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"Until a character becomes a personality, it cannot be believed. Without
personality, the character may do funny or interesting things, but
unless people are able to identify themselves with the character, its
actions will seem unreal. And without personality, a story cannot ring
true to the audience." -Walt Disney
SOME TIPS FOR ACTORS FROM MRS. Z.
I. BE PREPARED:
For an Audition: know what
the show is about and what the director will be looking for if possible;
try to fit your audition piece/song to the feel of the show. For
example, if you're auditioning for The Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of
Oz" it wouldn't make sense to go in and recite a serious, dramatic
monologue. On American Idol, show tunes don't work--they're
looking for pop singers, not musical theatre stars. Bottom line:
know what you're auditioning for and be prepared for that style.
On Stage: Know your lines, songs and dances so you will be
confident on stage.
2. BE IN THE MOMENT: On stage you need to react like
it's the first time you've ever heard those lines, seen that move, or
sang that song. It's the audience's first time and they need
to believe it's yours also. Don't react too early and even in the
sappiest shows, make it real.
3. REACT: The look on your face, the tilt of your
head, an entire cast moving/reacting at the same time in the
same way frequently is more important and more interesting than
what lines are being said.
4. HAVE FUN: Audiences enjoy watching someone who is
acting like there's no place else they'd rather be. If you
look bored on stage, you will pull focus and the audience will
notice....even if you are in the back row in a dance number that
has 50 people. Smile, enjoy yourself and keep up the
energy level.
AUDITIONING? BE PREPARED!
This terrific
article appeared in New Hampshire's own
Hippo Press entertainment newspaper in
(approximately) August, 2004.
Getting the part without getting a panic:
ten ways to survive your next theater
audition
By Michelle Saturley
Typically, local theater companies taper off
during the summer months, producing mainly
well-known musical revivals or children's
plays. Then, in September, theater
companies tend to ramp up production again,
beginning with a series of auditions to test
the area's talent pool for new and returning
faces.
Whether you're a new or established actor,
there are always some key pieces of advice
to follow when you're ready to try out for
that coveted role. With the help of some of
Manchester's most experienced actors and
directors, we've compiled a list of do's and
don'ts to live by during audition season.
Break a leg!
1. DO: Be prepared. Yes, that is the
Boy Scouts' motto, but it should be yours
too if you want to succeed as an actor.
This is the most basic - and most often
overlooked - rule for any audition. "You
shouldn't just audition for a show on a
whim," advises Rob Dionne, an actor, musical
director, and co-founder of Majestic
Theatre. "You need to walk in there with a
clear plan for what you're going to do."
"You have to know your song or monologue ice
cold," advises George Piehl, actor, director
and producer at Stage One Productions.
"Your material should be burned into your
brain before you walk through the door."
2. DON'T: Waste time - yours or theirs.
An actor has about three to four minutes to
wow the casting director. Don't spend that
time cracking bad jokes, discussing mutual
friends or trying to be charming. Let your
audition speak for itself.
3. DO: Dress for success. Piehl
suggests standard, classic clothes, such as
well-fitting slacks for men and a
blouse-skirt ensemble for women, that won't
draw too much attention away from what
you're trying to do. He also says actors
should use a little common sense when going
to the closet on the big day: "If you are
going to audition for a 1940's big band
musical, don't dress like a punk rocker," he
said.
4. DON'T: Apologize or make excuses.
If you forget a lyric in your song, or drop
a line in your monologue, keep going. If
you've got a cold, don't tell the director
unless he asks. "Your audition should
represent how you'd perform in the show,"
said Brett Mallard, an actor, and director
of the ActorSingers upcoming production of
Man of La Mancha. "You can't
stop in the middle of the show, turn to the
audience and say, 'Wait, I messed up. Can I
do that again?' So don't do it in the
audition."
5. DO: Be professional. From the
moment you walk in the door of an audition,
keep in mind that you are being watched,
even if it's not your turn to sing yet.
