your package: Do your best Do your best Do not look above the heads of the panel Do not look above the heads of the panel Do not make eye contact with anyone in the room Do not make eye contact with anyone in the room They are not there to be your scene partner, they are there to assess your abilities They are not there to be your scene partner, they are there to assess your abilities This makes people very uncomfortable This makes people very uncomfortable Find a spot between their heads, just above their heads, off to the side. Find a spot between their heads, just above their heads, off to the side. This is you “Focal Point” This is you “Focal Point”

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

After the Audition Take a beat at the end Take a beat at the end Smile at the panel Smile at the panel Thank the panel! Thank the panel! Walk away with confidence: IT’S OVER! Walk away with confidence: IT’S OVER!

After the Audition You may be given a “call back” You may be given a “call back” This means they want to see you again This means they want to see you again You may be asked to do your piece again You may be asked to do your piece again Most likely: You will read for one or more specific characters from the script Most likely: You will read for one or more specific characters from the script Make bold choices, but be flexible when given direction Make bold choices, but be flexible when given direction

After the Audition Be positive Be positive Treat it as a learning experience Treat it as a learning experience The more auditions under your belt, the easier it gets The more auditions under your belt, the easier it gets Reflect: what worked, what didn’t? Reflect: what worked, what didn’t? Start looking for the next one! Start looking for the next one!

Last Words Do’s Do’s Be clean & bathed Be clean & bathed Hair out of your face Hair out of your face Dressed professionally, but appropriately for the part you want Dressed professionally, but appropriately for the part you want Be friendly, flexible, ready to work Be friendly, flexible, ready to work Use “sides” as a prop Use “sides” as a prop Make bold and committed choices Make bold and committed choices

Last Words Don’ts Don’ts Wear perfume Wear perfume Prep yourself in the room Prep yourself in the room Come in costume Come in costume Bring your own props Bring your own props Perform elaborate staging Perform elaborate staging Shake everyone’s hand Shake everyone’s hand Physically engage the casting people Physically engage the casting people Chew gum, eat candy, etc. Chew gum, eat candy, etc. Make excuses Make excuses Fidget, fumble, sway, shuffle feet Fidget, fumble, sway, shuffle feet