Auditions can be very exciting or incredibly stressful, especially if you’re new to theater. For high school students, auditioning for a play or musical can feel intimidating, particularly when there are many other talented students trying out for the same roles.
Firstly most directors want performers of different experience levels to encourage young actors to bring their authentic selves and explore their creativity. A student who is auditioning for the first time should not assume that having less experience automatically means they have no chance
While acting skills are important, getting a role is not about being the most talented person in the room. Directors also pay attention to preparation, attitude, confidence, an actor’s dynamic with other people, and how they handle mistakes or mishaps.
According to Stages Theater Company actors should practice their audition material many times so they can focus on performing well instead of worrying about forgetting their lines.
It’s also advised to arrive early so performers have time to check in,get comfortable and focus before their audition.
Another important quality is being respectful and kind. A lot of people think that auditions start when they go up to perform but that is not the case.
Auditions start the moment you step into the room. If you are being rude to others it gives a bad impression and you might not get the role you want or a role at all.
Junior and stage manager Hollis Baker,when being asked what the casting team looked for in auditions, said, “I think they look for good energy, and a good attitude.”
Energy can also make a difference during an audition. This doesn’t always mean being extremely loud or energetic. Instead it can also mean showing that you are engaged in the performance and are actively trying to bring a character to life by using facial expressions and using your body to add to the story; like adjusting posture, or gesturing with your arms.
The casting team pays attention to how actors respond when something goes wrong. In theater, mistakes are inevitable. But, it’s not about not making mistakes.
It’s about how you respond to those mistakes and if the casting team notices that you stay calm and collected when mistakes happen, they might be more inclined to invite you to callbacks.
