Audition Tips

Audition Tips from Industry Professionals

We asked Broadway veterans to share some advice about the audition process. Here is what they said:

Be kind to everyone! No one wants to work with a diva!
Bradley Benjamin - Oklahoma!, Pippin, Leap of Faith

Success Is Inconvenient. Be willing to be inconvenienced to achieve your dreams. Also - your energy that you bring into the room is EVERYTHING. Live in your essence and show them who YOU are, not what you think they are looking for! If you are obsessed with not getting “it” wrong, you’re nevah gonna be right!! And finally - get a life - strive to find happiness and balance during the process...it’s your life - LIVE IT!
Wendy Rosoff - 42nd Street, A Christmas Carol

Treat a song like a monologue. Find your objective (doesn’t have to be in the context of the show...pick something/someone personal that gives you a visceral reaction when you think of them) be super specific with how you approach the text and material (ie...don’t just look in a general direction). If you are looking at a clock on the wall, see the numbers, the second hand, the size etc...I could go on and on.
Also...google yourself and see what comes up. Learn to cultivate your online image. Your website, social networking, Facebook, SoundCloud, YouTube. Be in control of the content as much as possible. Because we check on everyone now!
Heather Parcells - A Chorus Line, Tuck Everlasting, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Little Mermaid

Do not buy into the all of the rejection that will try to bring you down. Maintain confidence and perseverance - and always be kind.
Tony Spinosa - Peter Pan, La Cage Aux Folles, Kiss Me Kate

What jobs/roles you or do not get hired for/cast as do not define you, or your worth. Try to cultivate balance in your life-whatever that means to you.
Train like you don't have a Plan B and continue versatile training before, during, and after you are a working professional because your process and technique needs to be reliable and trustworthy, yet able to be malleable enough for you to work for different directors/choreographers/etc and it will also grow/change with you as you age/have life experiences/etc.
New York, LA and Chicago (and other major cities) are not the only cities you "must" work in. On that same note, Broadway isn't the only place to do theatre.
Don't let anyone define what success means to you.
Fall in love with the process (es) as you may go years without working (again balance is important).
Listen to your body, heart, and soul-it's the only one you have. Be kind to yourself, yet be able to offer constructive criticism when needed.
Remember everyone who helped you get "there"- you can learn from everyone.
Bring great energy in the room when you audition and are in rehearsal-even if it's a one woman/man show-all productions take a village.
Enjoy performing! You are connecting to humanity in a one-of-a-kind way!! Break a leg!
Paige Chambers Rutsche - The Producers, Anything Goes, Cats, Radio City Rockette

Be honest. In all things. Your resume, your ability to do or not do a trick. Your monologue. Your song. It’s ok if you don’t know how to do something - when you are young you won’t know how to do everything or what everything is or even what is expected of you. It’s ok. Keep your mouth closed and your eyes and ears open and you will always learn.
Darcie Roberts Magino - Aida, Buskers Alley, Curtains, Dream, Crazy for You

Be on time. Be prepared. SHOWOFF!!!
Gerry McIntyre - Once on the Island, Anything Goes, Joseph...Dreamcoat, Chicago

An audition is a chance to "act on a Tuesday"...enjoy the process! Be prepared when you audition, do the best you can and then LET IT GO! Life is more than auditions and getting the next job...you bring more to the table when you are well rounded!
Doug Carfrae - Ragtime, City of Angels, The Fantasticks, She Loves Me

Preparation is everything. The more prepared you are for every element of your audition, song, monologue, sides, choreography, the better you will feel when you walk out. When I was totally prepared, even if I didn’t get the job I walked out feeling like I did all I could. The worst feeling is walking out knowing you could have done better if you had been more prepared.
Mark Ledbetter - A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Mary Poppins, Anything Goes, Regina!

Be nice to everyone on your way up, coz you’ll see them on the way down (and sometimes they’ll be on their way up)
Sally Hong - Flower Drum Song, Radio City Rockette

I would tell them that if there is anything else they can do, they should. This career is 99% rejection and you can’t take it personally. Auditioning and being prepared is your job, so find a way to enjoy it. Booking a job is icing on the cake. Then I would make sure that they all read Michael Kostroff’s book, “Audition Psych 101.”
Eric Leviton - Kinky Boots

Experience breeds confidence. Audition. A LOT! and be happy if you book 10% of what you audition for. Get used to rejection.
It’s a part of it and it is often times not a reflection of you or your talent.
Jeffery Watkins - Les Miserable

Not right doesn’t mean not good.
Gayle Holsman Seay (Currently a casting director - casting dozens of shows) - Cats

Remember, the people on the other side of the table want you to do well. Even if they seem disinterested or preoccupied, they are rooting FOR you, not against.
Janelle Robinson - Mary Poppins, Thoroughly Modern Millie

Understand that even if you're the best in the room you might not be what they need for the part so, just do your VERY best to impress and enjoy and also do everything Gerry said above!
Michael Andreas - Music Director, Los Angeles Ballet