I just got back from the first meeting of my university’s theater group, where everyone got to know each other and played some improv games. It was a lot of fun, and auditions for this semester’s production (Radium Girls) start next Monday. I’ve been wanting to try theater since I was in high school, but was too shy/never got the chance, etc. I’d like to audition for the play; it’s just that I haven’t had any acting experience whatsoever. It feels like a catch-22; you need experience to become a better actor, but how can you get a role if you don’t know what you’re doing? I’m not even sure what they’re looking for at the audition; I assume I’m supposed to read a monologue from another play, but I wouldn’t know how to decide which one. It’s also likely that the other auditioners have a lot of experience in theater. It’s not the end of the world if I don’t get a part, but I don’t want to be completely terrible in the audition. Any tips to help me prepare?
I’d consider it like trying to get a date. The worst they can do is say no, and if your secure enough with yourself you lost nothing but the time it took to try. (and being that my time is only worth about ten bucks an hour, i know i wouldn’t be out much).
Yes, you should. Tell them when you audition that you don’t have any experience, but that you’re really interested in participating. You’ll get a small part or maybe a behind-the-scenes role. Then you can attend rehearsals, learn a lot, get more experience, have fun helping make it all happen, and ultimately get a larger role next time.
Give it a try. It will be nervewracking and the other students might be a bit intimidating in their dedication (regardless of whether or not they are any good). The audition will give you experience auditioning, first and foremost. Just waiting with other actors will give you some indication of what they are using as material, since they will most likely be rehearsing while waiting. That might help you prepare better for your next audition.
Find out from someone involved in the show what exactly they want in the audition. You might have to prepare a monologue, and it would be better to know what kind before you go pick one. They might want Shakespeare or contemporary or comedy or drama or any other thing at all. Radium Girls is a contemporary drama with few actors playing many roles, so they will probably want a contemporary dramatic monologue that shows some versatility. By all means use people you work with in your theatre group to help critique and perfect your monologue.
However, they may not want a monologue at all and would just prefer you to do a cold reading of the script. Find out what you can about this play and read a copy of the script if you can find it.
During the audition itself, breathe deep, know your lines, and start by stating the name of the play from which you’ve taken the monologue. Walk in confident and friendly, like a job interview. Be honest about your availability and anything that might make you uncomfortable about the script. Do your stuff and get out.
After the audition, try to keep cool and don’t beat yourself up about it. So many factors other than your talent come into play when they choose their cast. A lot of it is out of your hands. Mostly, just have fun and try to soak up the experience of it. If you are cast, have a ball and learn a lot. If you aren’t cast, see the show anyway and check out the final product. This will help you determine what to do for the next audition.
I’d email the director or the stage manager about the audition format. At my school they work pretty hard at making sure you know exactly what the process is for the audition. If you should have a monologue prepared, they’ll make sure you know in time. It might just be a cold reading where they give you a page from the script in the audition and you go from there. I’ve seen other auditions where no reading from the script occurred and the director had the auditioners do various group activities. The audition process can vary enormously depending on what the director wants.
Write on your audition form that this is your first audition. Above all us, the people involved are teachers and their job is to educate you on audition protocol so make sure they know what your knowledge base is . If you aren’t comfortable enough, feel free to write For Experience Only Do Not Cast on the form and use the audition as an opportunity to practice.
On the form itself, one of the most common questions I hear is what should I list as a conflict? Anything that you would choose to go to over rehearsal should be listed. If you belong to any other campus clubs or a choir or a family weekend should be listed.
When you actually auditon things you should do include:
Stand up straight and walk confidently.
If you do a monologue or such, avoid looking at the director. Find a spot on the wall to focus on.
Speak loudly but without yelling, slowly, and enunciate. A big part of what they are looking for are can you fill the space with your voice and be understandable?
Don’t be afraid to look goofy. They want to see how varied you can be. Can you be seductive and jolly? Devious and naive? Can you show the difference in your body language and facial expressions?
At the end of the auditions, thank the director and if they extend their hand, give them a firm handshake. I’ve seen far too many people finish their reading and just turn away from the director and get ready to leave. Take your cue from what the director does.
Inner Stickler (who is a theater major and spends a good chunk of time in auditions as both an auditioner and auditionee)
Sure, why not? If you don’t get it, it’s not the end of the world.
Do you have any friends who do drama? Ask them if they can suggest a monologue. Some of my friends back in high school were drama nerds and they were always working on monologues and had whole bunches of them memorized.
This is so true. Body type, height, voice and more can all affect casting choices. When I’ve had to cast things, sometimes ‘pure talent’ is low down on the list behind things like enthusiasm, scheduling, and ability to take direction. The real secret to making it in auditions is to audition as often as possible so that you are considered for as many roles as possible.
Also, look around the department and see if there are actors needed for student productions or suchlike. A lot of people at my school originally get involved in theater through our 24 hour play festival where 4 or 5 short plays are conceived, written, cast, directed, and performed within 24 hours. Because it is a signup and not audition process, it’s not as scary but is still experience that can be listed on future audition sheets.
I was a college theater major and I say go for it. Prepare as best you can and just view the audition as it’s own experience. Keep in mind casting goes on audition but also things like physical appearance and chemistry with other actors, so don’t get sad if you don’t get a part. Even seasoned actors hear “no” more often than “yes”. So if acting is something you are really interested in, keep auditioning.
