The purpose of this page is to provide a description of what a typical Stage 62 audition is like. Many people ask questions such as "how long will it take" and "do I have to sing in front of the other people". (The answers are, "I don't know", and "Generally, not at the audition - but if you get a part you'll definitely have to sing in front of a much larger group!").

The format for auditions for a specific show may differ from what is written here because of the requirements of a show or the style of the director. There is no commitment on the part of Stage 62 to conduct its auditions in the manner presented here.

Musicals

Stage 62 Musical auditions customarily consist of up to three parts: a "closed" musical audition, readings from the script, and a dance audition.

For the musical audition, you will provide the accompaniment (sheet music) to a piece of music you have prepared (if you desire accompaniment) and will "perform" in front of the director and perhaps some number of members of the production staff. This is typically the most time consuming portion of the audition. Chances are you will be stopped during your musical audition, unless you choose a reasonably brief number; we don't expect you will perform verses two through seventeen any better or worse than you performed the first verse, and so we don't really need to hear them. This is to conserve time and does not imply that your audition was received poorly.

Readings from the script are handled differently by each director. Sometimes you will be asked to read alone or with another member of the production staff at the time you give your musical audition. Sometimes small groups are taken after a handful of musical auditions to read together; and sometimes the whole group is taken all at once at the beginning or end of the evening and individual actors are selected to read various scenes. Usually the readings are taken from the script, so it is helpful to be familiar with the show prior to tryouts. (But it is not necessary to have any particular part or scene memorized.)

Dance auditions also are handled differently by each director; often, the choreogprapher will "teach" a small dance routine featuring some of the dance steps which are expected to be featured in the final production. You are not expected to be able to instantly pick up the routine flawlessly; the intent is to give the production committee a chance to see if you will be able to pick up the required dance steps or if you will be traipsing about on two left feet. If the choreography is not expected to be difficult, such as for many of the Children's shows which happen to be musicals, there may not be a dance audition at all.

Not all directors will use all three audition segments; occasionally one or more of these will be used at a Callback. This may happen if a large turnout is expected and a director is especially concerned that he first identify the singers, or the dancers; and then at Callbacks he can take the time to identify the people with stronger abilities in the other areas.

If you will be unable to attend Callbacks you should so indicate at the time of your audition, both on your sheet and to the attendants at the audition, as perhaps other arrangements can be made. Also, realize that not being invited to Callbacks does not necessarily indicate that you will not be offered a role. Sometimes only the actors being considered for roles which are "undecided" will be "called back".

You will definitely need to sing at your audition; the singing audition is generally given in the order at which people appear at the audition location on each day of auditions. If there is no reading or dance bit, you may leave after the musical audition; if you are first in line that could be a few minutes away, or if there is a big turnout and you are among the later crowd. your audition could be late in the evening.

If there is a reading, generally our directors are considerate of the amount of waiting; with a big turnout they will usually take small groups of people - perhaps 4 to 8 - after they sing - to do the reading and/or dance bit.

After you have completed your audition, you are free to leave. While many people do "linger", doing so will not increase your chances of securing a role. (And "pestering" could hurt them!)

Straight Shows

At the end of the audition, most directors will ask if anyone did not get the opportunity to read for a particular role they are interested in. Speak up! But only if you have not read at all for the role you are interested in. Do not be concerned that you may have read another part more often, as seeing someone in different roles will reveal different facets of how they might fill a specific role.

Typically, straight show auditions do not draw large numbers of people, so although you might stay with the entire bunch until the auditions are over, often this will take only half the time a musical audition might take.

Occasionally, a director will hold a "closed" audition, where only a few people at a time will be asked to read privately for the director. Like a musical audition, after you have read you are free to leave and you generally will be asked to read in the order of your arrival (except that possibly the order may be altered to accommodate the groupings required for the reading of a specific scene, i.e., you may need to wait for two women to complete a scene). Once you have read you may leave.

Usually, our straight show auditions do not require a callback.

Children's Shows

If the show involves children, then children may be auditioned separately, and the audition is more likely to be private. It is completely up to the director.

Children who already have a full schedule of sporting events, music lessons, and other conflicts, or who might consider (or whose parent might allow) missing a performance such as when "their team makes the playoffs", should not bother to audition.

This page was last updated Mon May 08 23:40:48 2000