Your dream is to be a working actor. You’ve always been told you “have it,” but the phone doesn’t ring for callbacks.
What separates professionals from wannabe talent show prodigies isn't inspiration. It’s preparation and execution. Take control of your audition with these ten helpful tips to improve your skills.
1. Confidence
It sounds simple but it takes practice. Walk in the door with your held head high. Be wary of shuffling feet. You don’t get sympathy points if you’re nervous, not feeling well, or having a bad day. Leave it outside the door. You are being sized up the minute you walk in so practice good posture and body language before you arrive. And don’t forget to smile—that’s the lasting impression you want to leave.
2. Personality
Let it shine through. Don’t give one-word answers when having a conversation with the casting director. Ask questions! The industry is looking for smart, curious actors.
3. Connection
Make one with the reader. Memorize the material or be familiar enough with it to maintain eye contact. Knowing the dialogue is important, but making a connection with the reader is what will make the scene natural and believable.
4. Character.
Know the character. Read the entire script beforehand to pick-up as many clues as possible. We know about a character by the following:
5. Objective
Go underneath the dialogue. What does he/she want from the other characters? What is the character’s purpose in the scene/story?
6. Obstacle
What’s in the way of the character getting what he/she wants? Acting is what happens to you as you try to get your objective met, in spite of the obstacle.
7. Opposites
Yelling isn’t the only way to show hatred or anger. Sometimes being quiet as you make your point is a powerful display of emotion. Playing opposites is a much more interesting choice than the obvious.
8. Love
Find the love in the scene; even nasty characters should be likable on some level. Find a moment in the scene where the love can show through.
9. Act
Acting means to do, not to talk. Find your actions and play them! (A wonderful resource is the book “Actions: The Actor’s Thesaurus” by Marina Caldarone and Maggie Lloyd-Williams.)
10. Variety
Feel the levels and dynamic in the scene. Don’t play one emotion. If the character is angry or tough, when might he/she show some vulnerability?
Wannabe? Not you! Interesting, memorable auditions will start to happen for you when you dig into scripts with these thoughts in mind before and during your auditions.
FOR MUSICALS:
Interested actors should prepare 16 bars from a musical and bring a headshot. May use instrumental tracks or acapella. No original songs and often is best to audition with musical numbers from similar shows for which you are auditioning.
For the dance call of a musical, you should come warmed up, with the appropriate dance attire and shoes. No bare feet or flip-flops, no baggy clothing.
FOR PLAYS:
Interested actors will be asked to prepare a one minute monologue and may be asked to do some cold reading.
FOR ALL STAGE CREW:
Interested crew members will have opportunities in the areas of Sound, Lighting, Props, Costumes, and Stage. Closed toe shoes are required. No flip flops or sandals allowed.
FOR ALL CAST/CREW:
All cast & crew will be required to download 'REMIND 101" app and crew will also need "Voxer" App for all communications & reminders.
We are deep in the middle of inflation and holiday season. We have made it more convenient to submit video auditions. This allows casting directors to initially audition you without you having to travel anywhere. Submitting video auditions saves time, money, gas, and the environment. We would like to give you tips on submitting a great video audition to casting directors. Following these rules will save you from looking unprofessional or having casting request that you re-tape.
1. Start out with a long head-to-toe shot. That means that ALL of you should be visible in frame, from your head to your feet. Casting is looking to see your body type in this initial part.
2. Zoom in to your face and slate. Say your name, age, agent, and the city that you live in. Sometimes you may be required to state your height and weight, if requested. Smile while slating. Be friendly and likeable.
3. Have the scenes memorized! Nothing looks less professional when submitting a video audition than relying on the script to read the lines.
4. Do not look straight into the camera! Look at the person who is reading the other lines. This person should be off-camera! Not standing next to you trying to steal the audition from you.
5. Don’t rush through your lines. This is your moment to shine and show how brilliant you are. Take the appropriate beats and be sure to react to what the other person is saying.
6. Whoever is reading the other lines should be the correct gender. If you are reading a scene with a male have a male voice off-camera doing the scenes. If you are reading with a female character have a female read the other lines.
7. Play it back and watch it before you send it to your agent, manager or casting! Have a friend or family member watch it and look for things that you could do better. Unlike when you are in the room and then leave and ten minutes later think off something great that you should have done, you actually have the opportunity to change it and make it as good as possible.
