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We are always happy to welcome new folks to
our stage, so if you are thinking you’d like to try being in a show please
come to an audition. Community
theatre can be a lot of fun and auditioning can be a great experience whether or
not you get a part.
A
few notes before you audition:
Please do not audition if your schedule does
not allow you to attend rehearsals or (even worse) conflicts with a performance.
It is vital that you attend all rehearsals when you are scheduled to be
there by the directors. Typically, shows rehearse 3-4 times a week.
Closer to the performances you may be expected to rehearse 4-5 times a
week.
We expect the
best from everyone who participates in our shows.
Plan to put in some time out of rehearsals working on your lines, songs
(if a musical) and scenes.
We usually hold
two auditions times for every show. You
don't need to come both times unless the directors specifically ask you to come
to the second night or to a “callback.”
The auditions should last between 1 and 2 hours depending on the number
of people there.
No roles are
pre-cast. Lakeland Players firmly
believes that auditions should be open to anyone with the ability and the
interest. The only exceptions to
pre-casting are for roles that require a special skill or other special
circumstance, in which case the pre-casting must be approved by the Board of
Directors and must be announced at the start of the auditions.
(Pre-casting is very, very rare.)
You do not need
to be a member of Lakeland Players to audition for our shows.
However, we would very much like you to become a member if you join a
cast or crew.
For
all auditions:
Plan on getting there a few minutes early
because you will have to fill out an information sheet:
contact info, previous shows, dance/music experience, schedule conflicts.
This gives the directors an idea of what you've done in the past.
Don't bring a photo or resume. If
this is your first time in a show, don’t worry if you don’t have anything to
write about – everyone was a rookie once! If you are an acting veteran, just list a good sampling of
your past roles. If you want to
read for a specific part, you can indicate it on the info form.
You don't need
to wear anything special, just comfortable clothes and shoes that you can move
about in.
Copies of the
rehearsal schedule, a list of the characters, and other handouts will be
available as appropriate for the show.
A
typical musical audition:
Typically
everyone individually sings a bit of a song first.
Bring some sheet music and it's best if you memorize the words.
Don't be surprised if the directors just want to hear one verse; they
just want to get a general idea of your voice.
We provide the accompanist. A
capella
and singing to recorded music are not appropriate.
Then everyone in
a group learns a little dance routine. The
idea here is to see if you can move gracefully or at least coordinated-ly.
Finally,
everyone who wants a speaking part reads scenes from the script in combination
with other actors. The idea here is stage presence and speaking skills.
You do not have to have a memorized monologue or study the script in
advance. Again, don't be surprised
if the director s have you read other roles in addition to the one(s) you are
interested in; sometimes they do this to get a better sense of the actors'
abilities.
A
typical comedy/drama audition:
Auditions
for “straight” shows – or shows without music –will involve more
readings from the script. Again,
you do not need a memorized monologue. The
directors will try several combinations of actors for each audition scene, and
you may be asked to read for other roles besides the one(s) you are interested
in. Directors will want to see how
you move and speak on stage. If the
directors ask you to read a scene that has been read by several other audition-ers,
they also may want to see what you have learned about the character from
watching the other readings.
Occasionally
directors will ask the entire group to participate in improv exercises, usually
for roles in comedies or other shows demanding creativity.
These exercises varying depending on what qualities the directors feel
are required by the script. A good
way to prepare for improv exercises is to watch the television show Whose
Line Is It Anyway? or other improvisational programs.
After
the audition:
Usually the
directors do not announce the cast at the audition. Directors
tend to take a few days to decide whom they want in the roles and they will call
you at the number you list on your info sheet.
Casting can change if an actor is offered a role but decides not to
accept it.
Once in a while
directors will ask you to come to a “callback,” in which selected audition-ers
are invited to do another round of readings.
Some directors
do announce the cast at the end of the second audition or the end of the
callback.
If
you don’t get a part:
First,
don’t take it personally and please don’t hesitate to audition again for
another show.
Every director
looks for different things when they are casting shows and no two directors will
cast a show the same way. You can
drive yourself crazy trying to figure out “what’s wrong with you” but how
the show is cast really doesn’t have anything to do with you personally.
Perhaps you didn’t look “right” next to the person cast to play
another role, or maybe the directors wanted a blonde not a brunette, or maybe
the directors listened to that little inner voice from Mars (just kidding, all
you directors out there!)
Anyway, the point is, who is cast depends on
the directors’ vision for the show, and you can have a fantastic audition but
still not get cast. Just try
to do the best job you can and enjoy your audition.
Second, consider
joining the tech crew. There are
lots of opportunities for people to work behind-the-scenes to put on a show:
everything from set building and painting, to props, to running the
lights, to publicity. We’d love
to have you backstage, and you might have even more fun without the pressure of
learning lines. If your schedule is
full and you can’t make rehearsals, working on tech is just the place for you.
If you are interested, be sure to indicate on your info sheet or talk to
the producer at the auditions.
See
you around the theatre!
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