Getting your dream part on Broadway is as much technique as it is artistry, plus a litany of factors over which you have no control. Increase your chances of getting cast at your next audition. Just remember, every audition is different. So take a deep breath, and have fun!
Choose an Appropriate Audition Piece
Adhere to the guidelines of the audition posting precisely. Use monologues or songs from theatre works for a theatre audition, not from television or film. Your monologue or song should be in your age range, vocal range, and within the scope of personal experience. Playing “Hamlet” may be your dream gig, but a high school teenager will not have the life experience necessary to carry the role of the famed but troubled 33 year-old Danish prince.
For a musical audition, tailor your song to your voice and vocal ability. Sing a legit solo, not a modified chorus number. For newer shows, a pop or rock song may be preferred, but generally, do not sing other music styles for musical theatre auditions.
Choose a Callback Piece
For the Callback, you may be asked to sing another song, different from your audition piece. Or you could be asked to learn a song or scene from the show and have it performance-ready in 24 hours. The director not only wants to hear you again, she may be testing you to see if you learn quickly and do as directed. Also, the director wants to hear and see how you perform in relation to the other actors being considered.
After the Callback, you may get cast or asked for another Callback. In professional theatre, it is common to be asked back multiples times, even up to 12 Callbacks.
Do Your Homework
Know as much as you can about the show you are auditioning for, the show your audition piece comes from, as well as information on the creative team. The director could ask you questions at some point to see if you are prepared or how you “improv.”
Get a Headshot
If a picture is worth a thousand words, your headshot can be worth a thousand jobs ... or none. Headshots are a unique photography style, completely different from portraiture. They are also expensive, costing $500, $800 or more. Do not save your pennies by using a discount photographer or take the unprocessed RAW files and retouch them yourself. Let the professional headshot photographer do his job – you will be much happier with the end result.
Have a new headshot done every few years or whenever you look drastically different than you do in your current headshot – i.e., you gained or lost a significant amount of weight. Even the style of headshot photography has changed considerably in the past few years. So if you like your black-and-white's, get a color set as well.
Organize Your Resume
Separate your roles into three columns, with each row separated into a show, your role in italics, and the production company. List lead roles first, then supporting, character, and chorus roles. Have your most current and accurate contact information at the top, followed by your awards or grants, with your skills and references at the end.
Dress the Part ... Tastefully
Wearing a blue or red shirt with black slacks is always in style for men or women. A bright white or jet black shirt against the face can be harsh under theatre lights for most skin tones. Jeans usually are not appropriate for a theatre audition, and certainly not jeans with holes or rips. And even if you are auditioning for a risqué show like Cabaret, Chicago, or La Cage, it is never appropriate to be scantily clad at the initial audition.
For traditional plays and musicals, a female auditionee should wear character shoes or heels as well as a skirt, but make sure the skirt reaches the knee, if not longer. Females should also wear long hair off the face and minimal jewelry.
Rest and Relax
Get at least 8 hours of sleep the night before an audition. Being rested assures you will not crash at some point during the day, while being relaxed calms your nerves. Stay away from caffeine. Once the adrenaline starts flowing, caffeine can lead to rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, and dehydration. Drink a few quarts of water the day before, and do a yoga set when you wake up the morning of an audition.
Be Punctual
Arrive at the office or theatre at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your audition. At an open audition, arrive 30 minutes early to fill out an audition form and acclimate to the environment. This arrival time is the moment you step into the audition space and does not include finding a parking space or walking 3 blocks from the subway terminal. Be on time.
Show Appreciation to Everyone
Proper etiquette and manners are crucial, whether you are speaking to the producer who might be signing your future paychecks, or turning in your audition form to a production assistant. After the audition, thank the casting team for allowing you to audition. If you happen to get feedback from the director or choreographer, accept it whether you agree with it or not. Take it as a chance to learn how you are perceived by professionals.
Be nice and gracious to everyone – remember the basics of "yes ma'am," "no ma'am," "thank you," and "please."
Follow Up
Keep several thank-you notes in your bag, ready to be written, addressed, and mailed on the way home from the audition. At the audition, ask the address of each member of the creative team. Not only is it polite to thank them for allowing you the opportunity to audition, the thank-you note puts you in front of the decision people after the auditions are completed. And remember to have stamps on hand as well.
Forget It
Forget the audition and move on, regardless of how much you want the part. Casting can take weeks, even months. You could be called for multiple Callbacks, only to wait weeks to hear anything. You only get a call if you are cast, with no phone call if you are not cast. There are innumerable factors beyond your control, so don’t take it personally.
TIPS:
Do the best you can every time, and don't compare yourself to anyone else. Rejection is part of the growing process, so accept any feedback to grow and become better. And think of your audition as a free class in learning about your skills and potential in the business.