8. Lastly, relax and have fun! Stiff, uptight, deer-in-the-headlights faces do not book video auditions.
Yes, casting directors DO watch these tapes! Yes, I have had client’s book jobs from tapes.
FOR MUSICALS:
Interested actors should prepare 16 bars from a musical and bring a headshot. May use instrumental tracks or acapella. No original songs and often is best to audition with musical numbers from similar shows for which you are auditioning.
FOR ALL STAGE CREW:
Interested crew members will have opportunities in the areas of Sound, Lighting, Props, Costumes, and Stage Managing/Directing. Closed toe shoes are required. No flip flops or sandals allowed.
FOR ALL CAST/CREW:
All cast & crew will be required to download 'REMIND 101" app and crew will also need "Voxer" App for all communications & reminders.
Winner of the Tony "Triple Crown" for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is part flesh, part felt and packed with heart.
The laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that, although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates and their ever-elusive purpose in life.
Filled with gut-busting humor and a delightfully catchy score, not to mention puppets, Avenue Q is a truly unique show that has quickly become a favorite for audiences everywhere. Although the show addresses humorous adult issues, it is similar to a beloved children's show; a place where puppets are friends, Monsters are good and life lessons are learned.
Rehearsals: January 7th-March 11th
Every Saturday 10am-2pm (days will be added closer to show date) plus one week for Tech week in March
Show dates: March 2023 (4 Shows) TBA
Cast Size: Small (Up to 10 performers)
Cast Type: Ensemble Cast Dance Requirements: Standard
Princeton: A fresh-faced kid just out of college and the protagonist. Puppet. Gender: Male Age: 18 to 25 Vocal range top: G4 Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Kate Monster: A Kindergarten teaching assistant, who is a bit older than Princeton.
Puppet. Gender: Female Age: 18 to 30 Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: F#3
Nicky: A slacker who lives with Rod. Puppet. Gender: Male Age: 18 to 30 Vocal range top: B4 Vocal range bottom: B2
Rod: An investment banker who is Republican and a closeted homosexual. Puppet. Gender: Male Age: 18 to 30 Vocal range top: G4 Vocal range bottom: A2
Trekkie Monster: A reclusive creature obsessed with the Internet and all it has to offer. Puppet. Gender: Male Age: 30 to 40 Vocal range top: Eb4 Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Lucy: A vixenish vamp with a dangerous edge. Puppet. Gender: Female Age: 18 to 30 Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: F3
The Bad Idea Bears: Two snuggly, cute teddy-bear types. Puppets. Gender: Female/Male Age: 18 to 40 Vocal range top: G4 Vocal range bottom: Bb3
Mrs. T: Crabby and ancient. Kate's boss. Puppet. Gender: Female Age: 50 to 65
Brian: A laid-back guy married to Christmas Eve. Gender: Male Age: 21 to 45 Vocal range top: F#4 Vocal range bottom: B2
Christmas Eve: A therapist who recently moved to Avenue Q from Japan. Gender: Female Age: 21 to 45 Vocal range top: F#5 Vocal range bottom: B3
Gary Coleman: Yes, that Gary Coleman. Lives on the Avenue and is superintendent of the apartment buildings. Gender: Female Age: 21 to 40 Vocal range top: Bb5Vocal range bottom: D3
As written and inspired by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon "The Greatest Showman" Polaris Performing Arts brings you "This is the Greatest Show".
Growing up in the early 1800s, P.T. Barnum displays a natural talent for publicity and promotion, selling lottery tickets by age 12.
After trying his hands at various jobs, P.T. turns to show business to indulge his limitless imagination, rising from nothing to create the Barnum & Bailey circus.
Featuring catchy musical numbers, exotic performers and daring acrobatic feats, Barnum's mesmerizing spectacle soon takes the world by storm to become the greatest show on Earth.
Rehearsal and Show dates:
Rehearsals to begin: February 2023 (TBA)
Show Dates: June 2023 (TBA)
Principals
(3 female; 2 male)
Supporting Cast:
Age 10-12
Male: Age Open
Female Age 21-40
Male: Age 16+
Female Age 21-35
Ensemble
Tumblers, Jugglers, Clowns, Aerialists, Acrobats, Gymnasts, Bricklayers, Passersby, Museum Patrons, Strongmen, Beefeaters, The “Mob” in General, The Bridgeport Pageant Choir, and Bands of Every Size, Shape and Description.
Copyright © 2012 Polaris Performing Arts Acadamy - All Rights Reserved.