Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Auditioning, Help! The Butler Did It!

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Tobias Sleuth
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Joined: 6/24/06
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Topic: Auditioning, Help! The Butler Did It!
Posted: 6/24/06 at 10:09pm

I'm wanting to audition for a play that my local community theater is putting on. It's called, The Butler Did it by Tim Kelly. I was hoping some of you could give me some advice on how I should go about it. This is the first time I've auditioned for anything like this and I can use all the help I can get. Should I prepare a monologue or just read straight from the script? If I prepare a monologue, what should it be? My first choices for my part are Chandler Marlowe and Peter Flimsey.

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POB14
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Joined: 7/01/05
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Posts: 349

Posted: 6/26/06 at 9:44am

I played the cop (Match) in this awhile back. People are still talking about my boxer shorts with the hearts on them. They're talking to their psychiatrists, but hey, they're talking . . . .

How did you find out about the audition? Generally there's some info about how the director will run the auditions. If not, find out who the director is and contact her.

There's no point in preparing a monologue if the director only wants to do cold readings; by the same token, if they want to hear a monologue and you don't have one, you're out of luck.

If you need to do a monologue, I would suggest something else by Orton. Loot has some great stuff.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

POB
Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard

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theactordavid
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Joined: 5/29/06
Location: United States
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Posts: 44

Posted: 7/03/06 at 8:42am

Tobias - as POB says, there should be an indication in the audition announcement as to whether you will be reading from sides (short script pieces) or doing a monologue. If there isn't any mention of that, somebody goofed.

It sounds like you're new to theater (?) so you should know that you should have at least two monologues always ready, one dramatic and one comedic. Eventually, you'll want to have more, like one for Shakespeare, as an example. The thing is, normally you should not do a monologue from the play you are auditioning for, but one similar to the style.

If the audition is to be readings from the script, the director should have pages ready and ask you to read from them, so you don't need to worry about that. You'll probably read with other people too, rather than do a monologue piece. That way the director gets to see how you work with other actors.

There are no small roles, only roles with a low line-load and minimal stage time.

http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com

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jcorkran
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Joined: 4/13/06
Location: United States
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Posted: 7/10/06 at 2:18pm

Tobias, I agree with all of the above. You need to audition the way the director chooses -- cold reading or monologue.

As a director, I prefer to see cold readings, then give direction and see if the actor can change to do what I want. So I would recommend practicing doing a part differently. Do it one way, then change something about the delivery, the character's demeanor... something. In our CT, we know we will get lots of inexperienced and that's great. What we really want to know is if they can take direction, if they are willing to express emotions and actions, and if they are capable of being someone other than themselves.

Break a leg!

You're working too hard... there's a reason it's called a PLAY. Have fun!

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jayzehr
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Joined: 8/11/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 537

Posted: 7/10/06 at 6:07pm

When you're auditioning for the first time, some very basic points. You want to be able to stand still and be in control of all your movements without fidgeting. It can be good to try some movement but make sure it is specific and don't turn your back to the "audience." Also, even though you will be reading from the book try to make eye contact with your scene partner as much as possible and attempt to interact with them.

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Acting
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Acting

Author	Message
Tobias Sleuth Walk-On Joined: 6/24/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Auditioning, Help! The Butler Did It! Posted: 6/24/06 at 10:09pm
	I'm wanting to audition for a play that my local community theater is putting on. It's called, The Butler Did it by Tim Kelly. I was hoping some of you could give me some advice on how I should go about it. This is the first time I've auditioned for anything like this and I can use all the help I can get. Should I prepare a monologue or just read straight from the script? If I prepare a monologue, what should it be? My first choices for my part are Chandler Marlowe and Peter Flimsey.

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POB14 Celebrity Joined: 7/01/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 349	Posted: 6/26/06 at 9:44am
	I played the cop (Match) in this awhile back. People are still talking about my boxer shorts with the hearts on them. They're talking to their psychiatrists, but hey, they're talking . . . . How did you find out about the audition? Generally there's some info about how the director will run the auditions. If not, find out who the director is and contact her. There's no point in preparing a monologue if the director only wants to do cold readings; by the same token, if they want to hear a monologue and you don't have one, you're out of luck. If you need to do a monologue, I would suggest something else by Orton. Loot has some great stuff. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
	POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard
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theactordavid Lead Joined: 5/29/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 44	Posted: 7/03/06 at 8:42am
	Tobias - as POB says, there should be an indication in the audition announcement as to whether you will be reading from sides (short script pieces) or doing a monologue. If there isn't any mention of that, somebody goofed. It sounds like you're new to theater (?) so you should know that you should have at least two monologues always ready, one dramatic and one comedic. Eventually, you'll want to have more, like one for Shakespeare, as an example. The thing is, normally you should not do a monologue from the play you are auditioning for, but one similar to the style. If the audition is to be readings from the script, the director should have pages ready and ask you to read from them, so you don't need to worry about that. You'll probably read with other people too, rather than do a monologue piece. That way the director gets to see how you work with other actors.
	There are no small roles, only roles with a low line-load and minimal stage time. http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com
	IP Logged

jcorkran Walk-On Joined: 4/13/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/10/06 at 2:18pm
	Tobias, I agree with all of the above. You need to audition the way the director chooses -- cold reading or monologue. As a director, I prefer to see cold readings, then give direction and see if the actor can change to do what I want. So I would recommend practicing doing a part differently. Do it one way, then change something about the delivery, the character's demeanor... something. In our CT, we know we will get lots of inexperienced and that's great. What we really want to know is if they can take direction, if they are willing to express emotions and actions, and if they are capable of being someone other than themselves. Break a leg!
	You're working too hard... there's a reason it's called a PLAY. Have fun!
	IP Logged

jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 7/10/06 at 6:07pm
	When you're auditioning for the first time, some very basic points. You want to be able to stand still and be in control of all your movements without fidgeting. It can be good to try some movement but make sure it is specific and don't turn your back to the "audience." Also, even though you will be reading from the book try to make eye contact with your scene partner as much as possible and attempt to interact with them.
	IP Logged