Theaters in Indianapolis have a vibrant pool of established acting talent from which they can cast. But local directors are also happy to connect with new talent.
If you are a would-be thespian — or someone who hasn’t tread the boards since high school or college — the audition room is where you get to take your shot.
To help you get a foot in the (stage) door, we asked for audition tips from some of Indy’s most influential theater pros.
Make an impression
Arrive early. “At least 5-10 minutes before your scheduled time so you can shake off the commute and get ready,” said Jordan Flores Schwartz, Fonseca Theatre Company’s producing director.
Bring a headshot and resume. “Even if your mom took the picture and the resume has no professional work listed. We need these things to put a face to your name and get a sense of who you are,” said Constance Macy, artistic director for Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre.
“Dress in clothing that is professional, comfortable but appropriate,” offered LaKesha Lorene, Naptown African American Theatre Collective’s founder and producing director.
Know what’s expected of you
Some auditions require talent to come prepared with one or two memorized monologues. If so, “choose material that shows off your strengths and makes sense with the role or production you are auditioning for,” advises Benjamin Hanna, the Indiana Repertory Theatre’s artistic director.
Other auditions have talent read from scripts, sometimes with a designated reader, other times with other auditioners.
Chris Saunders, artistic director of American Lives Theatre, lets the actors select from the sides (pages from the script) of the plays the company will be staging that season.
“Personally, I hate monologue auditions, both as director and a producer — come to think of it, also as an actor,” he said. “So we prefer to use sides from the material we will be producing.”
Saunders said he wants to see actors have strong opinions about what the character thinks.
“We can suggest a different take, but only if you give us something to start with,” he said.
When given such notes and requests for redos, be open to adjustments. Sometimes it’s a test to see if you can take direction.
Adds Hanna: “Don’t bring unnecessary props or dress in costume. It can distract from the audition.”
He does, however, recommend reading the whole play before coming in.
“Be prepared to talk about the context of the scene and the life of the character,” he said.
One of the most recent additions to the professional local theater scene, Southbank Theatre Company, makes that easier. Artistic Director Marcia Eppich-Harris makes scripts available at least a few weeks before the audition.
And while actors can note which roles they are auditioning for, she advises them not to audition only for leads.
“The easiest way to get a leading role,” she said, “is to be great in a smaller role.”
Ready to give it a try? Some theater companies do season auditions, others go show-by-show. To find out about auditions, keep an eye on theater company websites as well as online outlets such as Indiana Auditions on Facebook.
Coming up:
- Phoenix Theatre is holding auditions Feb. 22 and 28 for “Ride the Cyclone.”
- The Indiana Repertory Theatre will hold general auditions April 12-13 for its upcoming season.
Anonymous audition advice
Some casting professionals were willing to give even more candid advice anonymously. Here’s some of what they said:
“Work on your monologues feeling true to you as a character and we will feel that as well. The audience cannot believe it unless the actor believes it.”
“If you’ve been off stage for a while, it’s okay. Nothing delights us more than getting a surprisingly awesome actor in the audition room.”
“Theatre people go to see lots of shows. Sometimes you’re auditioning when you don’t know it. The easiest way to be cast in a show is to do a great job in another show — even if you have small parts. We’re always looking for good actors.”
“Don’t be an asshole to people outside the room. The monitors are often volunteers, and they tell us when people are rude.”
“Make sure you smell good — your body and your breath.”
“Theatre acting is traditionally advertised to be big, and while it’s true acting onstage is very different from acting in front of the camera, the work still needs to be rooted in truth.”
“Have fun! Get lost in the character! Acting doesn’t need to be perfect, it needs to feel real, connected. Even in theater.”
Some words to know
Callback: A second (or more) round of auditions with a narrowed-down group of actors
Character breakdown: A list of characters being cast, often includes requisite characteristics (presenting age, gender, etc.)
Chemistry read: A callback in which actors are grouped so that the casting folks can see how different combinations might work
Cold read: Reading from the script without preparation
Conflicts: Dates and times when you would not be available to rehearse or perform
Headshot: A photo of the actor
Monologue: A solo excerpt from a play. For auditions, these are usually two minutes in length. Sometimes the request is for two contrasting monologues, which could mean a dramatic and a comedic piece. Other auditions may request a classical (say, Shakespearian) monologue and a contemporary piece.
Reader: A person, usually not up for a role, who reads other characters during audition scenes
Self-tape: An audition recorded and submitted in lieu of an in-person audition
Sides: Script excerpts often available to peruse before entering the audition room
Union status: Whether or not you belong to an actors’ labor union
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Lou Harry is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor. You can reach him at louharrywriter@gmail.com.
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