Preparing For An Audition
Preparing For An Audition
Preparing Audition Materials:
Rehearse and repeat. Take the time to learn your pieces as well as you can and continue to practice periodically. You don’t have to practice for a long time, just a few run-throughs a day or every few days will suffice.
ACT in both monologue and song. Directors don’t just look for a decent voice or a pretty face, they also look for strong actors, and in musicals, this is especially important. Musical actors must be able to sing and act (often at the same time), and take the audience on an emotional journey. People connect to characters when they are portrayed by good actors. You want them to be engaged every step of the way.
Memorize whenever possible. Holding sheet music, a script, or being behind a music stand, while somewhat acceptable, closes you off and gives you less space to act and show your skill.
Write your stage directions down. Don’t just stand in one place, use the space. You will be provided a cube and most of the stage to perform. Don’t waste your resources.
Perform for others as much as possible before your audition. You will slowly get much less nervous and it gives you a chance to receive feedback and advice from peers.
Run things by a choir director or voice teacher if possible. They will give technical advice that will really help you if you listen. If possible, rehearse with the accompanist so that they can get a feel for your take on the song.
Decide whether you will be performing your song or monologue first, and rehearse that way.
If your song and/or monologue is from a show, find out the context of the piece so that you can perform it with more knowledge of the situation and character.
Find recordings of other people performing the monologue or song and take inspiration from them.
Prepare a short introduction introducing yourself and the character you will be auditioning for. This is called "slating". You will use this to introduce yourself when you go up to audition. (ex. “Hello, my name is Sarah Smith and I will be auditioning for Jane Banks. I will be singing “My New Philosophy” from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” and the monologue “Best Friends” by Rebecca S. I will be performing my monologue first.”
Preparing For The Audition Itself:
Dress nicely. You don’t necessarily have to be concert-ready or super fancy, but you want to make a good impression. Generally no sweatshirts or sweatpants. Look presentable.
Begin to hydrate a day or two in advance. The best way to hydrate yourself is a little bit of water every so often, don’t chug water right before your audition.
Warm up your voice for ideally around 15 minutes before your audition. You want to sound your best.
Run through your materials by yourself a few times before you go up to audition.
ARRIVE EARLY.
Present yourself confidently and begin with your slate first. Perform and finish by saying “Thank you.”
Be supportive of your fellow thespians. It shouldn’t matter whether someone is your best friend or your sworn enemy; a good attitude is a good impression.
Bring comfortable clothes and shoes for moving for your dance audition. For many auditions, no dance preparation is necessary and all will be explained there, but if through a community or professional theater, they may have different policies. Jazz shoes are best, otherwise tennis shoes are fine.
Be cooperative whenever possible. Directors like actors who can take directions and constructive criticism well. However, if you are not at all comfortable with something you are instructed to do by the directors, voice your concerns and advocate for yourself. Most times, boundaries can be worked around.
Bring a water bottle and stay hydrated.
Pay mistakes no mind. They happen, and it’s much better to keep going despite mistakes than to stop performing to apologize.
Make sure your phone will not make any noise. Silence it, turn it off fully, or put it on Do Not Disturb. Interrupting another actor’s performance or a group reading is impolite.