Wear Neat, Comfortable Clothing

Audition Assignment

ADA 3M/4M

Part 1: Audition Tips

Here are some audition tips for you to use to audition for The Good Doctor, and to keep in mind for future auditions as well.

*Remember that for our play, you are guaranteed a role, but what role you get depends on how well you complete this assignment—not just how well your audition goes (see rubric).

TIPS:

• Wear neat, comfortable clothing. I know you want to look nice, but make sure you can move around the room. Also, don't wear a full costume. Your outfit can suggest the character, such as a high-collar blouse for a period piece, but don't get all dressed up as that will deter from your performance

• Arrive early. You don't want to have to rush into your audition. Give yourself time to find the space and warm up.
• Bring a bottle of water. People tend to get parched when they’re nervous.

• Try to find some background information about who you are auditioning for and/or the piece you are auditioning for (i.e. For The Good Doctor, it may help to read about other performances of this play or get to know Neil Simon as a playwright). This can also help you decide which pieces to choose for your audition.

• Keep your monologue to about a minute unless you are told otherwise. Most directors can tell in that time if they are interested. The director(s) may cut you off in the middle. Do not feel insulted! This is part of the task. Have several pieces prepared and one longer piece in case they ask to see more.

• If you are auditioning for a musical, bring clean and clearly marked sheet music and be sure the music you give the piano player is cut down to 16 bars.

• For an actual audition, bring a few headshots. Make sure your resume is firmly attached to your headshot. If possible, photocopy or print your resume to the back of the headshot. Don't staple it. Headshots with staples can get tangled in a pile. One page is plenty. Make sure your headshot/resume is no large than 8 1/2" by 11". This will fit into a folder. If the headshot is oversized, it may end up in the trash. Make sure your headshot looks like you;directors may not recognize the headshot and therefore not remember your audition. On your resume don’t make the type smaller than 10 pt. If you have that much experience, edit it down. If your resume is cramped and hard to read, no one will bother.

• Set up the audition space for your needs. If there is a chair center stage, but you are going to stand for your audition, ask if you can move it out of the way. Don't try to work around it.

• Remember to smile. If you are nervous, take a deep breath and try to relax. Recognize that you are not going to get every job you audition for, but can learn from every experience.

• When you are called in for your audition, be confident and smile and unless it is vital, avoid asking too many questions as your audition probably has a tight time slot.

• Be prepared for anything, talking like a dog or cat, imitating an old person’s voice or a young person’s voice, or talking with foreign accents. Be prepared to deliver your monologue in a different way than the one you are used to.

• Do not deliver the monologue so fast that you slur your words. Takeyour time.

• Speak more loudly than you think is normal when delivering your monologue. Pretend that you are speaking across a parking lot. Project your voice from the stomach. Speak clearly. It may feel odd, but that is what makes you sound good on stage most often.

Part 2: Audition Rehearsal Tips

Step 1: Choose a minimum one-minute piece from The Good Doctor for your audition. This monologue is to be memorized and performed for your audition. You will also be asked to do a cold reading(s) from the play.

Step 2: Reading Aloud

a)Read the text by yourself very slowly…..allowing images to emerge. Stay very relaxed and remind yourself you are under no pressure to "come up" with anything.

b)Now go through the TEXT again reading aloud, this time alternately emphasizing and exaggerating the sounds of the vowels, then the sounds of the consonants. You are working just to get the feel of the words in your mouth (to taste them) and the alternating sense of saying someone else's words. Again, you are not trying for any kind of result.

Step 3: Slow Motion

Go through the TEXT…again as physically relaxed as possible and say the words in slow motion. Allow the flow of the TEXT to emerge and find the connection to the words as you speak. (Think slow motion, see in slow motion.) It is very important to take a lot time with the text at the very beginning. It is easy to rush through TEXT, in a desire to put it up and get it "right".
Once a scene is up it can be very useful to go through it in slow motion, making sure you are taking in everything.

Step 4: Whisper

Communicate the monologue through a whisper. It is important not to "voice" any of your words. Notice how whispering strengthens your need to speak. When you go back to full voice, can you retain this need?

Step 5: Memorization and Characterization—Audition Journal #1

Memorize the scene and develop your character. While memorizing, think of the following:

a) What has brought your character to where they are in their lives at the point of the monologue? ______

b) What kind of relationships does you character have? Describe one in detail. ______

*Journal #1 is to be submitted for your audition; late journals CAN NOT be accepted.

Step 6: Rehearsal

Be sure that you have rehearsed you monologue to the point where you don’t have to think about what line comes next—lack of memorization will hurt your characterization.

Part 3: Audition Journal #2

In about 100 words, reflect on your audition. Comment on how well you think you did, what you learned from the experience, what you did well, what aspect of your audition you could improve upon for next time, etc.