How to Audition for a Production
Photos submitted by Suneja.
Auditions are terrifying. Whether it is for music, drama, or a tryout for a sport, they are down right frightening. The idea that someone is jotting down notes about all of your flaws is something that deters many from even trying. In order to encourage more people to audition for a Hamilton Drama production, here is a guide as to what to expect in the audition process and some insider tips and tricks to have a great audition.
What to Expect: Play
The first part of the audition is usually the hardest: getting into the audition room and sitting down. The first person to speak to the group is typically the student director. This is a student that will be assisting the director with everything throughout the process and will be sitting in on the audition. This person will probably give a speech introducing themselves and giving some last minute encouragement. The second person to talk is usually the director. The director will come to the front of the room and introduce themselves, along with any other adults that may be assisting in the casting process.
The most important thing to listen to during the director’s introduction is how often you will be called up to read. Typically, the director will post “sides,” excerpts from the play, that have multiple different characters which kids will be called up to read on stage. Usually at Hamilton the guarantee is that you will be called up to read a side at least twice before the audition is over.
Then the bulk of the audition is actually going up to read the sides. The characters that you get called up to read for aren’t necessarily the characters that you are being considered for, it’s just what the casting directors want to see you portray, so don’t read into it too much!
After everyone has been called up at least twice, the director will come back in front of the group and share when the results will be announced, when we are allowed to request feedback on the audition, and some expectations they have for us. The most important thing is to remember that everyone will be feeling different emotions when the cast list comes out and to give everyone the space they need. Going along with that, don’t post anything on social media because once a post is up, it is never gone.
What to Expect: Musical
The process for a musical is a little different than a play because there are two parts to the audition: solo singing and dancing.
Firstly, the dancing section is usually taught by either the director or a guest choreographer. Sometimes the choreography will be used in the actual production and sometimes it won’t. The directors aren’t looking for this choreography to be perfect, as you are learning it in the span of half an hour, but rather what you can do with your face while you are dancing. Being a performer is much more important than getting every dance move correct. Typically groups span between 10-12 people and everyone learns the choreography together and performs the choreography in small groups in front of the directors.
The solo singing section is nerve wracking because unlike the dancing, you are singing all by yourself. Normally, there are groups of around five people that are called to sing their solos in a separate room while the dancing takes place, and sometimes it is in front of the entire group during that audition timeslot. The solo singing includes a 45 second cut of any song of your choosing with a backing track. Most people Google the karaoke of their song on Youtube and use that during the audition.
Afterwards, the same spiel is given to the group by the director as during a play.
Tips and Tricks
1. Make Choices
The biggest thing the directors are looking for is people who are willing to put themselves out there on stage. It doesn’t matter if a choice you make necessarily “fits” with the character, it matters that you show the directors that you can take chances. But what even are choices in an audition? Choices are everything you do during an audition. It’s the way you walk, talk, and interact with others on stage. Make a choice that makes you stand out.
2. Stay in the Moment
When reading a side, it is important that you are interested and paying attention to everything happening in the scene, not just your lines. It is very obvious when someone isn’t paying attention on stage and just listening for when it’s their turn to speak. Constantly stay engaged in the scene. One way to stay engaged is to interact with other people on stage.
3. Projecting and Diction
During an audition the director and casting directors are sitting in the back of the theater and so it is important that they can hear you the entire time. Projecting is how loud you are speaking and aiming your voice to the back of the theater. This is so that your volume is loud enough to be carried to the back of the theater. Diction is how you enunciate your words. An easy way to add diction is to over exaggerate your “t”s and “d”s. These consonants are the easiest way to make sure all of your words are clear.
4. Stay Still
I don’t mean this in the sense that you should never move while singing or reading a scene, but rather in shifting your weight. It is really easy to shift back and forth while singing or reading a scene, especially when you're nervous. It is totally normal, but it hurts your audition. It is powerful and makes you stand out when you portray confidence on stage during your audition. Try really hard to be conscious of swaying!
5. Be Kind
Every moment you are interacting with others during the audition, during a production, or in front of anyone in theater, it is an audition. It is important that you treat others with kindness and respect. The way you treat other people is as important to your audition as how “well” you do.
Our Motto
Our motto at Hamilton Drama is right person, right role, right time. It is very easy to think that because you didn’t get a specific role you aren’t “good” enough for that character, this is NOT true. The reality of it is that everyone has a role that is meant for them, and sometimes it doesn’t align with what we want. It doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t have done amazing in the role you wanted, it just means that someone else was better fit for that role. It is a hard pill to swallow, but the most important thing is to keep auditioning!
