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One of the most popular questions around any theatre at audition time is, “What should I expect?!” This is especially important for anyone new to theatre or new to Strauss. It’s a very good question. The more prepared you are for an audition, the better. Below are some general guidelines and common audition expectations for Young Troupe at Strauss. It’s very easy to get caught up in details, so more than anything, remember that theatre (auditioning included) is meant to be an exciting and enriching experience, not a scary or stressful one. The production team is on your side, and they’re rooting for you to do well. So have fun!
If you would like to be notified by email of upcoming auditions, write to youngtroupe@strausstheatre.com with “SUBSCRIBE AUDITION” in the subject line. What to Expect Non-Musical Non-musical auditions typically consist of the director handing scenes to everyone, assigning each person a particular role, giving everyone time to look over it, and having groups of people read the scene together. Memorization is never required. Sometimes acting games or exercises will be incorporated as well. Musical For most musicals, there are three parts to an audition: vocal, dance, and reading. Sometimes all three will be done at the initial audition. Sometimes only the vocal and dance portions will be held initially while the reading portion is left for call-backs. Sometimes a show will not require dance. However, you should always expect that you’ll be doing everything so that you aren’t surprised. Preparation Always know the show! Be familiar with plot and characters for any show and music for musicals. Publishers’ websites and Wikipedia.org are very good resources. You should be well rested before auditions, and try not to come on an empty stomach. Things like being tired and hungry will affect your focus and your performance. Preparing for any show involves more than being ready for the activities you’ll be involved in at the audition. Also consider: You’ll be spending several hours a week in rehearsal. This may affect the amount of time you have to spend on school work. Be prepared to rearrange your study schedule, and don’t overload yourself with extracurricular activities. The more you have on your plate, the less dedication you can give to each and the more stress you give yourself. Performing in a show requires work outside rehearsal as well. Make sure you will have time to devote to learning lines and songs and practicing dance moves at home. Be prepared to miss 4 days of classes for school performances. This means not only giving your teacher(s) the permission slip you’ll receive at the first rehearsal, but it also means deciding BEFORE AUDITIONS whether or not your grades and attendance record can afford for you to miss those days. Be prepared to be responsible for your part, no matter how small you think it may be. Every actor relies on every other actor. You are committing at least one month to your fellow players. Non-Musical My best advice is to pull out a book that you are not as familiar with, have someone pick a page, allow yourself about 5 minutes to look over it, and then read it aloud with as much character or emotion as possible. Repeat this several times with new pages. It’s the easiest way to get an at-home feel for a cold-reading. Musical You should be prepared in three areas: vocal, dance, and reading. Vocal: Prepare one musical piece from a Broadway show OTHER THAN the show you are auditioning for. Try to find a song that matches the style of the show in the range of the character you would like to be cast as. Your piece should be memorized, and you will need to bring your sheet music with you. An accompanist is always provided. Always choose a piece of music that you are comfortable with and that you understand well. The more you know about a piece the better you will perform it. Remember that when singing for theatre, facial expression and emotion are very important. Dance: A short dance combination will be taught at most musical auditions. The difficulty will depend on the show itself and the group of youth auditioning. Typically, a choreographer will simply want to see that you can follow instructions, find the beat, and move comfortably. We recommend you wear comfortable clothes that you can move freely in as well as comfortable, flexible shoes and that you have stretched Reading: See “Preparation: Non-Musical” for how to prepare for reading. Length Non-Musical The duration of auditions depends entirely upon how many people show up. The director will be as efficient as is possible. Non-musical auditions typically last no less than an hour and no more than 2. Musical The duration of a musical audition varies greatly. It depends heavily on how many youth arrive and how long their piece of music is. When an extremely large group of youth audition it is common for the director to only allow each person to sing a portion of their song. Musical audition length is also affected by how easily and quickly those auditioning pick up on the dance combination. Our choreographers are always patient and will give you several chances to get the steps. You should plan on spending at least 2 hours at a musical audition. You may be released sooner, but preparation is key! Dress Come neat and clean, but most importantly: comfortable. The more comfortable you are, the better experience you will have, and that’s the most important part of an audition: having a good time. Cost There is no cost to audition. If you are cast in any production, there will be a production fee. For members, this is $45. For non-members, $75. If two family members are cast, the production fee will decrease by $15 per child. A single membership (one ticket to each membership show) is $35. This is well worth it if you plan on auditioning for more than one show. |