Auditors were asked:
A. Name a surprising or most enjoyable moment:
1.the fireflies audition
2.Inspiring-XXXXX performing What a piece of work is man. Enjoyable- XXXXX audition. Great funny song, followed by a very intense monologue. Both performed with great energy and skill.
3.The young lady with the lights...because I like to see original minds at work
4.a few who really stood out, stood out...
5.Not to note anyone in particular, but I saw a number of *really good* talent.
6.XXXXX was simple with real emotional depth and understanding.
7.Consistent high quality
8.All the out of towners!!!
9.The kids were terrific. I wish more of the adults had been as well prepared.
10.The kids were great
11.one of the kid actors -forget which one
12.There was a child actor who's audition blew me away. I don't remember his name off the top of my head, though.
13.Young auditioners
14.The kids section!
15.The professionalism and charm of the kids. I was pleasantly surprised.
Bear in mind - kids are tough competition and they are last and fresh on the memory!
B. Name the ONE most common actor mistake in your opinion: ACTORS - remember - these are individually expressed generalized opinions - YOU are looking for themes to assess and whether or not you fall in to one of these traps unintentionally.
1.not exploding the transition between pieces
2.Not being prepared
3.No change/shift from self-introduction into audition monologue
4.Doing angst-rich monologues which did not sell the performer or differentiate him or her from others
5.not make enough choices with materials and commiting to those choice... take some risks
6.No name on headshot side of resume. Normally this is okay, but when you have an ending stack of 80 resumes...
7.Complicated slate.
8.Lost character the last 10 seconds of monolgue
9.sitting
10.Audition pieces were not contrasting enough. It was difficult to see the variety of work they were capable of with only one piece or with two that were too similar in character, genre, tone & period.
11.Going over there time allotment
12.Over introducing their monologues.
13.Singing when they're not trained singers. DON'T DO IT! It's not the best use of your 2-3 minutes
14.over time limit
15.Pieces that were inappropriate for the person doing them, in one way or another.
16.failure to introduce themselves or their pieces properly
17.no connec8ction to audition piece
18.Visibly apologizing for the work.
19.Just saying the words, with no real emotion or understanding
20.Apologizing, verbally or nonverbally.
C. What female pieces do you feel you heard a lot of in THIS round? ACTORS - remember - no one is saying "never do these pieces again". This is simply information to do with as you please to let you know what pieces (and/or type) were quite popular in February.
modern relationship stuff
1.12th Night
2.For Jillian on Her Birthday
3.A my name is Alice - I need things
4.Hermione - Winter's Tale
5.Any Shakespeare
6.Too much Shakespeare in general
D. What male pieces do you feel you heard a lot of in THIS round? ACTORS - remember - no one is saying "never do these pieces again". This is simply information to do with as you please to let you know what pieces (and/or type) were quite popular in February.
1.Only a couple of duplications
2.Any Shakespeare
3.Equus
4.Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
5.Merchant of Venice
6.Two gentleman of verona
7.Picasso at the Lapin Agille
8.The Typewriter Monologue
9.King Lear
E. General Comments you (AUDITORS) wish to make to Actors: ACTORS: Remember, these are individually expressed opinions. They are to be used to assess yourself honestly if you determine them useful. Also, PLEASE remember that these are individual comments - it can not be assumed that a comment by one is an opinion held by all. THEMES are the most important and relevant part of TPS's intent in posting these comments for you.
1. Don't try to shock us with bad language, sex, bodily functions etc! (We've seen and heard it all. We're not looking for sex - just an actor!)
2. Entertain us! (Humor that's well done is SUCH a relief after all the Lady M's and relationship dramas and in any case it's really hard to pull off a nervous breakdown in one minute with no build-up!)
3. Short pieces are great. (We can tell in the first 30 secs if we want to see more, anyway.)
4. Use the chair creatively and don't sit on it through the whole piece.
5. Make the transition between your pieces very clear and clean. The voice, body, attitude, everything about the second piece should be in stark contrast to the first. The transition and endings should be as clean as the end of an Olympic gymnastics routine. Don't rush them.