Your behavior at the audition gives the
director a good indication of how you'll act
both on and off stage during rehearsals.
Are you rude to theater volunteers or other
actors? Do you chat incessantly instead of
going over your material? Do you show up
late? Remember that being an actor is about
more than what happens on stage.
6. DON'T: Be Cindy Brady. Remember
that episode of The Brady Bunch
where Cindy was on a TV game show, and she
got a case of nerves and totally choked?
Don't let that be you staring blankly at the
"On Air" sign. In the end, when you're
standing up there on stage, you really only
have one adversary: yourself. A case of
nerves can turn even the most talented actor
into a train wreck. The key to combat your
stage fright is being prepared. "If you
know your material inside and out, you'll
feel a lot more confident on stage," Piehl
said. "Feeling like you're not ready, or
you're going to forget something, is
probably the biggest trigger for stage
fright. You want to be in a place where you
are so comfortable with the material, you
could be bleeding from the eyes and still
know what you're doing up there. If you
feel like you've prepared enough, but you're
still getting freaked, try to control your
breathing and speech patterns. Be aware of
your body and your voice, which is what an
actor is supposed to be able to do, anyway.
Don't let fear dictate your chances to get
that part."
7. DO: Be versatile. Some actors
learn one song, and use it over and over at
every audition. The problem is, you
shouldn't use that Cole Porter tune you know
like the back of your hand to audition for a
rock opera. Develop a wide repertoire of
songs that fit your vocal range. That way,
whether you're trying out for Porgy
and Bess or Jesus Christ
Superstar, you'll feel confident.
Mallard suggests a portfolio of four or five
up-tempo songs and a few more ballads, as
well as a modern dramatic monologue, a
Shakespearean monologue, and a comic
monologue. "Commit each song and monologue
to memory, and you'll be prepared no matter
what the director asks you to do," Mallard
said. "It should be muscle memory, like
riding a bike."
8. DO: Know what works for you. If
you know your song and monologue cold, but
you're still not getting roles, it may be
time to take a long, hard look at the
material you've selected. Does your song
showcase your voice properly, or did you
simply choose it because you've always liked
the song? Does that monologue show off your
comic timing, or does it emphasize that fact
that your British accent is terrible?
Further, many actors audition for roles
simply because they like them, not because
they're a fit for them. "That's a common
mistake in community theatre," said
Mallard. "Perhaps there's a role you've
always wanted to play, but your voice isn't
right for it. Or, it's a role that entails
heavy dancing, and you've never danced
onstage in your life. You're just setting
yourself up for disappointment."
9. DON'T: Take it personally. Show
business is one of the last places in
society where you can get turned down for a
job based upon your appearance. Height,
weight, age and looks are all part of
casting. And most times, a director has a
pretty definitive image of what he wants his
characters to look like. But that doesn't
mean you aren't physically right for another
role out there.
Also, there will be times when you might not
get to sing your whole song or complete your
dramatic monologue in an audition. If that
happens, keep your cool. Maybe they're
running behind, and only have the audition
hall for a specific amount of time. It
could be that they've already decided that
you aren't physically right for the role,
but then again, it could be that they like
you so much they don't need to hear
anymore. Whatever the reasons, smile, say,
"thank you," and leave. Don't hang out and
pout, whining about how you didn't get to
finish. Or you really will be finished - as
an actor.
10. DO: Keep on trying. Some of the
most famous actors in the world were
rejected literally dozens of times before
they became supposed "overnight
sensations." The life of an actor is filled
with rejection. You just have to decide
whether you're able to pick yourself up,
dust yourself off, and keep on going, or if
that rejection-free career as a computer
programmer is more attractive.
Thank you to our experts for sharing their
advice: Rob Dionne of Majestic Theatre,
Brett Mallard of ActorSingers, and George
Piehl of Stage One Productions.
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