Interested in auditioning, but not sure how to prepare? No sweat!

 

Most of the time, all you need to do is tell me a story and/or a joke. Sometimes, I have you do a cold reading from the script. You almost never have to come in with anything memorized. All you have to do is be ready to change the way you tell your story or perform the reading I give you. What does that mean? That means, if I tell you to change your emotion or your approach to whatever it is I have you do, then you do it to the best of your ability.

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For musicals, you do have to come prepared to sing a song of your choice, and then we test your singing range and your ability to match pitch. You will also have to attend a dance audition where you will be taught choreography and then asked to perform it with a few other students who are also auditioning. 

 

Most of the time, I am looking for flexibility and comic timing. I could also be looking for a particular character type, or specific chemistry with other people. I am almost never looking at "talent". I am always looking for people who are willing to do the work involved. That kind of willingness and determination is oftentimes more important than "talent."

 

So, come with an open mind and a willingness to let loose and have fun! 

 

Just keep this in mind:

 

 Auditions at Milpitas High School are very competitive.

 

Casting a show is kind of like speed dating. Getting the right combination of talent and personalities often means there will be disappointment and upset. Please know that if you are not cast, that does not mean you have no talent. It does mean not every show has roles that fit every student.

 

This can be difficult to understand for students and their parents. It is the worst part of a theatre teacher’s job. Unfortunately, dealing with rejection is part of theatre and of life in general.

 

If you want to be involved in Milpitas High School theatre, you need to be excited to audition for any role, and be willing to be a part of the crew.

 

Learning how to endure the rejection, continuing to work on your auditioning skills, and coming back to audition again is the way to succeed in theatre.

 

Why didn’t I get the role? How do I find out why? 

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First, there must be balance in the casting process. Many times the best audition of your life will not get the role you want. Casting a show is a very subjective process for the auditor (director), no matter what objective criteria is used. Given readings of equal excellence a director will be more likely to decide the role based upon how he or she pictures the character. Honestly, there is nothing you can do about that, so it is best not to concern yourself with it as “there lies madness.” The reasons for not choosing you are likely to be many and complex, from the fact that you look too much like another actor already cast in the show or the director’s subjective reaction to the timbre of your voice. These are things you have no control over and it is best not to try to alter them in any way.

 

We hope that if you like theatre, you will accept the role you are given and that you continue to audition. There are lots of ways to get on stage. Just keep auditioning and don’t let anyone stop you from achieving your dreams.