Passing an audition?

[Moonliner]

Now this came out of left field...

My newly minted teenager just came home and informed me that he wants to try out for the school play, a mid summers night dream.

Anyone have any hints on how to nail an shakespeare audition? What's the process like, what might he be asked to do, how much do I need to pay and to whom?

As you can see drama was never really my thing, so I'm a bit clueless here...

[Not Afraid]

WOW! Cool! Theater changed my life.

Ummm, study hard, feel comfortable with the language, try to related to the character, know your lines, know the details of the character, the motivations and the raison d'etra. Then GO FOR IT!

[wendybeth]

It's important to be just a bit larger than life- but not too much. Speak a bit louder than normal, but don't yell. Movements and mannerisms should be a little more pronounced, mainly because stage productions are harder to hear and see than taped ones. GC and Gn2 are the experts here, so hopefully they'll weigh in on this one.

I remember one thing I learned in drama with regards to Shakespeare: know what the hell your character is saying and why. Shakespearean dialogue can be daunting for many practiced, classically trained actors- it really helps to have as thorough an understanding of the character and what they are saying as possible so that if you fluff a line you can bs your way through. There are a lot of fun characters in AMND, so I hope your kiddo gets in on the production!:snap:

[Not Afraid]

Oh and ENUNCIATE!

[Prudence]

Yeah - he should remember that Shakespeare isn't some mythical foreign language - it's English. The comedies in particular aren't supposed to be inaccessible mumbo-jumbo - they're jolly good bawdy fun. So yeah, he should know what the character's saying - not just memorize the words in order.

And yay! Midsummer has many great male parts.

So anyhow - he'll likely have to read lines for the audition. Does he know what parts interest him? Also, it's fun even if you don't have a major role. As a parent, particularly a male parent, there's a chance they'll try to rope you into constructing things.

Oh, and encourage him tons.

[Mousey Girl]

Ohhh...this brings back wierd memories for me. Our HS drama dept went to a large Shakespeare festival at SUSC in Cedar City every year. The weird thing happened my Sr year. We were doing our 15-20 min scene from Merry Wives. We were schedualed to preform at the end of a verrrry long day. There were 17-19 teams in front of us. 16 (!) of them did the Wall scene from AMND. I ended up memorizing the entire thing by the end of the day. When we sat on the edge of the stage for our critique from the judges, one of them asked our Fallstaff, "Weren't you just in the last scene we saw?" I got to pop off that, "No the guy you are thinking of played Fallstaff last year." We also got to watch Elizabeth Savage telling the other judges that she needed to shave her legs, just what I wanted to hear fomr a C-list actress

It was a very odd trip and we ended up with 3rd. The year before we did a scene from Henry IV and took 2nd.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

One of my undergrad degrees was in theatre, with a focus in Shakespeare! I think it's safe to say that theatre changed my life too. I worked teaching Midsummer to teens at The Shakespeare Theatre of Washington DC (the Folger's original company) and I think it's a great way to involve young students in Shakespeare early on! Kudos to his teacher.

The process usually depends on the director. When I was doing it, we'd ask for prospective actors to prepare a monologue, and for callbacks we'd provide "sides," or printed papers with a few scenes on them. The high-school theatre director is probably prone to just having an open call with "sides" printed. It might be a private audition (it was in college) or it might be a public audition (it was in high school, for me.) If he's going to get the audition sides beforehand, make sure he studies them pretty hard and is comfortable with every character.

If he doesn't get anything in advance, he needs to make best friends with a copy of the play. If he doesn't have one, buy him one now. There are some very nice youth-oriented editions that have clear notes (for instance, some have facing pages, one with play text and another with youth-oriented notes.) Introduce him to sparknotes.com, a helpful source for character explanations in plays. (Make him read the play first, though-- the site is a smarter version of Cliff Notes.) You might consider renting a DVD of a production. The Kevin Kline/Michelle Pfeiffer/Ally McBeal production isn't great but he'd get an understanding of the playfulness of the piece.

Tell him that no matter what happens in the audition, don't start over again and again. Don't apologize afterward, just smile and thank the director for their time.

For a student play, beyond a basic comfort with the language, a director is probably looking for someone who is having fun!

And wish him the best of... broken legs... from me!

[Gemini Cricket]

When I helped cast plays, here's what I look for:

1. People that would be fun to work with and have around for a rehearsal process and play run. If they look like they'd be a blast, it'll help the process run smooth.

2. Potential. I someone's audition is not great, but they take direction well and have a spark, I'll cast them and work to get the right stuff out of them. This can be a risk, but when it works, it works well.

3. Talent. I sometimes will push for casting someone who has just got the part down from the get go. It makes the director's job easy as possible. Which is also a good question for the person auditioning to ask the director: 'How do you envision this character?' Your take on a part may be completely different from what he/she wants...

4. Smile. Auditions are fun. If you look like you're not having fun, they'll think you're not interested 100%.

5. Project.

6. Annunciate.

7. Drink water beforehand because your spit can disappear quick during an audition.

Now for Shakespeare...

1. When you're auditioning with a Shakespeare piece, know what it is you are saying. Get familiar with the text and the meaning.

2. Tell the director that you are willing to do any part in the show. It's a great show and can be lots of fun. It's the experience of it all that's the best part.


Encourage him to do lots and lots of theatre. It's a blast.

If I think of more, I'll post it...

:)

[Kevy Baby]

I know nothing about passing an audition, but I know lots about passing gas...

