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Auditions

Nothing in an actor's career embodies such a combination of hope, despair, nervousness, competitiveness, exhilaration and mystery.  We're hoping to change some of that.  We'll start with the mystery.

For the professional actor, feedback for a particular audition has only two possibilities: I got the job/I didn't get the job.  We at PYT prefer our feedback to be a little more detailed, especially as part of our mission is to train and educate actors.  This is why we are using audition feedback forms.  It is an effort to give each actor a little guidance about what they may be able to do better the next time they audition.

Here are some answers to answers about other aspects of auditions that will help. 

Why do I have to audition at all? Finding audition monologues/songs
About dance auditions Rehearsal schedule
Call backs What is the director looking for?
How do I find out what role I have? Casting
Refund Policy  

         

          Why do I have to audition at all?

Auditions, at their best, provide the artistic staff with an accurate assessment of an actor's talent and current skill set.  We want every actor to do his/her best.  Not just because it is more fun for everybody and makes the actor feel good, but because we are hoping to see what an actor is truly capable of.  Skills can change, which is why actors audition for each show even if the director ahs worked with them before.

 

I’ve never auditioned before, what type of song do I need to sing?

You should find a piece of music from a Musical Theater show that you will be comfortable singing. Once you’ve decided which song you’d like to sing, you will need to bring in sheet music or an accompaniment CD for your audition. When choosing your song, keep in mind the style and era of music of the show you are auditioning for in order to help the artistic staff get a sense of how your voice can best be showcased in the current production. In short, you don’t want to sing a rock song from Rent to audition for a classic show like Music Man and vice versa.

Where can I find an appropriate monologue?

PYT has a monologue book at the studios which you can look at during office hours. If you find something you like, we can make a photocopy for you so that you can take it home to memorize.
 

What do I need to do for the dance auditions?

When you do the dance portion of the audition, you will be taught a dance combination by the choreographer and then asked to perform it in small groups. You will not have to prepare anything in advance, just make sure you are dressed in movement clothes and with comfortable shoes you can dance in.

 

Where can I find a copy of the rehearsal schedule?

We have posted the “tentative rehearsal schedule” at the top of the audition page. This is what we use to determine when our rehearsals will be.

Why is the online schedule “tentative”?

The tentative schedules for the season are created almost a year in advance and are a general outline for parents to plan on what to expect from our production process. We say it is tentative in case we need to adjust the schedule before we have auditions. By the time of auditions we will have a “Conflict Schedule” which has all of the dates and times for rehearsals and performances.  These dates are firm.  

Will my child be required to attend all of the rehearsals on the “tentative rehearsal schedule”? 

In most cases your child will not be required to attend all rehearsals. However, this will depend on the role they receive. If you know your child has conflicts (such as a class every other Tuesday or a family vacation) that are set for a specific date and/or time, then add them to their Conflict Schedule when they audition.  We can honor up to 7 conflicts.  Please keep in mind that the more conflicts you have, the less chance you have for a large role (if you want a large roll, go to Esther's Bakery).

When do we receive the final rehearsal schedule with a breakdown of exactly who is called to each rehearsal?

At the end of the mandatory parent meeting you will receive a rehearsal schedule which breaks down who is called to each rehearsal and what part of the show they will be rehearsing. Sometimes these schedules may be adjusted depending upon the needs of the show. These changes will be posted in our Newsletters each week when applicable.

 

          What is the director looking for?

Certainly directors are looking for talent, but that is only part of it.  They are hoping to get a sense of who the actor is as a person and as a performer.  This is part of the reason that actors introduce themselves and their audition piece. It gives the artistic staff a brief moment to see the person before he/she begins acting as someone else.  They are also looking to see how well prepared the actor is. (Do they truly know their
monologue/song? Do they know what the character wants/needs?)

         What about Callbacks?

Callbacks allow the artistic staff to get a better and longer look at an actor.  It allows the director to try the actor out in a variety of characters to see which might fit the actor best or sometimes even go against the actor's usual casting.  Sometimes seeing groups together will influence the direction of casting and sometimes a single actor will do so well or capture a certain nuance that the director feels compelled to cast a certain way.  Sometimes an actor does so well at every reading that , instead of getting the lead, the director puts them in the one role that on one else read well for because the director knows that particular actor will make it work.
 

When and where can I find out what role I have been cast in after callbacks?

On the Saturday following callbacks the cast lists are posted online and at our studios by 6pm. In order to look at it online you have to go to our website www.pytnet.org and click on the show link.
 

          How does casting work?

While talent does carry a significant weight in casting there are other considerations.  Casting is something like putting a big jigsaw puzzle together except you won't know what it actually looks like for another six weeks.  Some things determine who can be considered at all.  If a character sings a very high note and the actor can't do it, odds are they are no longer being considered for that particular part.  With youth theater we have added the complications of carpools, schedule conflicts and casting youth in adult age ranges.  Someone may play polder simply because they come off as more mature on stage.  While every director thinks they cast well there are inevitably one or two actors who, during the rehearsal process, show more talent and initiative than the director may have originally given them credit for during their audition.

Which brings us back to why we want every actor to do his/her best at the audition! 


What if we only want to participate if my child/I get a certain part?
We strongly advise that you go into auditions with a positive attitude and an understanding that a show is only as good as its cast.  Every member of the ensemble has a critical part to play in the success of the show.  Often, participating in the ensemble or chorus or taking a minor role provides great opportunities for character development and developing the very important skill of reacting to others on stage.  Being a good ensemble member can often be more challenging than being a lead where singing/dancing are concerned -- the harmonies are often harder, and diction and cut-offs need to be clean and it takes great talent and skill to make sure that dance moves are polished and clean -- arms at the same angle, kicks at the same height, etc. The best performers have spent time in the ensemble and take every opportunity to work on their theater skills - and it's a lot of fun!

That said, if you feel that you will only accept particular parts you must say specifically which parts you will accept by name.  Do not put "principal role" or "speaking part" unless you are really willing to take any role that we consider a principal role or speaking part.  If you say that you will only accept a particular part, and do not get cast in that part, your name will not appear on the cast list, and you will receive a pro-rated refund (see refund policy).

There are no refunds if you audition, wait for the cast list to go up, and drop because you do not like your part.


What is the refund policy?

If you cancel an audition appointment with 24 hours written notice to info@pytnet.org you will receive a pro-rated refund less $10 to cover the costs charged by the credit card company and the online registration system.

Should you not attend your pre-scheduled audition, and make no arrangement for a make-up audition, you will receive a pro-rated refund less $20.

Should your child decide not to participate, for any reason AFTER auditions, you must inform the Production Manager in writing NO LATER THAN THURSDAY OF CALLBACKS at 9pm in order to receive a prorated refund.  PYT will retain $50 of the registration fee toward expenses associated with the audition and casting process.  You can drop off a letter to our offices or you can email the written notice to: lhatten@pytnet.org. 

After THURSDAY OF CALLBACKS at 9pm there are no refunds, as there is an extensive amount of work that must be done to recast a part once casting decisions have been made.

 

Hopefully this will help clear up at least some of the mystery of auditioning and casting!