Greetings, readers! This #TechTuesday marks less than a week until Encore’s next round of auditions. The Frog Prince of Spamalot auditions next Monday and Tuesday. This “ribbeting” tale is sure to have audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter; don’t you want to be a part of it?
What was that? A bit of stage fright has you on the fence, hmm? Read on for some helpful tips that will have you hopping into the audition circle in no time.
1) Prepare
Whether it’s your first audition or your 15th, there are several ways to prepare for the big day. Encore is happy to offer a Pre-Audition Workshop leading up to each of our auditions. You’ll have the chance to work with a member of Encore’s production staff member and work through exercises that will prepare you for the audition room. As of press time, there are only 10 spaces remaining in this Saturday’s workshop for The Frog Prince of Spamalot, so register today!
If you aren’t able to make it to the workshop, you can still practice helpful audition room skills at home. Work in front of a mirror or with a family member to rehearse standing up straight, smiling, introducing yourself clearly, and projecting a confident and positive attitude. You can also visit our Auditions page to download and fill out your audition forms ahead of time!
2) Be on Time
One of the biggest rules of theatre is to be on time: to rehearsals, to show call times, and when it’s your queue to go onstage! Auditions are no exception to this rule. While auditions run from 5 to 7 PM, we recommend arriving no later than 6:30 PM to ensure that you have enough time to complete your audition forms, get your photo taken, and join an audition group without stress. You may have to wait for a bit before you go into the audition room, but, once inside, you should only take around 10-15 minutes.
3) Speak Up
Our creative team needs to hear you in the audition room so they can be confident in the fact that audience members will be able to hear you from the stage! You don’t want to yell or shout, but rather, “project,” as we say in the theatre. It helps to take a deep breath, slow down, and focus on speaking clearly with good diction.
4) Play for the Team
Did you know that when you enter an audition room, you are not alone in your audition? Sure, there are the directors and the stage manager. Maybe a producer. That’s it, right?
Not quite! When you work in an audition room, you are all on the same team! Work together to present a cooperative group to your directors by listening and staying open to feedback. It can be really exciting to work on a scene or a game together but try to let everyone have a turn to speak and share their thoughts. This will show the director that you can be a good scene partner and remain focused during the longer rehearsals you will face if you make it into the show.
5) Be Yourself
Your audition is your time to shine! When it’s your moment to share a fact about yourself or take a turn in a game, let your personality do the work for you. This is the creative team’s chance to get to know you. You only have 10 or 15 minutes in the room, remember? So don’t be shy! Even if you’re feeling a little intimidated, “fake it ’til you make it.” Directors like to get a feel for how you’ll be like to work with and who knows, maybe your personality may inspire how they cast a character in the show.
6) Plug In
Phew! You made it through your audition! Now what? This can be a bit difficult: you wait… Be sure to stay connected in case our team needs to reach you for any reason. Email in any last-minute conflicts that you may have forgotten on your audition form. Keep an eye on email or any missed calls, just in case. Lastly: check the callback list to see if you’re on it! Remember, it’s possible to be cast in a show, even if you’re not called back. Sometimes the director has already seen everything they need to know how they’d like to work with you, now or in the future.
Armed with these tips, you’re set to have an awesome audition experience. We’re so excited to see you at auditions for The Frog Prince of Spamalot next Monday and Tuesday, March 16 & 17, 2020, at 5-7 PM, at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre. Break a leg!
Photos by Cindy Kane Photography, Clarence Chan, and Aileen Pangan Christian.
Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.