Expert: Peter Messaline - 5/19/2006

Question
I'm auditioning for my dream play of Beauty and the Beast on Monday (A summer stock production -- I‘m 16). I'm hoping to get Belle. The audition works in this fashion . On Monday, I go in and sing my sixteen bars, and perform my minute long monologue. Then, callbacks. You get called back for chorus, and, if they feel you might be right, to read part of a lead during those same call backs (though, they determine before you come if you will read).

My Two questions:

1. I am getting the pre audition jitters. I want this part sooooo much, and I know I'm most likely just going to end up disappointed because I don't know the directors very well, and I'm new to the group. So, (and this is really two questions) how do I calm down now so I don't freak out, and how do I deal with it if I'm not called back for the part? Because, seriously, and this is gonna sound silly, but Belle is my role model. I‘m a complete Disney Child, and this is my favorite movie ever. I'm going to be devastated. How do I stop?

2. I have a lot of excess spit in my mouth when I'm singing, and especially when I'm acting. Any advice on how to get rid of this? Because it causes me to both trip over my words, and spit on people which is really not a good impression.

Also, (and this is three, sorry) any advice on keeping my facial expressions real? Because I'm not actually looking at people when I'm auditioning because it's a monologue (I‘m looking about the auditioner's head), my facial expressions tend to drop out half way through no matter how much I try to imagine there is someone there. Any Advice?


Answer
The first question breaks into two. Your audition nerves are unavoidable. Everyone gets tense and does stupid things under tension. The key is to forget the audition. Concentrate on what the character is feeling, in the song and in the monologue. Part of you will need to sit outside, to monitor what you're doing and remember what you planned, but that part should be as small as possible. Bury yourself in the character's feelings.
If you're not called back, if you're not cast, there will be nothing you can do about it. All you can do is learn from it, and put it aside. Anything else is self-indulgence. Have a good self-indulgent wail and then get on with life.
Lots of actors spit. There are actors for whose performances no-one dare sit in the front row! Tripping over your words may also be a character thing. It's possible that you get hung up on the pool of spit and forget how to work your tongue. Seriously. When you are just talking, you can say all the words, and no-one wears a raincoat. Ignore the problem, concentrate on the story you are telling.
Don't worry about your expression. Again, believe in the story, live in the moment. In real life, people aren't constantly working their faces; we read their feelings by their whole body english and the music of what they are saying. Be very specific where the other people are that you are talking to. Place them to one side of the auditioner, but don't skewer them with your glare. Actually, we don't look at people much when we're talking to them, except when we want to be sure what their reaction is to something we're saying.

Trust yourself. Go out there confident that you are their Belle, play the material for all it's worth, and if they don't hire you this year they may next. Auditioning isn't pass or fail, it's a question of whether you match their picture of the part. If you come across as upbeat, eager, confident and easy to work with, you'll be in the running.

Knock 'em dead

Peter M