A Few 'Last Words'...

With only a few days left before auditions, I thought I would stop in and offer up some final words before all the fun begins...

I have had the pleasure of hearing from many of you already and am looking forward to meeting you on Monday and/or Tuesday.  I am still happy to take questions, send out audition forms, or just offer a little advice all the way up to Monday, so keep them coming.  

 In the meantime, here are some final words of advice (and a word or two of encouragement) before Monday is upon us.

• First and foremost --- DO YOUR BEST and BE YOURSELF.  I want to meet the ACTOR wishing to be a part of my cast.  NOT an interpretation of what you think I am looking for in a character. I am casting for a fresh and new interpretation, not an onstage 'photocopy' of someone else's past performance. 

• Give your strongest audition early.  I will likely only see you for a few minutes before I have to make a decision as to whether to call you back.  You will do your monologue first (if you have one), cold read one scene (perhaps two, pending the size of the group you are in), and then answer a few questions or perform an Improv.  That is it.  So make my first impression of you a strong one.

•  Be honest on your audition form about which roles you will take.  Nothing frustrates me more than to offer an actor a role they claim they will take, only to find they decline.  If you wont take anything but Helena, then say that.  It may be that you are not right for that role in this production and I do not cast you, but I will leave the casting process with a positive memory of you, not a negative one.  The same goes for anything else we ask of you during the audition and rehearsal process -- Be honest.

•  Give a strong introduction to your monologue.  Smile, speak clearly and stand with confidence.  Give your name, the character name and the play you will be doing your piece from.  No more, no less. 

 

• Don't be hard on yourself if things don't go quite the way you hoped.  If you are right for a certain role, I will see that early on and want to see more.  Just take a deep breath and dive right in! 

•  If you are unhappy with the way your monologue audition went, I will be happy to see it again during the Singing / Movement portion of the open audition on Monday night.  I will also offer comments if you would like them.  This will be the last part of the audition (approx 9pm) on Monday.  You will need to sign up for that at the information table.  

• While I do use a small group of casting adjudicators to advise and offer opinions during the audition and casting process, the final casting decision will be mine.  I do take into account many, many things during the process, including actor ethic (if I have worked with you -- or heard of your work-- before), your own abilities and natural handling of the script and suitability for a role.  

•  Make sure you bring a complete list of anticipated conflicts for the entirety of the rehearsal and production period.  I do not tolerate consistent absences if they are not predefined.  Be honest about your actual arrival and attendance capabilities.  I will create my rehearsal schedule around the conflicts given at auditions.  Give ANY and ALL anticipated issues with attendance or timing.  If your conflicts are not overly excessive and you are right for a role, I will do my utmost to work with your schedule.

• If you are not cast, please know that it is most likely because you are simply not right for a role in this production.  The fewer roles you will accept, the fewer options that are open to you.  If you really would like to be in the production, be flexible about the roles you would like to do... but, as I said before, be honest.  

• Make friends with your co-auditioners.  I am looking for groups (and a full cast) which gels and that is a lot easier to do in front of the casting team, if you have some sort of rapport already.  Make friends, talk to others and start to build the beginnings of a working relationship, if you can!

• Show me everything you have got.  You may only have one chance, so make it count.  Have fun, be yourself and let yourself go.

And, finally... I have had a few questions in the last couple of days about the casting of the Mechanicals, since only potential Bottoms will be asked back to Call Backs.  Just to clarify, we will be asking those we consider appropriate for one of the Mechanical roles (Quince, Flute, Snout, Snug, Starvling and Bottom), to attend the last Open session on Monday, where we will be doing a number of other audition tasks, as well as Mechanical related scenes.  And, yes, I will still consider those who attend the main Tuesday night call,  for Mechanical and Fairy roles, in the event I have not been able to fill them from the other sessions.

 See you all Monday and Tuesday!

Auditions -- All you have to do is show me what you have got!

11 days and counting...

 

In just 2 weeks, the show will be cast and we will be anticipating our first table and character rehearsals!  As I have said in previous posts, I have been contacted by many audition candidates.  Questions such as "What are you looking for", "I've never done Shakespeare, can I still audition", "Am I too young...", "Are you using singers", "How much training are you looking for in your actors", "How strong does my technique need to be"... have all been asked.

Well, what AM I looking for in the actors I will cast in StageWorks production of A Midsummer Night's Dream?   A number of things, actually.  

YOU 

At auditions, I want to see YOU.  Give me a clear picture of what you can do... how versatile you are... how strong your character development can be... Show me what I can expect from you during the rehearsal process.  Make me believe you and your performance, during your audition. Show me something special to make me want to see more of you in Call Backs or additional group sessions.  Remember, YOU (and who you are) have to be a part of the character you will ultimately play.  YOU will be the one to bring it to life, and showing me who you are is vital to finding the right role for you.  

