Broadway Auditions & Skill Requirements

Getting a part in a Broadway play takes skill and talent.

Broadway auditions are the way into the limelight for a stage actor. Performing in one of Manhattan's theaters along Broadway is a feather in the hat of all actors and it represents an accomplishment often sought after in this profession. However, not everyone is successful at getting parts in these coveted shows. The highly selective process of auditioning on Broadway requires skills and abilities other than the obvious talent to act. Often it takes more than just raw talent to catch the eye of a casting director, especially if you are relatively unknown.

Lots of Personality

During the casting process, directors are in search of people who can shine on the stage. They need to stand out for one reason or another above all the others who are battling for the same part. A huge factor in this search for the ideal actor is personality -- and lots of it.

A quiet and reserved actor who goes through his or her lines without adding any believable personality to the reading isn't likely to be remembered once they leave the audition. Bringing some of yourself into the material you are reading and carrying it over into any questions or answers is important is making the casting director take notice. This must be the best of your own personality and not a made up character you are pretending to be, according to the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Theater program website.

Recognizing Strengths

During an audition you are likely to have the opportunity to perform a monologue of your choosing. This is typically something you bring along that you have worked on to impress the producers and casting director.

Know what you are best at when it comes to your performances and choose a piece of material that showcases your best stuff. Also remember to choose material that plays well over material that is "well written" when necessary.

Public Speaking Skills

One of the most necessary skills for an actor at the Broadway level is public speaking. Speaking in public can be a traumatic experience for some people, and it takes real skill to be able to do it effectively.

Being able to speak publicly while being in total comfort is essential in casting a confident image of you to those who make the decisions about parts. Stage actors who have a problem with public speaking often have bouts with stage fright, which can dramatically and negatively affect a performance. The crew involved with casting will know this when they see it, so it is important to have public speaking down to a science before the audition begins.

References

• CCM Musical Theater Program: Audition Guidelines
• No Nonsense Stress Cures: How To Conquer Public Speaking Fear