Auditions!

I've gone and done it. I saw an audition notice for Little Women (the musical) listed on a local theater's website, and I called in to make an audition appointment. Next Wednesday, if I can get my knees to hold me up, I'll be trying to convince real drama people that they should let me be in their play. I don't expect to get a part (although I would be thrilled if I did), but I felt like if I didn't just dive right in and try out for something, while acting class lessons were still fresh in my mind, I'd never do it. So voila. Next week.

The notice said to bring a "32-bar cutting" of a musical theater piece, and I decided to try "Somewhere" from West Side Story. Technically, the entire song is 37 bars, so I hope they don't shoot me for going five bars over. Especially since about four of them are for the last note. (I can imagine myself trying to trim it to 32 bars: "Somedaaaaaaaay, somehooooooooow, some - " - - - silence, only my theatrical, anguished expression lingering.) I know I haven't got the best voice, but it's a better voice for musical theater than classical singing, and I'm very good at pitch and decent at rhythm. I just hope I don't choke.

Aside from singing, I have no idea what to expect out of an audition. I suppose they'll ask me to read some lines or something. Actually, I'm not very nervous about anything beyond the song, so I hope they do that first, so I can do the rest with the giddy exhiliration of relief loosening my tongue.

Anyway, I'll let y'all know how it goes.


Original Comments

Kate the Great on 22 Apr 15:04
As someone who’s gone to lots of auditions, let me give you an idea of what you might come up with, since every director does their auditions differently. Sometimes there’s a movement exercise: walking around the space to music, walking and running at different speeds and with different postures. That kind of thing is done to see how versatile you are at coming up with your own different kinds of movement, and how you personally walk, your posture, etc. Since your entire body is shown on stage, some directors put that posture and walk into consideration when looking for an actor for a particular part.

Sometimes they’ll give you a scene to do with one other auditioner. They’ll give you a script that’s maybe three to four pages long, and they’ll give you a minute or two to look over it. Don’t read through it just to get a feel for tone; read to feel the dynamics of the scene; are you disdainful toward the other character? How do you react toward the other character? What are you doing to the other character to get what you want in the scene? Make a few decisions about the scene to yourself (Okay, I’m going to be coldly angry during these four lines, and then I’m going to walk away a few steps and put my back toward him during these lines; Then, I’ll give him a cold hug at the end) and then read it. The director is looking for an actor who can make definite decisions. Don’t just float there and read. Face your fellow actor; walk around the room purposefully, while talking to the other actor. Some of it will feel silly because it’s not rehearsed, and the director realizes that. They also just want to make sure you can interact with another character onstage, so even if you don’t move around, gesture as much as you can, react to your partner’s lines… I could coach on and on.

Or, like you’re expecting, the director could give you a monologue to read. Do the same thing you would during a scene. Make basic decisions as you read through it; I’m going to walk to this corner as I say this line, then as I have this epiphany, I’m going to whirl around and stroke my chin. Direct yourself.

Email me if you’ve got questions you want to ask. Or comment over at my blog. I feel like I’ve had a lot of experience here.

Aye Spy on 01 May 17:13
For any interested parties, here’s a follow-up on this audition:

It was mostly a singing audition. As I mentioned, I decided to do “Somewhere,” and I practiced about a dozen times a day in the week leading up to this audition. Since I didn’t have a piano or an accompanist handy, I sang it a cappella or, after scoping Youtube, to a video of some kid playing the piano part.

I was pretty nervous as I got to the audition, but it really helped that it took place at the theater where I took my acting class. I already felt comfortable with the environment. And actually, something about seeing all those other girls waiting in line for their turn, all of them quite nervous even though most of them had much more theater experience than me, calmed me right down. “You’ll do fine,” I told myself. “You’ve practiced this a billion times. You’re not going to forget any of the words. You’re going to remember all those things you’ve been telling yourself during practice: shoulders up, breathe, dynamics, facial expression. You’ll be fine.”

To my surprise, I believed me. I was a little nervous when it was my turn to go before the panel, but not a lot. I introduced myself and the piece professionally, and then I sang the song, on key even though the provided accompanist had a rough time with the music (Bernstein and four sharps) and ended up accompanying me with a quiet, surreal interpretation. I kept the correct beat and the tone, didn’t freeze up, crescendoed when I was supposed to, and during one part I waved away a brief, panicky thought that I had no idea what the next words were. I kept singing and the words came. The judges, neither smiling nor frowning, were strangely a comfort, because I felt that they were respectful and would give me and my voice a fair chance, even though I had heard the girls before me and knew they sounded better.

I had been forewarned that the judges were behind and didn’t have time to offer feedback after the song, so when I was done I thanked them, grabbed my music, and headed out. As I went through the door I overheard a judge say something like “that was beautiful.” That stayed with me as I smiled and nodded at the folks still in line and headed back out to my car. I had done it: nervousness and inexperience aside, I knew I had sung my best. And if my best could be beautiful for only a moment, that was enough.

Ultimately, no, I didn’t get a callback, but I feel like the audition was a success. I don’t know if I’ll be auditioning for something else this summer, since I don’t know exactly where I’ll be come fall, but maybe.

Thanks for your comment, Kate; I was hoping you’d read and send me some advice. Thanks also, Sabrina and Mom, for your support!