Auditions

For a PDF version of this announcement, click here.

Radford University Department of Theatre and Cinema

Directing II Auditions

Who: YOU! Everyone is welcome! You don’t have to be a theatre student to audition, come one, come all!

What: The Directing II class (THEA 450) is seeking sixteen actors for their final projects Making a Scene: An Evening of One Acts*.

When: Auditions are Friday, February 24th at 6:30 PM and Sunday, February 26that 6:30 PM.

Where: Trinkle B01

What to Prepare: Auditions will consist of readings from the plays. The best way to prepare is to read them. To obtain a copy of the script, you can email the individual directors below. Sides (selected readings for the auditions) will be printed and available at the auditions. There will be more information about the plays coming soon.

*Please note: The Evening of One Acts performances take place during the last week of classes.

Please direct any questions to Professor Wesley Young at wyoung@radford.edu

• Auditions typically happen in the first two weeks of each semester. Occasionally an exception occurs in which a spring production may audition late in the fall semester.

• RU Theatre auditions are open, meaning anyone can audition. You don’t have to be a theatre major. Community members may audition also with the understanding that priority in casting will go to RU students.

• Most of our auditions require prepared material. If you are not a theatre student and don’t know how to prepare and present the requested material, usually something will be supplied to you to read. Theatre majors, however, are required to prepare according to the requirements for a given audition. In the case of plays requiring very specific skills such as singing in a musical, auditionees are highly encouraged to prepare the appropriate material.

• Performance majors are required to audition for ALL productions. More on this below. 

• When it comes to auditions, one of the few things in your control is your level of preparation.  Reading the play is, arguably, the most important thing you can do to prepare. The plays are available from bookstores, online vendors and/or the play publishers. 
  

•  It is the expectation that all performance students audition for all shows. Our auditions are designed to provide a variety of audition experiences so take advantage of these experiences right from the start. Every audition is one more step toward becoming comfortable with the process. In addition, it allows the faculty to see your work right away.
  

• Take care not to “type” yourself at this point. Prepare, come on out and let the directors decide what you are “right for.” Certainly, if there is a role you are dying to play, or you are “perfect for,” shoot for that, but keep an open mind and don’t allow the attitude of “all these characters are older and I am only 18” stop you from coming to auditions. In university theatre the plays are produced to give you the opportunity to work on them.

• Auditions are intimidating. Talk to the upperclassmen; use the performance faculty as a resource to answer your questions. However, no matter how much inquiry you make there will be no substitute for doing your personal preparation –reading the scripts, looking up unfamiliar words/references, making choices, being familiar with what the director is looking for (read audition notices carefully), getting rest, planning to dress appropriately, knowing where you are going and arriving early to sign in, warm up, etc.

• It is smart to attend the first night of auditions if at all possible.

• Once you are in the audition it is important to listen to instructions, have a positive attitude, be flexible when the unexpected happens, focus on what you are doing, and, of course, that age-old challenge…allow yourself to be at ease so you can do your best work.