[Gemini Cricket]

I know lots about passing gas...
“The rankest compound of villainous smell that ever offended nostril.”
~ The Bard



(Ya gotta love Google...)
:D

[Not Afraid]

So, why the sudden interest in Theatre? Is it a girl? Is there a kissing scene? (Thank you AD.)

[Moonliner]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'll be getting him a copy of the play as suggested since they are not giving him anything to practice with.


So, why the sudden interest in Theatre? Is it a girl? Is there a kissing scene? (Thank you AD.)

Heh, the same thought crossed my mind however I think it's more the influence of "High School Musical" than a fem-fatal. Apparently they had over 80 kids show up for the pre-meeting. There are ~20 roles in the play...

[LSPoorEeyorick]

High School Musical strikes again. Apparently it's big with the kidfolk.

If I had watched it, I would not admit that I saw it. So I couldn't tell you anything about it. At all. Nope.

[Not Afraid]

What is this "High School Musical"? Obviously another pop-cultural reference that passed me by.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

A terrible, terrible, terrible, oddly-enjoyable-in-the-way-someone-might-be-drawn-to-a-car-accident Disney Channel movie musical. About the wide! range! of interests! a teenager! might have! and not have the courage! to try! It was #1 on Billboard and had several songs in the top 10 downloaded on iTunes. Though I understand it might have really rung with the target audience, I can't imagine why that many people would shell out the sheckles for it.

[Moonliner]

A terrible, terrible, terrible, oddly-enjoyable-in-the-way-someone-might-be-drawn-to-a-car-accident Disney Channel movie musical. About the wide! range! of interests! a teenager! might have! and not have the courage! to try! It was #1 on Billboard and had several songs in the top 10 downloaded on iTunes. Though I understand it might have really rung with the target audience, I can't imagine why that many people would shell out the sheckles for it.

That about sums it up, but of course you need a link (http://psc.disney.go.com/disneychannel/originalmovies/highschoolmusical/index.html)

[katiesue]

A terrible, terrible, terrible, oddly-enjoyable-in-the-way-someone-might-be-drawn-to-a-car-accident Disney Channel movie musical. About the wide! range! of interests! a teenager! might have! and not have the courage! to try! It was #1 on Billboard and had several songs in the top 10 downloaded on iTunes. Though I understand it might have really rung with the target audience, I can't imagine why that many people would shell out the sheckles for it.

I've been forced to watch it too many times now. Don't forget the sing along version and the one where they show you how to do all the dances. We have the CD too. My 10 year old loves it:rolleyes:

[Prudence]

There's no way I watched it last night. Nope.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I must spread some blah blah blah... Prudence, baby, I want to spread my mojo all over you but it won't let me.

[wendybeth]

OMG.

Tori has watched that damned show about a zillion times, and I finally had to threaten her with a Monty Python movie festival if I saw or heard that show on the tv again.

[Prudence]

Kinky!

[Moonliner]

We interrupt this thread with breaking news.

Please stand by while we switch to our live network feed...


He's in the play! The "sheet" went up today and he as been cast as Theseus, Duke of Athens. 48 Lines (http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/playmenu.php?WorkID=midsummer)(Not that that matters.. ;) )

Per all of your suggestions we picked up a copy of the play that included a modern english translation and spent some time going over it. We also had him learn a few lines and perform them for us. After a few subtile hints from mom and dad, "Get your hands out of your pocket" , "Slow down a bit" etc... He was ready.

However I have to credit him with the bit that I expect put us over the top. He personally selected one of the lines to practice:

We will meet; and there we may rehearse most
obscenely and courageously. Take pains; be perfect: adieu.

During the audition, the director asked each student to "say a shakespere line and then leave the stage". Heh, guess what line he picked?

[Ghoulish Delight]

A fine role indeed. Act I, Scene I, Line I no less. Congrats to him!

[BarTopDancer]

:snap: :snap:

[Not Afraid]

CONGRATULATIONS!

HI DIDDLE DE DEE!....

[tracilicious]

Awesome!

[Alex]

Good for him.

One of my great regrets is that through my childhood years I let my fear of public speaking get in the way of a lot of good things (I almost flunked my high school Shakespeare class because I wouldn't even act things out in the classroom environment).

Somewhere in the middle of college that fear just completely disappeared (and not because I started doing it, it is just like one day I realized it was a stupid fear and it stopped). I never did any kind of performing but I think it is a great thing for young people to be involved with.

[Ghoulish Delight]

(and not because I started doing it, it is just like one day I realized it was a stupid fear and it stopped). But we all know you've retained a fear of your own amplified voice.

[katiesue]

Congratulations!

[Ponine]

But we all know you've retained a fear of your own amplified voice.
I thought it was only when it was aplified and echoed back in his face?
(personally, that was freaky that day. Its one thing to speak into a megaphone where the sound just goes out.. but back at you? ugh)


Moonliner:
Congrats to your kid!
he gets to be a part in the wall scene, one of my absolute favorites.
Good for him, I hope he enjoys it. :snap:

[Alex]

Yeah, it wasn't a fear of my voice but that my brain wasn't processing the delay between talking and hearing myself from a different direction. As soon as I started talking I started to slow down as if I could let that other voice catch up.

Then I found it too amusing and once I cracked up it was over for me.

[Gemini Cricket]

Nice! Awesome! Congrats!
:)

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Terrific! Theseus is a fun role-- he will enjoy it!

[blueerica]

Congrats to Moonliner Jr!

[wendybeth]

Wtg, Moon Jr! (And dad as well- it's cool that you are so involved with your kiddo ).

Great audition line.:D