Auditioning for a show at any age, whether in a Christian setting or not, is stressful. Don’t add to that by choosing something complicated to wear. Aeropostale has Girls’ Clothing that is appropriate, affordable, and casual (yeah, also some that’s less than appropriate). The organization we are involved with recommends NOT dressing up in any kind of costume.
(These camis from Aeropostale are my girls’ favorites for wearing under stuff.)
Now, on to the really fun stuff, what to perform.
When auditioning for a musical, please please please … do not sing that annoying song from the little mermaid. Sing Under the Sea or My Favorite Things if you must, but try to find something a tad more original. My daughter recently ordered this teen musical theater book and CD set
For a monologue, it’s also good to think outside the box. Do not use poetry! Many children’s books have fine selections (a one-minute monologue is only about a paragraph). Or find a hilarious blogger, like Carrie at Life is Like a Mountain Railway, who wrote this post that my daughter just borrowed a piece from.
Here’s a taste of what she used. Choosing which small slice of mothering hilarity to use was the tough part. The toddler wail came easy!
Forest dropped his daffodil on the floor by accident and I ran it over with my cart. I didn’t realize it until I heard an ear piercing shriek — “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO you killed my flower. You crunched it!!! It’s DEAD!!”. He looks at me like I have committed a crime against humanity. “No,” I say, “see, it’s still alive” as I try to keep the water from running out the stem, and the blossom hangs down by a thread. He looked at me and disgust. I gave him Warrior’s then, the one with half the petals eaten off, because by that time Warrior was on to better things, like the fruit.
BTW, she was cast as the mother in the show. Thank you Carrie!
So what are your favorite funny blogs?
OK, I should be cleaning the house, but you are talking about theatre auditions, so here I go! For those of you who don’t know, theatre is my thing.
A few points that I always thought were important:
#1-and audition is basically a job interview, so you should look like you care. I am not saying that you should be wearing a suit, but you should be dressed neatly and cleanly in something comfortable and that looks attractive on you. You want the director to think that you are serious and care about the audition. Someone in cut off shorts, a dirty t-shirt and flipflops does not look like they are taking this seriously.
#2-You do not want to interfear with the directors preconceived notions of what the character should look like-so don’t wear anything flashy or trendy. Don’t try to interpret the character by wearing a “costume”. Something basic but attractive is best that shows YOU off, not the clothing. I usually try to wear dark slacks and a solid color top in a color that is attractive on me. I wear basic makeup that highlights my features but that isn’t standout (ie I don’t want my makeup to show but my face, if you get my drift) Jewlery should be very simple or noexistant). I do however wear base and powder for an audition, which I don’t usually wear for everyday. However if you aren’t used to wearing it I wouldn’t worry.
#3-You may need to move, so wear clothing that is non binding and shoes that you can move in, especially if it is a musical and you may have to dance. This is not the time to be wearing flip flops or super high heels.
#4-If you make a mistake, try to show as much poise as you can-the director will be interested to see how you handle stress and how you handle dropping/messing up a line. Stage presence means a lot more than getting every word or movement perfect.
Most of the auditions I have done have been reading lines from the script-not with a prepared monologue. I actually will be doing an audition this summer for a professional theatre-I’m sure I won’t get cast, but it will be an interesting experience. Chosing the 1 1/2 min to 2 min audition piece is actually what is causing me the most stress right now~
Ohhhh, I am so flattered that she read my piece! I just saw that in my e-mail last night!! Hooray, way to go, Rebecca’s daughter!!!! Now I just wish I would have been a mouse in the corner watching this reading take place! It might have been funnier hearing about it, than having it happen to you (although it was slightly amusing at the time as well). Congratulations, and I hope the show is a huge success!
Congrats to you daughter, Rebecca! How fun!
My favorite funny blogs…? There are a few, but I’ll just give you two (okay, three!): http://www.antiquemommy.com and http://www.fiddledeedee.net and http://www.laughter4daystocome.blogspot.com They always make me laugh!
Jenn ~ thank you! I knew theatre was your thing, and so I was hoping you’d add your comments to make it a really useful post. I agree with everything you said; one of the auditions I enjoyed the most watching this last time was a young man who clearly had a great monologue prepared, began well, forgot his line and, after a relatively lengthy pause, asked with a smile if he could just do a cold read. Everybody clapped and he got the part he wanted.
I’m so excited for you!
Carrie ~ the rest of my family didn’t get to watch the audition either. If it turns out, by any small miracle, that it was recorded and they let us have it, I’ll see if I can send you a copy. Or maybe I’ll have her re-do it here at home and put it on You-tube. Unlikely though.
Jenna ~ thanks for sharing the laughter!
Don’t read any funny blogs – the hilarity at my house is provided by teenaged son, often reading expresively to me from Fark – and am not a theater person. (though my father was an actor on the Yiddish stage in Warsaw). But the don’t read poetry comment made me smile.
When we were just going into high school and received our schedules in the mail, my girlfriend and I called each other in panic because they had put us into Speech – public speaking. You probably know it’s the number one fear of Americans. We were no different.
We marched in to get them to correct this mistake and they stood fast. They had to offer an alternative English class so that seniors who were failing Englsh would graduate and they had to fill it. They assured us we’d do fine.
I was sick with terror. I was a 4′ 11″ sophomore and there were grownup guys with rough reputations, tattoos, motorcycles. And this was in a town dubbed the home of the Hell’s Angels.
The first speech was a free choice and I was desperate for some way to appease what I imagined would be a jeering audience. I got up, waited for everyone’s attention and launched into a dramatic and saucy rendition of “Twas brillig and the slithy toves…”
The scary senior guys got it – that I was making fun of the assignment – and they laughed and loved it. I got an A in the class and to this day am comfortable delivering a speech. Because I learned that I had to please my audience. I also learned, throughout the semester, that these guys whom everyone feared were sweet and protective and gentlemanly. I guess it was like Grease.
Vildy, that’s an awesome story! You should start a blog. 🙂
Vildy-I love your story! And I know what you mean about those types of guys. We have motorcycles and a lot of YB’s biker friends are that way-sort of weird to look at, but really big teddy bears. Just a bit individual is all!
Kudos to your daughter, Rebecca!