Ok. Hello World!

[ARaynes]

So, I am going out for my first professional audition. (Acting that is.) So, I have my outfit picked out, my instructions and the dates. So, now all I need is advice from any of you out there that might know a little about the acting world.


This will be my debut into it if I get the part, a part, anything. I think my chances are really good, but any actor says that.

Other than advice, have you ever tried getting something big? Was it a job? A promotion? How did it go? Were you nervous?

 

[DustyWolfe]

Wow! Good luck.

Well, for me just finding a job is a big deal. I've lived in Austin for almost 6 months and have had no luck. There's nothing available due to all the computer industry and motorola layoffs.. *sighs*

 

[Guest]

Break a leg, darlin!

 

[markb325]

Good luck Araynes. Knock them out.

 

[ARaynes]

Thanks. I know how it is for my sister to get a job Dustygrrl. She has looked forever......layoffs are so hard on everyone.

Break a leg. Fellow thespian raindancer?

Thanks Markb. I can't knock them out! Then I definately wouldn't get it.

I plan on auditioning the eighth of Sept. So the next day You will be one of the first to know Mark.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Equity? What contract? Musical Comedy? Legit Voice or Character? 16 Bars? Monologue? Two Minutes or Five? Scene? Cold Reading? Do you have the Sides? Company audition, or show? Bus and Truck or Local? What exactly did the Breakdown say?

I can give you advice until you're leaking out the ears.

 

[ARaynes]

The play is Night Must Fall by Emelyn Williams.

Cold reading and improvisation are the rule.



NIGHT MUST FALL. A Melodrama by Emlyn Williams.

4 men, 5 women. Interior. Samuel French.

November 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 2002

Auditions: September 8, 9, 2002

Rehearsals Start: September 16, 2002


Is the information I got for it.

 

[Guest]

Break a leg. Fellow thespian raindancer?

In a former life, yes.

I'm excited for you!

 

[ARaynes]

In a former life, yes.

I'm excited for you!

I am happy too. It has been a long time since I was up on stage. I can't wait to get back into it.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I don't think the play has any decent monologues, so you'll get a scene to read, and you'll probably read with a Stage Manager or something. Don't do any real blocking, try to do the piece standing still. This will prevent the reader you're reading with from attempting to do any "Acting" or movement, which will force you to make acting choices you don't want to make.

Actually, the same thing goes if you're paired up with anothre actor to read. Keep movement to a mimimum, because if you're paired with a twit you run the risk of the scene becoming about the blocking as you both run around the stage upstaging each other. It's an audition, not a performance, and they just want to see you, hear you, and find out if you can read and command the stage. All that you can do standing still.

The improvisation is probably just to see if you can take direction. The best way to handle that is to actually take the direction, whether or not you think it's a good way to go, and whether or not you have something you've worked on and want to show them. Forget about anything you've prepared, show them that you can change.

It's a period piece, so dress appropriately (England, around 1930, I think).

Forget about attempting an accent, unless you already have one. The best way to fake an English accent at an audtion is to simply pronounce every letter crisply. Don't do a Tracey Ulman impression.

It's a psychological mystery, and very slow paced, which was the style back then. You might want to rent "Gaslight" to get an idea of the mood. You don't want to rush the piece. It's all about atmosphere, and how "alive behind the eyes" you can be.

(You could actually rent the film version of "Night Must Fall", but I think it's pretty hard to find.)

If you blow a line, don't apologize. Either fix it with an improv, forget about it (and they will too), or, ask them if you can start over (with the attitude that they will, of course, say yes). Never apologize.

Don't give yourself a ton of motivation, or over-worry about your character's objectives, etc. Pick a single word to play in your scene, like "Fear", "Greed" or "Lust". Keep that word in your mind while you read. Write it on the top page of your sides. Avoid things like "Happy" or "Angry" which are incredbily boring on stage. Pick something that has conflict. People who are happy or angry have gone past conflict to resolution.

And lastly, don't break your leg. Producers tend to dislike when that happens.

Good luck.

 

[Guest]

And lastly, don't break your leg. Producers tend to dislike when that happens.

Yea, listen to DCL. He knows of what he speaks. He's all famous and I'm just a peon.


Let us know how it goes!

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I whistle in dressing rooms, too.

 

[ARaynes]

Thank you DCL. I will keep that all in mind. *looking up 1930's type clothing.* It is really helpful.

LOL. I won't break it, Too purdee to ruin! LOL

 

[nightray]

good luck sweety thats all I can say don't know much about acting oo and don't brake the lag I have to agree with the rest ther thats no fun I've don it my self it herts and taks to long to heal.

winks good luck darlen