Expert: John T. Aney - 9/23/2006

Question
I'm new to my high school and they're doing a production of 'Crucibal.' I've done one musical in 6th grade called 'Once on This Island.' But I'm not familiar with acting as much as singing and as far as I know 'Crucibal'is a play and not a musical.

What should I expect for auditions if I decide to try out? I understand different directors do their audtions differently but what's the mean of what i should expect?
Thank you :)

Answer
Probably you can expect that the director will do what's called "cold reads" from the script.  That means that the director will pair you up with another actor and ask you to read a scene together.  Some directors will pair actors up and let them go and work on it on their own, and some will just call actors onstage and ask them to read it without any preparation.

This can be pretty tough for actors - kind of like being asked to sight read some music with everyone watching.  But if you can just focus on what you are reading, and the choices you make, you'll be fine.

Choices you ask?  Well, the most important thing in an audition like this is to make choices.  Read the scene through if you can, and decide how you will move, some little thing you will do, some way of portraying the character, etc.  Make a choice.  An actor who makes a choice, even if its the wrong choice, is always better off than an actor who does nothing.  Your scene partner may do nothing, or he/she may respond to your choice, and make choices of their own.  Do your best to stay in the scene, read it as best you can, and make sure to smile when you are done!

Good luck!

jta