Successful Auditions for the Professional Stage
When they don't have a job, actors think about auditions. When actors do have a job, they think about their next audition. If they are doing a show that doesn't quite pay the bills, they are thinking about their next commercial audition.
Knowing how to give a good audition becomes one of the most important parts of the career. It is a quick snapshot of who you are. It turns that headshot and resume into a live person who must light up the director's stage.
1) First you must get the audition. How? If you live in a major city, they can come from agents or managers. However, don't think you can waltz into an agent's office and say "here I am, sign me." They will tell you, get the big part, and then come back, if you get to speak with them at all. Usually they will say for you to send in a picture and resume. Tip: Don't cheap out on your picture. It should be a black and white headshot that is recent. We'd all love to look like we did when we were twenty - but if you come in with a picture that is too old, you won't even get a chance to go any further. Go to a good photographer in the closest major city who does actor's headshots. This is very important. Don't let Uncle Charlie take a snapshot with his new camera. Then have your professional picture airbrushed or any flaws that are not important removed. (Don't think the competition isn't doing it!) Your name should be printed on the picture with any union affiliations, i.e.: SAG, AFTRA, AEA.
Your resume is a quick look of examples of what you have actually done. Not "representative roles" of what you could do. Not roles you've played in scene class. And not necessarily your entire resume - it's the "best of" your career. Show your diversification. List most credible credits first, Broadway, off, tours, off-off, regional theater, community theater, educational theater. If you have worked with someone famous, list it. If you have studied with someone or somewhere famous, list it. The resume should be no longer than one page and attached right to the back of your picture. Staples are fine, spray glue better.
The other way of getting the audition is through an open call or what is called a "cattle call." This is where everyone and their brother show up (think American Idol only not quite that big!) You can find out about these several ways. Call the theaters in town after they announce their season in the paper and ask when they are having open auditions, or if you are union, you can get an appointment. Trade magazines like "Backstage" in New York have auditions listed, but the Sunday paper in almost every major city has auditions listed also. This includes open auditions for professional theaters as well as community theater.
2) Then prepare for the audition. It you are auditioning for a specific show or season, get the scripts and read them. Know what parts you are most likely to be "typed" into and study those the most. Those are most likely the parts they will have you read for first.
If this is a regional audition for several different theaters (usually summer stock), you might have five minutes tops to show your stuff. A monitor will time you and it starts from when you begin. Enter and go to the accompanist if you are singing and hand off your music. Sixteen bars of music is more than enough to sing so pick and sing your best sixteen from whatever shows you off the best. Because there could be so many different auditioners in that room, make the song be different from the contrasting two monologues you will do. The monologues you pick should be two minutes long each. Tip: photocopy your music and put it in a binder that lays flat for the accompanist and bend the corners of the pages if they need to turn. Never ask them to transpose. And definitely use them and not a tape.
The monitor will start timing you from when you say your name and that is how you start. Go to the center of the stage, say your name and the names of your pieces and begin. I usually do my monologues first - one contemporary and one classic. Tip: usually Shakespeare is a good classic bet, but if can get the names of the companies who will be there - you can use the internet to find out their seasons and if there is a specific show you want to be considered for - pick a monologue from there or from the author better yet.
Tip: There is some disagreement about this, but I think one should say "thank you" at the end of their audition. Don't let the monitor cut you off! Be sure you time yourself and have it orchestrated down to a tee. Don't say, "scene" - it's tacky. They should know when you are in and out of character. And always do a monologue. Not a song made into a monologue, not both parts of a dialogue (I've seen that believe it or not.)
3) The posted callbacks. After you do a regional audition for theater groups, they post "call backs" for each company, and you will be asked to read usually then for the individual company, or sing another song, maybe something from their season. Have at least three songs available that you can do, a ballad, up-tempo and something that is more character oriented (think Cabaret, etc.) Hint: If you are asked to read, you will probably be reading opposite the stage manager or assistant who will put as much infliction into their part as a bag of rocks. So in other words, your inspiration won't come from them. Imagine Geraldine Page or Sr. Lawrence Olivier there instead. Do what you can.
4) Sometimes you will be asked to dance at the callbacks if there are musicals in the season. I've seen everything from a choreographer putting everyone through a dance audition not dissimilar to the beginning of Chorus Line to a dance coach just asking me to do a time step. Usually they can look at your resume and see if you have dance experience.
The first time you do a regional audition can be quite daunting. However, don't give up! Once you have done one, you'll feel more comfortable.
