Further Dispatches from the Audition Front
So 68 more people tonight and lots more Durang monologues. Here are some more observations and hints for future auditioners.
1. When you're asked for 90 seconds, make it 78, not 178. Nothing kills a good audition more than overstaying your welcome. Get in, get out and leave them wanting more.
2. And if you're asked for a comedic monologue (or classical or two contrasting contemporary) than give the casting directors what they want. 'Electra' and 'A Doll's House' are great plays, but they aren't funny.
3. Teenager Pose. Many girls in their twenties stand with all their weight on one leg while the other leg juts out at 90 degree angle. Makes them look like bored'n'bitchy 13 year olds. Someone needs to really teach grounding.
4. Speaking of teaching: What the hell is up with HB Studios? They churn them out like butter and very few have much to show for it. What kind of racket are they running over there?
5. Can you even do the show? The dates for production are usually clearly listed in the ad. Don't come to the audition if you can't do the dates. One girl came in and kicked some ass and then said she'd be gone for two of our four weeks of rehearsal. Please, don't tease me like that. Bad enough I have to sit through bad monologues for people who can't do the dates, but for someone great to come in is just plain mean.
6. Ladies (or gentlemen), if you have long hair, decide beforehand what you're going to do with it. Watching someone get hair out of their face for a minute and a half is amusing, but won't get you the part.
7. Don't think I forgot about the flip flops. Out of 68 people, I counted 24 pairs of them. And I'm not even including the funky sandals some people wore.
8. If you're going to do a dialect or accent: a) know what the hell you're doing (otherwise you sound like a fool) and b) use it to enhance your chances of getting cast. Doing a Texas dialect for a play set in New Jersey doesn't help you. At that point, it just seems like a funny character voice.
9. Any monologue from Neil LaBute's 'Autobahn' is now officially overdone.
10. Resumes. First, spell check them. You can't believe how many simple mistakes are made. Second, don't lie. Trying to make something sound more impressive than it actually was only gets you screwed in the end. If you did scene work, don't list it as a production. And if you did shows in college, just say so. Naming the theatre at school doesn't count as professional work. Just call it like it is.
1. When you're asked for 90 seconds, make it 78, not 178. Nothing kills a good audition more than overstaying your welcome. Get in, get out and leave them wanting more.
2. And if you're asked for a comedic monologue (or classical or two contrasting contemporary) than give the casting directors what they want. 'Electra' and 'A Doll's House' are great plays, but they aren't funny.
3. Teenager Pose. Many girls in their twenties stand with all their weight on one leg while the other leg juts out at 90 degree angle. Makes them look like bored'n'bitchy 13 year olds. Someone needs to really teach grounding.
4. Speaking of teaching: What the hell is up with HB Studios? They churn them out like butter and very few have much to show for it. What kind of racket are they running over there?
5. Can you even do the show? The dates for production are usually clearly listed in the ad. Don't come to the audition if you can't do the dates. One girl came in and kicked some ass and then said she'd be gone for two of our four weeks of rehearsal. Please, don't tease me like that. Bad enough I have to sit through bad monologues for people who can't do the dates, but for someone great to come in is just plain mean.
6. Ladies (or gentlemen), if you have long hair, decide beforehand what you're going to do with it. Watching someone get hair out of their face for a minute and a half is amusing, but won't get you the part.
7. Don't think I forgot about the flip flops. Out of 68 people, I counted 24 pairs of them. And I'm not even including the funky sandals some people wore.
8. If you're going to do a dialect or accent: a) know what the hell you're doing (otherwise you sound like a fool) and b) use it to enhance your chances of getting cast. Doing a Texas dialect for a play set in New Jersey doesn't help you. At that point, it just seems like a funny character voice.
9. Any monologue from Neil LaBute's 'Autobahn' is now officially overdone.
10. Resumes. First, spell check them. You can't believe how many simple mistakes are made. Second, don't lie. Trying to make something sound more impressive than it actually was only gets you screwed in the end. If you did scene work, don't list it as a production. And if you did shows in college, just say so. Naming the theatre at school doesn't count as professional work. Just call it like it is.
posted by THALATTA! Theatre International at 12:03 AM
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