1. AUDITIONS How do you do the best job you can at auditions?

2. YES… Take notes! I’ve provided a handout that you can use to organize your notes. See me if you need a print out of the slides afterwards for anything you missed.

3. What are auditions? ■(From good ole’ Wikipedia ) ■An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performer. ■It typically involves the performer displaying their talent through a previously memorized and rehearsed solo piece or by performing a work or piece given to the performer at the audition or shortly before. ■An actor will likely be asked to present a monologue. ■Singers will perform a song in a popular music context or an aria in a Classical context. ■A dancer will present a routine in a specific style, such as ballet, tap dance or hip-hop, or show his or her ability to quickly learn a choreographed dance piece.

4. What are auditions? ■(From good ole’ Wikipedia ) ■The audition is a systematic process in which industry professionals select performers, which is in some ways analogous to a job interview in the regular job market. ■In an audition, the employer is testing the ability of the applicant to meet the needs of the job and assess how well the individual will take directions and deal with changes. ■Auditions are required for many reasons in the performing arts world. ■Often used for selecting performers for upcoming productions/performances ■As well, auditions are used to select or screen candidates for entry to training programs (ballet school or circus school); university programs (B.Mus, M.Mus, MFA in Theater); performance-related scholarships and grants; or to be considered for representation by a talent agency or individual agent.

5. What can I expect? ■It depends a bit on the type of audition – You’re always allowed to ask how the auditions will work. In community work, ask the director or producer. In professional situations ask your agent or the casting director. For a post-secondary audition, forward questions to the program/department at the school that you are applying to. ■Community theatre –Either prepared monologue/song or a cold read –Sometimes individual, sometimes in groups ■Professional theatre –Often a prepared monologue/song or “sides” ■TV/Film/Commercials –Often prepared “sides” (a section of the script) –Will read for a camera as well as people ■Post-Secondary Theatre Programs –Often asked to prepare two contrasting songs and two contrasting monologues –You may need to prepare choreography, or be prepared to learn some

6. How can I be successful? ■Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiJ_ZMNygJ0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiJ_ZMNygJ0

7. Audition Tips 1. Confidence:  It sounds simple but it takes practice.  Walk in the door with your held head high.  Be wary of shuffling feet.  You don't get sympathy points if you're nervous, not feeling well, or having a bad day.  Leave it outside the door.  You are being sized up the minute you walk in, so practice good posture and body language before you arrive.  And don’t forget to smile – that's the lasting impression you want to leave.

8. Audition Tips 2. Be prepared: ■Being prepared is the best way to ace an audition. ■An audition is just like a job interview, and you should treat it as such. ■Do your research: Who is the director? What else has she directed? Have you read the script? What do you know about your character? How would you play this role? ■Practice makes perfect: Have you memorized your material? ■(See the Play Study and Character Development file on Ms. Tye’s website for memorizing and acting tips). ■Have you made thoughtful acting choices? Did you rehearse it over and over again? The more you practice, the more empowered you'll be in the audition.

9. Audition Tips 3. Be professional: ■Directors like working with people who work hard and are trustworthy. ■Dress and compose yourself like a professional. 4. Take care of yourself: ■As an actor, your best assets are yourself - your body, your voice and your mind. ■Exercise, eat well, keep yourself healthy, practice your performance skills, read and learn about your craft as much as possible. ■It's obvious at an audition which actors take good care of themselves and are continually learning.

10. Audition Tips 5. Choose appropriate material: ■Choose songs and monologues that fit you - your age, your looks, your best strengths and abilities. ■If you are a 17 year old boy, don't choose a monologue spoken from the perspective of a depressed 65 year old actress who can't let go of the past. ■It won't make sense, and doesn't fit you. ■That being said, don’t box yourself in and allow yourself to be type-cast. ■Explore various parts of yourself and choose material that demonstrates your range. ■Choose carefully.

11. Audition Tips 6. If you make a mistake, battle through it: ■You will make a mistake at some point in your audition. You'll forget a line, your voice will crack on that high note or you'll rush through that beat that you told yourself you'd take. ■It's OK. No performance you do will be 100% perfect. ■The director wants to see you keep going. ■Every word you speak, every moment you have in performance is another chance to perform to the best of your ability. ■When you make a mistake, take a deep breath and keep going. ■You've got this.

12. Audition Tips 7. Don't be over-confident: ■Re-read #1. Then don't overdo it. ■Divas are no fun to work with. ■A theatre production is a team effort, and everyone needs to be ready and willing to work as part of a team. ■Be friendly, listen well and be willing to try.

13. Audition Tips 8. If you don't get the part of you want, be gracious and don't argue: ■The decisions about who to cast and who we have to say “no” to are not always easy. ■There is a lot of discussion about who does and who does not get a role. ■If the director decides that you are not the best fit for this show, or that you are best suited to a different role than the one you wanted, please respect their decision about what they feel is best for the show they are directing. ■It doesn't always mean that you had a bad audition, or that you’re not a good actor. ■It just means that you were not the best actor for this part in this show. ■Arguing leave a bad impression on the people that cast the shows. You will not change anyone’s mind. All it does is make it more difficult for the director and producers to cast you in a future production. ■That being said, it is appropriate to ask what you could do to improve so you have a better chance of getting into future shows (although I will probably redirect you back to this list). If you follow the advice in this article list, you will continue to improve!

14. Now you… ■You’ll get some time over the next few days to prepare for your audition. ■In our case, you’ll be preparing scenes from the show, because you have already presented a monologue in your initial audition. ■Practice at home over the weekend: –Focus on the characters that you put down as your most interested roles –Think about their motivation for EACH LINE – what is driving them, what do they want, what are they trying to achieve? What has happened to them so far in the story and how has that impacted them? What is their relationship like with the other characters in this scene? ■Next week: Tuesday P.3 Production Role Presentation, P.4 Dance Boot Camp. Wednesday P.3 Music lesson/audition prep P.4 Audition Prep (probably working in small groups for scene work prep)