No Gwinnett theatre auditions found this week -- maybe this would be a good time for you to check out this link of auditioning tips.
A few notes of my own:
As a director, the one thing that bothers me most is when the auditioner treats it as a lark. Yes, we're here to have fun. Yes, we're (usually) not being paid. If youre unprepared for the audition, how can I expect you to be prepared for rehearsals? For being off-book in 3 weeks or less? Putting on a play is hard and is worth doing right. So is auditioning.
However, I recognize that not everybody can be expected to jump through every hoop I set up for them. Many theatres put monologues online for auditioners to learn for the audition. What should happen to someone who didn't even know the theatre group existed until the day of the audition? Sometimes I've heard about auditions only the day of. If the director has monologues online for me to memorize, then when I introduce myself, I'll tell them, "I only heard about this audition today and haven't had time to memorize the monologue." If you can do a good cold read, and impress them that way, I guarantee you'll be head and shoulders above most of the other auditioners.
Speaking of cold reading -- it's assumed that you know how to read if you've reached a certain age. So if you get up there and read the monologues with no attempt at character and delivery, all you're showing is that you know how to read...we need to know if you can ACT. You need to quickly size up the side and find a way to put characterization and CHOICES into the material. As a director, I choose my sides carefully in order to permit this kind of work. Look for a CHANGE in the character, and play that BIG TIME.
Stay tuned for this week's "This week in Gwinnett theatre" as well as special information about an exciting community theatre event! Also I'll follow up with a report on "Charley's Aunt" auditions I attended this week.
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