Picking Out Audition Pieces

Whenever I have to pick an audition piece, I always try to keep something simple my drama teacher once told me in my head. Audition pieces are meant to showcase your strengths and hide your weaknesses. Therefore, pick something that shows the directors what you can do. This doesn't mean that audition pieces should pander. Most people don't like suck-ups – even in show business – so your audition monologue should express your individuality as well.

Still, it should be in the same realm as the part you are auditioning for. If you're trying out for a headstrong, reckless young man, pick something with that role. If you're auditioning for a play where wordplay plays a central role, pick something witty and difficult to say. The key is to be close enough, but not too close to the part you're auditioning for. That way, it doesn't come off as pandering.

Of course with musical audition pieces, You have a lot more leeway in some ways. You don't really need to preserve the emotional tone of what you are auditioning for. A musical audition piece should show your range and your expressive abilities. It doesn't really have to show that you are able to take on the role of the dramatic lovelorn protagonist, for example, or whatever other dramatic character you're taking on. Pick a song you like and one that exhibits your full range.

It may sound obvious to some of you, but stay away from audition monologues that are too obvious. Just as it is difficult for poets to write a new and original love poems, so it is difficult for even the most experienced actors to bring anything new to, say, audition pieces from Hamlet. A lot of people will groan if they hear you giving a monologue from Hamlet and so, even if you give it a great performance, you will still face heavier obstacles than if you had chosen something less well tread. Your audition should not come from something where the director will instantly be able to compare you to dozens of other people in his head. It should be something that he has heard of but is not very familiar with, or is familiar with but still finds fresh and intriguing. From what I've heard from some of the people I've talked to, it is actually better to be a little bit too obscure than to obvious. As long as it is good, it will be appreciated.

Summary: The key to selecting the right audition piece is to select a piece that is along the same lines as the role you are trying for. This way you can show your skills and range as it would be for the role you are auditioning for. Stay away from monologues which have been done time and again. The people who are watching would like to be entertained at least a little bit.

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