Understanding auditions & Tech Sign-Ups
How do auditions work?
Fall Plays: There is no need to prepare anything for these auditions! Simply come to the auditorium after school on one of the audition dates. You'll listen to the directors talk about their visions for the shows while you fill out a form clarifying your preferences for role size and any conflicts that you might have throughout the rehearsal process. Then, you'll choose a side (a short excerpt from the script) from a table in the lobby and find scene partners if needed. These sides do not need to be memorized for your audition, although it's good to become familiar with your lines before you audition. You can read as many or as few times as you want, and you can audition for both fall plays on the same day. Depending on the shows, there may be callbacks, which is when the directors request that certain students come and audition again on a separate day.
Spring Musical: Auditions for the spring musical will occur in December. Auditions will typically consist of a recorded vocal audition and an in-person acting audition run the same way as the fall plays. Depending on the show, there may be a dance audition as well. This year, for Mean Girls, there will be dance workshops before the audition to learn the choreography. The structure for spring musical auditions varies from year to year, so all important information will be announced on a Google Classroom closer to the time of auditions.
Spring Film: Spring film auditions occur at the same time as in-person spring musical auditions. These auditions are typically held in the Black Box Theater, although you will meet in the auditorium to fill out your preferences/conflict form. Just like auditions for fall plays, you will not be expected to prepare anything ahead of time -- you'll simply come in and read from the sides.
Winter Musical: Our winter musical each year is put on by our Musical Theatre Production class, which rising juniors and seniors can audition for. (Occasionally sophomores are admitted into the class, but the expectation is generally that you take Musical Theatre Showcase before going on to Production.) For entry into the class, you'll submit a recorded singing audition just as you would for the spring musical. This typically occurs in February, and information about audition requirements will become available in the Google Classroom before then. Once you have been admitted into the class, there will be a second audition over the summer. While this audition will also be recorded, it may consist of a monologue as well as a vocal audition, depending on the preference of the director.
Advanced Drama/Ad Labs: Auditions for the Advanced Drama class will occur around the same time as Musical Theatre Production auditions. Because Advanced Drama is not a musical theatre class, auditions will usually just consist of a recorded monologue that you submit on the Google Classroom. Once the school year starts, in this class, you'll choose short plays to put on throughout the year, and auditions for roles in these plays will occur during class time.
How do tech sign-ups work?
Fall Plays: You'll come to the auditorium on the tech sign-ups day, which will typically occur the day before auditions start. There, you'll learn what all of the tech roles are and what responsibiliies are expected of each. You'll fill out a form in order to indicate which tech role(s) you want and which play is your preference. If you are interested in doing tech leadership, such as stage management or tech direction, you'll also be expected to come to one of the audition days to help ensure everything runs smoothly. Prior experience is not required for tech leadership roles, although it is recommended!
Spring Musical: Just like for the fall plays, you'll come to the auditorium after school on tech-sign ups day and fill out a form. The only difference is for choreography, where potential choreographers will submit some of their choreography (typically before regular tech sign-ups) in order to be selected.
Spring Film: The spring film would not be possible without tech. The tech sign-up day for the spring film will occur at the same time as tech sign-ups for the spring musical, so when you fill out your form, you'll be asked which production you'd prefer to work on. These tech roles are a little different than those for our live productions, but don't worry -- information about each role will be available before tech sign-ups!
Winter Musical: This musical is put on by our Musical Theatre Production class. For entry into the Production Tech class, you'll submit a tech portfolio in the Google Classroom, usually in February. If you're wanting to do choreography for this class, you'll submit a choreography portfolio. Specific tech roles will be chosen once the school year starts. Positions in this class are typically reserved for juniors and seniors, but sometimes there are sophomores in the class as well. In addition to the Production Tech class, there will typically be a supplemental crew that joins rehearsals in early January and helps the show run smoothly. Supplemental crew members will be selected in December.
Advanced Drama/Ad Labs: For entry into this class, you'll submit a tech portfolio just as you would for Musical Theatre Production Tech. However, because this is not a musical theatre class, there will be no option for choreography. Specific tech roles will be chosen on a show-by-show basics, and sometimes techies even choose to act for some of the shows!