“There’s no business like show business.”

Thursday quote: “Acting is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts he does not hide, he exposes himself.” – Jeanne Moreau

I want to start off by giving a SHOUT OUT to all the students who auditioned for our Montgomery College play Perspectives on my America last week, whether you were forced into it, did it as a dare or because it’s your passion. It doesn’t matter whether you were born to be a performer or not; getting on stage and showing a sense of vulnerability takes a lot out of you.

I don’t know about you but auditions terrify me. It doesn’t matter how many times I do it. I always get those butterflies in my stomach and my heart rate goes up ten notches. But, I always seem to go back for more because when you love something that much not even a little bit of stage fright can keep you away.

Our theater department creates great shows and every student is welcome to audition. Now you may ask me, “But Maddie, I have never been to an audition before and I don’t know what expect.” Well today is your lucky day. In general, auditions are pretty much all the same. It just depends whether you are auditioning for a musical or a play, and usually the director or producer will tell you what they expect you to do.

MUSICALS: When you audition for a musical you are usually asked to prepare an 8-16 measure song, so you should bring a copy of the sheet music of the song you want to sing. Next you will go in a group with the choreographer to learn a short dance (they just want to make sure you don’t fall over your own two feet). Last, you would get a few scenes from the script that you will be performing with the other performers.

PLAY: A play is very similar to a musical, except you don’t dance or sing.

Now you may ask, “But what do I have to do to prepare for an audition?” Every person has their own way of preparing for an audition and I will share mine with you.

1. If you are going to audition for a musical, vocal warm ups are a MUST. You can find a warm up on YouTube if you don’t have your own warm ups or you can just sing Do Rei Mi on a scale.
2. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and clothes because you want to be comfortable when you have to dance.
3. When I go into an audition, I personally don’t want to know what the story is about or who the characters are. When I see the script for the first time, I want to act as the person I see for the first time (but that’s just my personal choice).
4. It is so important to choose the right song for your audition. Know your voice and know your style that will bring out the best of your voice.

Now, after reading all this great advice, go out and audition! And if you feel like going to see a show, please go and see Annie Get Your Gun at the Bowie Playhouse (because I’m going to be in it) from September 22 through October 21, 2017.

Here is a link for tickets:

https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=stars

And to get you in the mood, go and listen to “There’s no business like show business”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu1jz7kBsl0