ACTOR CHEMISTRY

One of the most important elements of casting this show will be actor chemistry.  I will be looking for actors that work seamlessly together while onstage...  Keep a high energy level together... and create magic as a cast.  This will not outweigh ability or suitability for a role, but will absolutely play a major part in the final decision.  

I am not a director who pairs off actors in the callback stage and then casts one 'couple' over another 'couple.'  Though I have found a few directors who like to do that, it is a practice I rarely came across in all my years as a working actor and I am not prepared to succumb to it.  In reality, it is very rare to find a show where that kind of casting makes sense.  After all, it would be impossible to do that effectively in a show that had more than just two characters...  Especially, considering, that this show has around 20, and each character deals with more than just the other half of their assigned 'couple'.  And, frankly, I want the best possible Titania with the best possible Oberon... as long as they connect in auditions, look good together and have some form of working chemistry, I am open to moving actors around, to find the best cast OVERALL... rather than limiting the show's potential by having to cast a couple (with an actor that may not have been perfect for the role.) I would rather have the strongest and most suitable actor possible in every role, while finding the best chemistry through the working process.    

BASIC ACTOR TECHNIQUE 

I will also look at your basic actor technique -- Do you have a clear handling of the '3 Actor Tools' (Mind, Body and Voice?)  I will expect to be able to hear you (Natural projection), to understand you (Articulation and diction), to see you move in a natural, connected and motivated way. React to the other actors you are working with during your audition.  Remember, 'Acting is Reacting.'  I expect all my actors to do this. 

One thing I will be looking very carefully at is Natural movement.  Don't hide behind the script.  Allow your self to free up your movement and show me how fearless you are onstage.  Now, don't rush in to a lot of frenetic, nonsensical movement... try to move & react in a way that is connected to the character or his / her situation in the scene you are doing.  Let yourself go. 

SHAKESPEAREAN LANGUAGE

I will also look (and listen) to your handling of Shakespearean language.  Don't worry --- If you have not worked with Shakespeare before, that is OK.  If you are cast, we will do a lot of rehearsal work that will help you develop the skills I am looking for in the final product.  BUT, if you have worked with classics and metered language, these are the things I will be looking for:   Can you 'color' the words with emotion and descriptive vocals to bring about picturesque character creation?  Are you able to understand the words you are saying, be able to handle the Beat transitions and be prepared to do the 'work' necessary to do so (if you don't yet possess those skills?) I will be looking very closely at actors who already possess these skills, or show a distinct potential to be able to do so. 

PROFESSIONAL ACTOR ETHICS

Now, I know a few of you have said something like "Having worked with you before, I know you demand a strong actor ethic during rehearsal -- We have worked together before and you know I have that..."  Absolutely... If I have worked with you before, I will take into account that previous experience.   I take knowledge I have gained working with people previously very seriously and DO consider that when casting.  I will also be observing every candidate extremely carefully during the audition process.  But remember, that is only one aspect of my casting criteria. 

I do require a strong professional ethic and will tolerate nothing less.  I most definitely am looking for a dedicated cast.  A cast who will attend all the rehearsals they say they will, be on time, learn all lines by the 'off book' date, create strong, realistic and creative characters and work together as a cohesive group.  I want my cast to be able to trust each other and work well together, without fear of 'actor drama', egos, retaliation or back biting.  None of us have time (or patience) to deal with negative attitudes, narcissistic egos or offstage drama.   Of course, every artist brings a degree of personal theatrics and colorful personality to a show... that is what makes the dynamic of an ensemble so great.  BUT, we will not tolerate the negative aspects of these things.    

I will do my utmost to assemble a cast of actors who show a high level of professionalism, respect the process and the people involved, are ready to explore new concepts and ideas, and are open to the possibility of actually learning something.  You would be amazed at the number of actors I have come across in this area who already 'know it all'.  In a phrase... 'If you think you already know everything, then this production has nothing to offer you...' 

During the OPEN AUDITION session, I am really only assessing your potential to handle a role.  At this initial session, I don't need to have you read over and over again to decide if I will be able to cast you-- I will normally see (and hear) that within the first 30 seconds of your memorized monologue and will know by that performance which roles, if any, I could see you performing in the final show.  I will ask you to read a scene (or two), ask some questions, possibly perform a few other tasks and then either dismiss you, ask you to remain for an additional session, come to callbacks, or attend the movement / singing audition.   

CASTING

Of course, I would love to be able to cast everyone who auditions.  I know I will find qualities in every one of you that will inspire my concept for the show and offer something unique and special.  But, in reality, casting everyone is not possible.  Some people will be disappointed, others will just move on to the next audition.  Whatever the outcome, please know that we all enjoyed meeting you and seeing your work!

Now... Get out there and give us your best.  Remember, these roles are yours to lose!