Audition Tips
To make the best of your Domino audition, here are some tips for instances when you may need to prepare a monologue or perform a cold reading at an audition.
General Audition Tips
- Arrive Early: Being early shows professionalism and gives you time to settle in and relax before your audition.
- Be Yourself: Community theatre values authenticity and enthusiasm. Be open, friendly, and passionate about the opportunity, even if you’re nervous. Let your personality shine through.
- Know the Play (If Possible): If you know what play you’re auditioning for, even a little bit of research about the playwright, the themes, or the general tone of the play can help. It’s always a good idea to have some understanding of the world you’re entering.
- Dress Comfortably: Wear something simple, but that allows you to move freely. You don’t need to wear a costume, but avoid anything too distracting or elaborate. Aim for something that lets you feel confident and professional.
- Positive Attitude: Community theatres are often run by volunteers and they look for people who bring positive energy and commitment. Even if you don’t get the role, leaving a good impression can lead to future opportunities.
Tips for a Prepared Monologue
- Pick something that excites you: Choose a monologue that speaks to you emotionally or showcases a character you can connect with. Your passion will come through in your performance.
- Character Variety: If you can, pick a monologue that’s different from the usual roles you get cast in. This could mean trying a dramatic monologue if you're often cast in comedic roles, or vice versa. It shows your versatility.
- Context and Objective: Even if you don't have the full play or context, try to understand your character’s goal. What does your character want or need in this scene? This will help you make strong choices and bring depth to your performance.
- Be as off-book as possible: The more familiar you are with your lines, the more freedom you’ll have to focus on the emotional aspects of the performance. You should be able to speak the lines naturally, without looking at the script.
- Practice out loud: Speak the lines aloud as much as possible, not just reading silently. This helps with pacing, breath control, and ensures the delivery feels natural.
- Identify the character’s emotional arc: Every monologue has an emotional journey. Think about how your character starts and ends the monologue. Is there a change in emotion, tension, or attitude?
- Find moments of contrast: Even in a short monologue, there can be shifts—maybe the character begins hopeful and ends frustrated, or starts angry and ends in despair. Identifying these shifts gives your performance dynamics and keeps it interesting.
- Use your body: Your physical presence is just as important as your voice. How does your character carry themselves? Are they stiff, relaxed, or full of energy? Find the physicality that matches your character’s emotions.
- Vary your vocal delivery: Play with pitch, pace, and tone. If the monologue is intense, you may want to slow down and add pauses for dramatic effect. If it’s lighthearted, use a more playful tone.
Tips for a Cold Reading
Cold readings can be one of the trickiest parts of an audition, as you may be asked to perform a scene you’ve never seen before. However, cold readings also give you a chance to show your adaptability and how well you can handle unexpected material.
Stay Calm and Positive:
It’s normal to be nervous: Remember that directors understand cold reading can be a challenge, so don’t stress if you don’t nail it immediately.
Approach it as a creative challenge: Treat the cold reading as an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to quickly interpret a character, take direction, and bring energy to a new piece of material.
Quickly Analyze the Scene:
Look for clues: Before you begin reading, quickly scan the scene for information about the character, their objective, and the emotional tone. Key things to focus on:
Character objective: What does your character want in this moment? Are they trying to convince, comfort, argue, etc.?
Emotional tone: Is the scene light and humorous, tense and dramatic, or emotional? This will inform your performance.
Relationship dynamics: Who is your character speaking to? What is their relationship (friendly, antagonistic, romantic, etc.)?
Don’t Overthink:
Trust your instincts: When you start the reading, try to stay in the moment. Overthinking can make you sound stilted or inauthentic. Go with your first impulse and commit to it fully.
Don’t worry about mistakes: If you flub a line, don’t panic. Directors understand that cold readings are challenging. The important thing is how you recover and keep going.
Focus on Connection:
React to the other person (even if it’s the director): If you’re reading with someone else (a reader from the theater group), react to them as if they were your scene partner. Listening and responding in real-time is critical.
Energy and presence: Maintain energy and focus throughout the scene. Even if you’re unsure of your lines, keeping your focus on the emotions of the moment will help keep your performance engaging.
Be Ready for Direction:
Take direction quickly: The director may ask you to read the scene again with different emotional inflections or focus. Don’t take it personally—taking direction well is a big part of an actor’s skill set. Show them you can adjust on the fly!
Be open to change: They might say something like, "Try reading it with more anger," or, "Can you make the character a bit more vulnerable?" Listen carefully and try it out. It demonstrates that you’re flexible and receptive to feedback.
Practice Cold Reading Skills Before the Audition:
Practice with a friend: If possible, find someone to read with before the audition. Give them random scenes from different plays to read through so you get used to jumping into different characters without prior preparation.
Work on your instincts: The more you practice cold reading, the better you’ll get at quickly identifying character objectives and making strong choices.
Post-Audition Etiquette
- Reflect but don’t overanalyze: After the audition, take a moment to think about what went well and what could be improved, but don’t dwell on it too much. Auditions are as much about fit as they are about skill.
- Thank everyone: Always thank the director, volunteers, and anyone else you interact with. A simple "thank you for your time" can make a lasting, positive impression.
By preparing thoroughly, staying adaptable during the cold reading, and showing your best self in the room, you'll be sure to make a strong impression at your audition. Best of luck, and break a leg!