Tryouts help coaches determine where you can be most successful. We consider your interests, but we’re also looking for strengths and potential you may not recognize yet.
Throughout tryouts, we’re watching for:
Expression & communication - voice, facial expression, articulation and energy
Movement & performance - gestures, body movement, use of space and commitment
Storytelling & creativity - character choices, ideas and ability to communicate a story
Teamwork - listening, reacting and interacting with others
Preparation & coachability - effort, preparation and ability to take direction
You don’t have to be great at everything. Different events need different strengths—that’s what tryouts help us discover.
Every student will participate in Radio, Choral Reading and Mime. Even if you aren't interested in those events, take each part seriously! Each lets us see different skills that apply across many speech categories.
🎙️ Radio Reading
Shows us your voice - articulation, pacing, projection and vocal expression.
🗣️ Choral Reading
Shows us vocal and facial expression, energy, timing, listening and how you work with a group.
🎭 Mime
Shows us facial expression, body movement, creativity, physical storytelling and commitment.
There’s a reason we ask you to do all three. Together, they give us a much better picture of you as a performer and help us consider you for events beyond your first choices.
You may have an additional tryout based on your interests:
🎶 Musical Theater - Sing a short selection from a musical, preferably something you already know and can perform with movement or choreography. If you don't have a musical theater selection, you may sing the National Anthem.
🎲 Improv - You'll perform an improv scenario. We're looking for creativity, character, listening, teamwork and your ability to build a story with others.
🎬 Short Film/Videocasting - Show us a video you've helped create and be ready to explain your role in it. It does not need to be professionally polished!
🎭 Acting/Interpretation - If you have a piece from another script you can perform, we'd love to see it. Choose something that shows character and expression. You can still indicate interest if you don't have a piece prepared.
✍️ Speech Writing - Bring a sample of your writing. It doesn't have to be a completed speech—we want to see your ideas, creativity, organization and writing voice.
Be prepared. Practice anything you're bringing or performing.
Show us variety. The more we see, the better we can determine where you might be successful.
Be flexible. Don't choose an event just because your friends are doing it, and don't rule something out because you've never tried it.
Commit to everything we ask you to do. Even if something feels silly or doesn't seem connected to your preferred event, it serves a purpose.
Talent matters, but so do preparation, reliability, scheduling, teamwork, coachability and past performance.
Show us what you can do and give us a chance to see something in you that you might not know is there yet.