We have entered into summer stock season, and you know what that means! Take out your best monologues, 16 to 32 bar cuts and break in those character shoes because you are wanted. You probably have just about an audition every weekend for the next three months penciled in. The audition process starts months in advance, researching for reputable companies, picking out show seasons you feel fit your “type” and selecting the perfect material that will get you noticed out of the sea of hundreds of others who show up to these open calls. All of this with the end goal to BOOK! For most, summer stock programs are opportunities for students and seasoned professional to add or gain professional theater experience as actors or interns often earning points towards equity, with a small (emphasis on small) stipend or weekly pay. It may seem impossible at times but remember all you need is one shot. Don’t leave the room without feeling you’ve shown the directors a solid sample of what you are fully capable of. Take charge of your audition without being too confident. Show them who you are and share with them your own story through the material you choose. Get ready, your audition starts the moment you walk through the doors.

Before we begin our audition experience… WARNING:

As an actor auditioning for summer stock programs you may experience prolonged hours and hours of waiting, constant attempts at showing off and intimidation by other auditioners, an influx of steaming in the bathroom, tears, vocal and physical warmups that are straight out of Sharpay and Ryan’s HSM dressing room, selfies (because you are damn right we look good), and a whole lot of highs and lows.

First Impressions

Auditions are not like what you picture in the movies. Very rarely are they on a stage with acoustics and reverberation in the walls that make your vibrato bring tears to your audience. It is usually in a small classroom sized room or workspace. There is a time the audition is scheduled to start and the time that the audition actually starts. This is where being bad at math comes in: overestimate the amount of people you think there will be at the call. Anyone and their mother can show up to these things so in order to be seen get there early. Once you enter through the doors and all eyes are on you, sign in and give your headshot and resume to the monitor. You are probably starting to get nervous right about now so it takes you longer than the average kindergarten to fill out a paper with three questions on it, like your name, address, and phone number. When it comes to roles you want to play you shy away because you don’t want to seem pushy on paper even though you have been dying to play this part since the womb. There are probably some questionable outfit choices like the girl dressed in black leather pants and a pink lady’s jacket (I wonder what part you want) or the one in the character shoes (which is only acceptable if they are LaDuca’s and you can dance in them). There have been times in auditions where directors have asked for the girls to take their heels off because they were worried for them. There will almost always be a guy in the tux or the “straight one” in gym shorts and a t shirt at a dance call. An audition is like an interview so be you, be memorable, and dress appropriately, especially for movement.

Waiting

In between the nervous diarrhea you are low key having, waiting for an audition is probably the worst mixture of anxiety and anticipation you have had. There are so many possibilities that could play out and all of them are running through your head. You may think you are perfect for the part but there are also hundreds of men and women who can play it just as well as you and it all comes down to what the directors prefer. YOU LITERALLY HAVE NO CONTROL. The only thing you can control is the environment you keep and state of mind you keep yourself in while waiting. Listening to music, stretching, and warming up are always important so find a comfortable space where you can still listen for your name. As far as “competition” goes if you know the business that isn’t really a thing. The ones you should look out for though are the kids lying on the floor breathing, undulating their “snaky spines”, or claiming they are freeing their natural voice. You might think they are crazy but they are deep into some Linklater technique so trust me they are your biggest competition. These are usually students who come from the Boston Conservatory (okay fine…at Berklee).

More Waiting

They have finally called your name, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are next. In most situations the monitor calls you in groups that average about ten people. You grab your headshot and resume and get into order. This is where you really get to know your competition. The nerves set in and people express themselves in different ways. Some tend to keep to themselves and others like to make friends and chat about their whole life story. Put two of these people together and it makes for a very awkward situation.

While you are waiting for everyone else before you to go in many thoughts are racing through your head. More than likely you are:

• Questioning those who go in and belt face for a season that is mostly composed of Rogers and Hammerstein
• Praying to God, or whomever you believe in that no one else sings the same song as you
• Judging how experienced/good the pianist is
• Wondering when am I going to be able to eat?

The Audition

Finally this is it, the moment you have been prepping for has arrived. You have no idea what to expect. Your first task is to find the directors and the piano, it sounds silly but you'd be surprised how many times you predetermine the layout of the room and it is the opposite of how you pictured it. The next task is to walk to the pianist without falling, tripping, or looking like a runway model, again anything can happen. Chat a little with the pianist, get to know them, smile, look like you aren’t freaking out if this is the first time they are playing your music. Make sure to give them a tempo and explain your cut as thorough as possible, enough so you can avoid leaving the room blaming everything on their supposed mistakes instead of your own- side note to all the divas out there. Honestly if it is a professional company there really isn’t anything to worry about. These pianists have probably played the entire score of your musical before so just stay calm, if you mess up and want to do it again ask politely. POLITELY. BE NICE. Your pianist is your best friend. Slate your name and the pieces you will be doing. Enjoy some awkward small talk and then they will tell you when to start. Most often you are trying to convey a story through a song to people who aren’t even looking at you and are writing down notes about the people before you on resumes. This is a generalization but you are definitely reading into every little facial expression they are giving you. If they smile you think they like you, if they laugh you think you booked, if they are stone cold and expressionless you think you should quit for good. None of this means a thing. They may ask you what else you have in your repertoire and small talk some more but usually once you’ve finished you say thank you and walk out. No matter how bad or good you think you did fake it until you get out the door. Be thankful you survived.

All Done?

Not quite, after you leave the room you must exercise patients once again until everyone in your group has gone. Yes this means you are still hoping no one sings your song after you just in case they do it better. The directors usually take a few minutes to check in with each other usually about when their next break is but mostly about you. You are basically waiting to see whether they wish to call you back for a dance audition or have you read from the script. They will have the monitor come out to announce the results, just in case you have a few dramatic episodes from those who are not called back. Being called back or not being called back also doesn’t mean that you aren’t cast, it means they want to see more of what you can do.

And the Anticipation Continues…

Did you think you would end this day with a cast list? Think again. This is no high school show. That company probably has other audition dates and locations all throughout the year in addition to the one you just had. This is why it is important to keep your options open and audition for several different programs, not just one. Keep checking your email on possible offers because that is where you will hear from them, if you do at all (eye roll). Keep in mind that every audition experience will be different. If you don’t book it may not be because you are bad but because you are just not the director’s “vision” for the show. There are other factors including looks, height, age, ethnicity, and other things we wish didn’t matter to casting but alas they do.

Now go and listen to the song “Climbing Up Hill” from The Last Five Years, another great representation of what it is like to audition.

Good luck and break legs this audition season!

Love,

Just your average struggling artist