Auditioning
Arizona Essential Standards
Demonstrate mental and physical attributes
required to communicate characters
different from themselves.
Describe and compare responses to their
own work and works by others.
Explain and justify the meanings constructed
from theirs and others’ (dramatic
performances) - audition
monologues and duo scenes.
Period - 45 minutes
Materials
Gum
Selected monologue and duo scene handouts:
The Glass Menagerie by
Tennessee Williams
This is a Test by Stephen
Gregg
The Adding Machine by
Elmer L. Rice
Lion in Winter by James
Goldman
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern
are Dead by Tom Stoppard
I cannot print the scenes
here, so use your good judgement and choose two person
scenes with some conflict,
and keep it short.
Activity #1
Monologue- cold reading
Choose a student to do a cold reading of
a monologue by Tennessee Williams. Include specific directions at
the top of the monologue for the student to follow. This will test
their ability to take direction as well as challenge the class to recognize
various undesirable actions, such as chewing gum, mumbling, etc.
Discussion
Begin by letting the class know that the
student has been given specific directions regarding the performance and
that we are going to point out problems with the performance in a respectful
manner. Finding the problematic points is a tribute to the student’s
ability to take direction. Let the discussion begin.
Activity #2
Two person scenes
Hand out scenes to partners. Give 2-3 minutes
to read over scenes and get directions down. Specific directions
are at the top of the scene, choose a wide variety of bad audition behavior.
The leader will model a ‘blame followed by love’ tactic outlined in Michael
Shurtleff’s book Audition.
Discussion
Same guidelines as stated earlier.
Ask students what was happening at the beginning of the scene. Possible
responses - they were drowning at first, one or both were not aware of
each other. Then discuss what tactics were used to save the scene,
were they successful for one or both of the actors, etc.
Continue on with two person scenes. Each scene will be followed
by a discussion. Students will try to identify problems, come up
with solutions, and learn new tactics. Each scene deals with new tactics,
problems, and possible solutions.
This is a Test-
What to do when a scene is dying, tanking, going nowhere,
when your partner seems to
have been recently lobotomized.
The Adding Machine-
Finding the positives, saying no to character limitations.
The Lion in Winter -
Finding humor in every situation, competitive humor,
making the stakes high in every
game, playing to win.
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead -
“I can’t believe this” humor of real life- transference
into a scene, what are you fighting
for, knowing what you ultimately want and having
the determination to get it.
Discussions will deal with these concepts and many more. Students
will be asked to analyze behaviors and come up with alternatives.
Additionally, students will be exposed to the sometimes random nature of
cast selection where the best actor doesn’t always get the part; but will
hopefully come to realize that preparation always give you a memorable
personal and professional edge.
Designed by S.R.