How to Conduct a Theatre Audition

When conducting auditions for a play, it is of utmost importance to establish an attitude of professionalism from the get-go. One must pay attention to detail and manage human resources well in order to make accurate casting decisions. Like any employer, directors must be careful to cast each role with the right candidate. Therefore, it is crucial that producers and directors preemptively take care of logistical issues so that they may focus on each actor’s audition.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Studio Space
• Sides from the Script
• Audition Forms
• Character Breakdown
• Pens
• Blank notebook
• File Folder
• A Stage Manager
• An Assistant Stage Manager
• CD Player/Portable Speakers
• Accompanist (for Musical Auditions)
• Choreographer (for Dance Auditions)

1. Secure a place and a time for your auditions. Studio spaces, vacant theaters, and conference rooms provide a professional atmosphere and ample space. You should book this space at least a month in advance. If you are auditioning for a musical, ensure that the room has good acoustics and make arrangements to hire an accompanist and a choreographer.

2. Inform Stage Management of the time and place of auditions. If you do not have a Stage Manager or ASM yet, then ask your friends if they would be willing to help you conduct auditions. It is vitally important that you have at least two other people help you with the audition process.

3. Write a breakdown of the roles that you need to cast. You should include the approximate age, gender, and race of each character, if applicable. Include contact information so that the actors can make an appointment and send headshots and resumes.

4. Go through the play and select scenes that will give the actors the ability to show their stuff. These are called sides. Make sure you have someone in the room to read with the actors.

5. Get the word out. Place ads in theatre magazines, send audition notices to agents, send out blast e-mails, etc. You need to make sure everyone knows about your auditions.

6. On the day of the audition, arrive at the theater an hour before auditions are scheduled to begin. Bring copies of the play, a production schedule, a pen, paper, and a folder. Ask your Assistant Stage Manager to serve as a receptionist. Your Stage Manager should be in the audition room with you.

7. When an actor walks into the audition room, greet them kindly. Auditions make many actors nervous. Ask them to begin their audition when they are ready. When they are finished, simply thank them and then make detailed notes about their audition.

8. When you have finished with auditions, go home and organize the headshots by character. Narrow down your choices. If you are having callbacks, then notify your Stage Manager which actors have secured a callback. If not, then make your casting decisions and notify your Stage Manager, who will in turn notify the actors.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you wait until after auditions are over to inform actors that they have been hired.
• Have your SM notify the ASM when you are ready to see another actor.
• Most importantly, study the person carefully. Visualize what your working relationship would be like before making a decision.
• Don’t be fooled by small talk. Many actors try to win roles by befriending you. Let the audition speak for itself.
• Don’t be fooled by resumes. Actors lie and embellish all the time. Take everything with a grain of salt.