6. Enjoy it - or at least bluff us that you do!
7. Remember that your auditors really want you to be good.
8. Keep your hands off your hips and don't fold your arms.
9. Don't shout Shakespeare!
10. Wear something flattering, like you care. It doesn't have to be fancy, but you should look as if you thought about it.
11. Smile and be friendly
12. Make sure your contact info. is up to date.
13. Most of us are looking for four major things, besides, and often above, character type:
Someone able to move easily
Someone able to use language and with a good clear voice
Someone with a sense of truth
Someone with that indefinable and untrainable ability to transmit energy, life and presence.
If you convince us you have all those things, we then want to know that you are easy to direct and pleasant to work with.
If you are able to deliver on all those points, you will be hired - maybe not for this show, but we'll remember you for next time. You can bet on it!
14.Time your audition pieces. Actually watch a second hand on a clock while you do your piece. Don't go over time.
15.Short monologues are better.
16.Stay away from 'memory' pieces.
17.Selection of monologue is crucial...too many actors either bite off more than they can chew, or select a piece not suited to themselves. I think actors should take more trouble selecting pieces which GRAB our attention. Too much dull angst!
18.Interpret the material as YOU see fit, not others or what you think CD's might want and then make your choices and commit to those ... go for it!
19.Thank you for taking the time to come to the General auditions, and thank you to so many of you who also volunteered.
20.Don't let your anxiety get the best of you. Take the room. Have urgency, but don't rush. Be present, professional and want to be there. 21.Be AUDIBLE! For those of us producing outdoor theater, we will only consider actors with strong voices.
22.Have a concise slate! Resumes should be affixed to back of photo by 4 staples and attched so that when we turn the photo over, we can immediately see your resume. If you don't know how to do this--ask someone or get a legit coach.
23. Don't be so nervous and take more charge of your auditions! This is your moment to make those characters come to life.
24.To show yourself off to the best advantage and open yourself up to the most consideration, you should pick two pieces that are as different as possible.
25.Also, begin with ENERGY as well as confidence! The auditors see a lot of actors and they should begin in a way that will make us look up from the pile of resumes in our laps and stop thinking about the person who auditioned before them.
26.Please time your pieces carefully and stay with in the time budget you have been given. Believe fully that two minutes is more than enough time to get yourself across to us.
27.Like it or not, auditioning is part of the job of being an actor. Be well-prepared, personable, and professional. We WANT to find actors for the roles we need to cast. Make it as easy as you can for us to want to hire you.
28.Remember to project. If we can't hear you, we're not going to cast you.
29.Choose age-appropriate pieces. Actresses over 40 are not likely to be cast as Portia from Merchant of Venice. Actors who are only 22 are unlikely to be cast as Roy Cohn outside of school. Select pieces which you might actually be cast as shows you off to your best advantage. 30.If you're not a trained singer, it's probably a waste of your two or three minutes to sing at the auditions. It doesn't show off your best skills and talents.
31. Avoid pieces that are critical of the auditioning process, theatre, directors, or that reek of being an angry, underemployed actor. Bitter, enraged actors spewing invective at the auditors are not at all appealing or amusing, so if you want to be cast, don't present yourself as a psycho. It happens more often than you'd think.
32.Don't say 'scene' after your monologue(s)/song.
33. Don't just stand there, add movement, so we can see your physical acting ability.
34.Project, but don't shout at us.
35.Find your 'light'...don't stand in the back of the theatre, its better to be too close than too far away.
36.Relax and have fun.
37.Please bring enough headshots, and have them stapled/attached together the 'right' way.
38.And by all means please respond when we contact you regarding casting...Hearing your already busy is better than no response at all.
39.Be prepared, and be confident! Don't show up with work that hasn't been rehearsed, and only do pieces you feel great about.
40.I wish the actors could understand that we are all in their favor, we want them to be wonderful so are pleasantly disposed to see them that way, we are not the enemy!
41.Also, that I always knew if I would call someone back in the first ten seconds or so. Beginnings are very important.
