- Find a piece that suits you the best and fits the piece you are auditioning for.
- Keep the length of the piece 2 minutes or less.
- Read the play that your piece is taken from.
- Prepare the piece: know your main objective and the obstacle preventing you from achieving your objective through out the piece.
- Know who you are talking to in the piece and your relationship with that person. How do you feel towards them? Past history between you and that person.
- Show up to your audition on time and prepared.
- Once you are in the audition, take a moment to gather yourself before you start your monologue. Use this time to go over your moment before, listen for your cue and then respond to that cue to start your piece. (Your cue is what has been said to you before you start speaking. You are always speaking or reacting in response to something.)
- Pick a point in front of you to deliver your monologue/piece to.
- Don't pick an actual person in the room to speak your audition piece to. They are auditioning you and do not want to feel like they have to act with you.
- Review the rehearsal schedule at the front desk or call ahead to obtain that information. If you have any conflicts, list them at the audition. This will not hurt your chances of getting the part unless you have major conflicts, in which case, you shouldn't be auditioning for the play anyway. However, if you know you have conflicts and don't list them and wait till rehearsals to drop your conflicts on the producer and director, chances are you won't get cast again. The artistic value of the show becomes compromised when actors miss rehearsals and it's unprofessional and unfair to your fellow players.
- Don't bring in large props, something like a watch or letter is okay, and never bring in any weapons like knives, guns, etc. (Trust me, people bring these things and it is a very bad idea because we are not going to want to spend 4-6 weeks in rehearsal with someone that showed up to their audition armed.)
- Don't preface or summarize your monologue. For example, where it appears in the play, your moment before, the person you are talking to in the scene, etc. before you start your piece. We are auditioning you and not the play. Actors who must preface their piece do not come off as prepared; they come off as insecure about their performance of this piece because they feel they must explain it to the auditioner.
- Do not do a piece that is overly dramatic simply to try to show emotional range. We are looking for honesty, subtext, and that you are coming from a real place inside of you and your character. Remember: Acting is not telegraphing, it is actively listening and responding genuinely.
- Don't rush your piece.