Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 2/18/2010

Question
Hi!
I'm nineteen years old and dreamed about being an actress. I'm now a sophomore at university that just added a new theatre program last year. This program trains you for both stage and screen acting. To get in, you'd have to audition. Here's where I need help. This could be just my fears speaking, but I'm not sure if I should audition or not. Let me give you some background info first to give you an idea why I'm second guessing myself.

I've only done one musical in high school. Back then, I wasn't in the high school drama courses but I was in the choir. That's how I was in that musical. However, I did take acting classes at two acting studios/schools when I was 14 and 17 years old. I've been told I was really good and should continue it. Even when I was in that musical in high school. I was told I was good  All I've done was sing in the chorus and was an extra in one scene. One lady spoke to me after the show and told me she was watching me the entire time and that I was really good. My parents, my dad especially, has always said I can act and still does today. Still, I went on trying other things like music, writing, and journalism. When I was 17 I wanted to continue my training at this acting school I was in, but my family began to experience some tough financial issues. Thinking my acting dreams weren't meant to be, I sought out a journalism and English degree in my freshman year of university. Theatre didn't come to mind. Right in the middle of my freshman year, I began to really miss acting. When I missed my first semester as a sophomore, I've had more time to really think about what I really wanted to do in life. I've decided to go back to acting for good. So now my major is theatre studies instead of journalism.  I figured studying acting in university while I'm here will be a great start.

Okay, so here are my questions. Should I still go audition for the stage and screen program at my university even though I don't have a lot of theatre experience? Or should I wait for next year to audition to get myself prepared by taking some university acting courses and doing plays in my community back home (I go to an out-of-state university)?

Answer
Hello Alex, I think you should prepare a terrific audition and go in and blow their sox off. Go to my website www.kenplonkeyacting.com and read my book The Tao of Acting, Chapter 7, I believe, where I explain how to audition with monologues. God bless, Doc.  PS I would love to know the name of this school as there are so few that teach film acting. Thanks, Doc