Audition Tips and Form

What do I need for an audition?

First, you’ll need to complete the WCA Audition Form and bring it with you for your audition with a headshot attached. Here are a fews tips from an actual casting director taken from LHS’s theater program:

1. Be prepared.

Remember, an audition for a show isn’t just an audition for that show. You’re making an impression on that Director, Assistant Director, Producer, etc. that could apply to other projects that they are working on now or in the future. So even if you’re not right for that part, you could find yourself getting a callback for something else down the line. That’s why you always have to be on your game . . . which means doing your homework, because it's rough when you don’t. Make the most out of every chance you have in front of a decision maker. This doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. It just means that you’ve got to treat that time you get with respect, and be familiar with the material.

2. Research who is in the room.

Blind dates are nerve-racking . . . blind auditions are worse. Always try to find out from the casting director or producer, who is in the room sitting behind the table. Is the composer there? The playwright? The casting director? Assistant? You do this for two reasons . . . 1 – so you can tailor your material, your conversation, and your questions accordingly, and 2 – it’s totally appropriate to drop a personalized follow up note to the folks that you auditioned for . . . but you gotta know who they were.

3. Dress like you mean it.

You want to treat your audition like a professional experience (see tip #1), but you don’t want to overdo it either. So dress to impress, but also make it look like you didn’t try too hard (see where the “first date” thing comes in?). BONUS TIP: When and if you get a callback, wear the same outfit you wore to the first audition. They’ll remember you more.

4. Having a bad day? Act like you’re not.

People have bad days. I get it. But you’re an actor, so pretend that you’re having the best day ever . . . The decision makers don’t have time to check and see if you’re okay, and often there won’t be another chance to audition besides callbacks.

5. Become familiar with the play/screenplay/musical

True story – an actor auditioned for me for a play years ago and was visibly shocked when the assistant director told her she was actually a character with 3 identities. Umm, that might have affected some choices you might make, don’t you think? When you’re familiar with the characters, you can adhere your acting choices to better fit the character you’d like to read for. This of course doesn’t mean you’ll get the part, or even be asked to read for it, but you’ll at the very least establish a tone that the directors know they can work with.

6. Auditioning is like batting practice.

No one is great at getting into the batter's box and hitting a 90 mph fastball for the first time. It takes reps, consistency, and optimism. Then you grow numb and are wired to the experience. You’ve gotta get numb to the questions, suggestions, and requests that will come at you in all sorts of directions when you audition. Take a class, or better, audition as much as you can. Auditioning is a special skill . . . and if you can master it, the curtain opens....