If you have decided to get involved in theatre by acting, you’ve chosen a path that will be incredibly rewarding, allowing you to build practical and social skills that will enhance your daily life. You will also indulge your creativity, which has all kinds of benefits to emotional well-being. First, however, you need to get that coveted role, and that starts with nailing your audition! Follow these tips to prepare your audition and make sure you turn in a great performance and get that stage role you so badly desire.
Performance, not Reading
The first thing you have to remember is that your audition is a performance, not a reading. The casting director doesn’t want to see how literate you are (though that’s certainly a vital skill for any actor!). Rather, they want to see how you bite into the meat of the role. When you stand on that stage in front of the producers and director, throw yourself into the role. Perform it like it’s opening night in front of a full house!
Know the Play
Acting is research — a fact many people overlook. Take some time to research the play you’ll be performing. Know its history, themes, plot and characters. Be able to talk about it if necessary. At very least, understanding the play will give you a strong understanding of the motivations of the character you’ll be playing so you’ll turn in a better performance.
Prepare to Perform
Performing is rarely something that can be done on the fly. Expert improvisation takes years of practice and work. This means that before you audition, you need to prepare your audition thoroughly. Read the part over, get familiar with the words and character, and try practicing it a bit. If you don’t have time to prepare thoroughly, take the time to read over the audition passage two or three times so you know what you’re going to say and can avoid stumbling over your lines.
Think about the character you’re playing. Understand the situation they are in and why they are saying what they are saying. This will guide the decisions you make as you enunciate the dialogue. If you take some time to think about your character, it will show in your performance.
Enunciate
Stage acting is a unique form of performance. Take your time and deliver your lines very clearly, enunciating every word. Don’t worry if you don’t think it sounds entirely natural. Inject pauses where it seems appropriate and be sure that each word is clearly understood.
If you’re ready to prepare your audition and nail down your first part, we’re looking for new performers! Take a look at our auditions pageand then get in touch for more information today!