How will you get acting experience if you don’t try to get it? Yes, of course you should audition! Mention that you’re also interested in other jobs around the production, there is often a need for people willing to paint backgrounds or make sure that everything is in the right place at the right time.
Absolutely, go for it! College and/or community theater is exactly the right place for getting that experience you want.
I’ll echo that your first time out, you might be asked to work crew instead of being cast. That’s okay. If you’re willing, it’s a great opportunity to get your face and name known around the theater department, and that will make it more likely to get a stage role next time. It’s the college theater equivalent of an unpaid internship.
Everybody’s got to start somewhere, and it’s not at all uncommon for an amateur production to include first-timers in the cast. FWIW, none of the auditions I’ve ever been to (for non-musical plays in community theater-type settings) have required any preparation. You show up, they have you fill out an information sheet (listing prior experience, time conflicts, etc.), and then they give you a script and ask you to read. But YMMV—since you already know some theater people, ask them.
Absolutely. Worst that can happen is that you don’t get a part, and that happens to great actors too. I tried out for a bunch of college productions without having taken formal acting classes, and I got a part in some I tried out for. Heck, I even tried out for a few of the dance productions having no dance experience, and got a part in one of them. Sometimes the audition notice will specify what kind of monologue they are asking for. If not, either pick something that speaks to you or that you are very familiar with, so that you’ll do a good rendition, or else pick one that is similar to the part you are trying out for.
At my school, at least, the theater people were very friendly and non judgmental.
I was a theatre major as an undergrad. Really don’t see a downside to auditioning. If nothing else, you’ll get to meet some interesting people. You could end up being cast in the show, or at least making a favorable impression, so maybe they’ll remember you for the next show.
Also, if the school has a theatre department, there will likely be classes available in acting and directing. You could gain a lot of valuable experience by volunteering to be in scenes prepared by students taking those classes. Your commitment there would likely be memorizing a few pages of script, doing a few rehersals, and then performing before the rest of the class. The student will be graded, but you won’t…unless, of course, you sign up for the class. You will likely get feedback from the class/teacher after the performance.
Also, I know from experience that the theatre department typically throws the best/wildest parties. Particularly cast parties after a show closes. Multiple and varied opportunities for debauchery may well present themselves at such events.
pick something that is age/gender/race appropriate
find out what the time limit is for monologues for this audition (1 min, 2 min…) and then choose a monologue that is slightly under that. I bring a stopwatch to the library with me and read the monologue through aloud to make sure that it is within the time limit I’m looking for.
KNOW YOUR LINES. Practice it laying down, standing, sitting, running, walking. Practice it in the shower, in the car, when you’re tired, when you’re mad. Doing this will help you know the monologue like the back of your hand and it will also help you find different nuances in the piece.
Don’t pick anything with a ton of swear words or something that is overly vulgar. This is generally off-putting for the auditors.
Choose a piece with a beginning, middle, and end. This is the hardest part for me. You’ll find a lot of monologues that are just someone sitting around telling a story but this doesn’t give you (the actor) a lot to work with. But for your first time this point isn’t a huge deal, just icing on the cake.
as far as the audition itself…
BREATH!!
pick a spot just above the auditors head to look at. Don’t feel that you need to bore a hole through that spot, just be natural.
know who you’re talking to. Meaning, if you were doing this monologue in the context of the play, who would you be talking to? What do they look like? What are they feeling right now? Thinking about how they are reacting to what you’re saying will help you figure out which tactics to use in order to get your point across.
Someone already mentioned this but…slate. When you walk in, wait until you feel the auditors are ready and then say someone along the lines of “Hello. My name is (insert your name here) and this is (name of the character) from (name of the play) by (playwright’s name).” After you slate, take a second (a second, not a minute) to get into character and then begin.
I completely agree with one of the previous posters about your voice and presence during the audition. They want to know that you can fill the space and be heard and understood. So it would be a very good idea (if possible) to practice your piece in a large space previous to the audition.
After you are done with your monologue, take a second, and then look at the auditors and thank them sincerely.
BREATH!! I know I already said it but it’s very important.
Don’t let the audition be the first time you do your monologue in front of people.
If you don’t make it, don’t worry. Take a class. Have fun!!
I have a BA in Theatre Arts. I have done professional theatre and make my living doing theatre. In reality I do auditions for a living but such is the life of an actor.
I went to grad school for maths. During said grad school, without acting experience, I auditioned for a play with one of the college companies. I got a part, and it was so much fun. I went on to do two more shows with that company.
Man, I should try acting again…
Just finished my B.A. in theatre, and I can’t agree more that college theatres are a great opportunity for people who’ve never tried acting before. Honestly, a lot of the incoming freshmen who have acted in high school can be very “acty” and not at all natural on stage. People who have less experience sometimes manage to be very natural, and having a good, humble attitude towards the whole thing may make it easier to take direction from the director.
After you audition, do speak to the stage manager and ask him or her about the possibility of working backstage. I’m a technician myself, and in college, those shows lived and died by the efforts of incoming freshman who’d help with costume and set changes backstage. You might also ask about a “booth” job, like lights or sound, which are also a lot of fun. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to the department, too, which will help you get parts later. Some directors come to auditions hoping to cast someone they’re already aware of, so your odds may be better later if you do this now.
Wow, I came in here to impart all my worldly wisdom on this topic and discovered that it’s already been said. Good luck with the audition - there’s no way you can not try it now after all the great advice in this thread!
