SO YOU'RE GOING ON AN AUDITION
THIS IS MY FIRST AUDITION
What is an audition?
An audition is an opportunity. An opportunity for the director to see their cast, and an opportunity for you to show them what you have to offer.
Directors use auditions to make decisions about casting. We look at experience, age, preparedness, attitude, skillset, and personality to help us decide which actor suits which role.
What should I bring?
A standard audition will ask you to prepare 32 bars of music and a short monologue. You should bring your sheet music, marked clearly so the pianist can see where to start and finish, your monologue, your resume, and sometimes a headshot.
What do I say?
Once you are called to the stage, you will do what's called "slating" by saying your name, the title of the song, and the show it's from. You will do this again when it's time for your monologue.
MUSIC TIPS
Working with music can be tricky if you're not used to it, if you are lucky to have a music teacher in or after school, you can ask them for help in making sure you've got the right materials. (Especially if it's me.)
If you don't think you have someone to ask, or you'd just rather do it yourself, here are some helpful tips.
Finding a good monologue can be the hardest part of your audition prep. If you've never read a play or scoured the internet for good material, it can be hard to find one you like! Here are some tips to narrow it down for you.
MONOLOGUE TIPS
Your audition book is your secret weapon, and when properly curated, means you will go into an audition feeling prepared and confident. Imagine, never scrambling for an audition song again.
A great audition book contains
A varied selection of monologues across multiple eras and genres of theatre
A varied selection of songs across multiple genres of music, marked clearly for the accompanist
Multiple copies of your resume
Your headshot
All collected and organized in a binder
AUDITION BOOKS
Finding these materials can take some time, but for those looking to study performance, commitment to preparation is paramount.