Stand Out!
Contributing Educator: Brian Avers
Auditioning for Actors is, in fact, for anyone who wishes to enter a room with presence, make meaningful connections with whoever’s in the room, maintain a mindset of success, and leave with head held high! Actors must also consider their quality of performance & approach to assigned materials, which is explored here with an eye on core principles that will lead to flexibility & expertise in the audition room. In this course, we’ll use activities, games, exercises, rehearsals & mock audition modules to emphasize foundational values & skills that lead to confident, joyful work in an audition environment. Core principles will include Body Awareness, Balance, Ease, Warmth, Eye Contact, and the importance of defining 3 Achievable Goals. In the work itself, we lean into Given Circumstances, Playing Actions, Finding Dynamics, and the importance of Memorization. Actors will develop as an ensemble, grow as individuals, and learn practical skills (like how to make a Self Tape). The course concludes with Mock Auditions—a priceless experience! I’m passionate about Audition Techniques, because, simply, I could not have built my career without them. I wouldn’t have gotten into NYU’s MFA program; I would not have earned a significant fellowship; I would not have booked my first Broadway job, or my first lead role, or first TV show, or first VO campaign—or my last! Just as notable, in my view, is the pain I’ve felt watching my extremely talented peers struggle to find success. Put bluntly: AUDITIONING IS ITS OWN CRAFT. Importantly, the tools an actor employs in the audition room are the same tools any of us can use when we want to get a job, sell a product, pitch our vision, or ‘connect’ with someone we admire. These tools have helped entrepreneurs close huge business investments—helped middle-aged workers launch new careers—given confidence to shy introverts. These are life-altering skills, which (I believe) should be the backbone of any arts education—indeed, education in general.
Lesson Plans Included: 8
Materials: Printable Resources and Activities are included to help guide your work and support student learning.
Grade Levels: High School
Lesson Plan Topics
- Audition Warm-Up & Core Games Get loose, Develop Confidence, Make Connections Through Play
- Principles of Presence Balance, Ease, Body Awareness & Behavior = Presence
- Principles of Connection Enthusiasm, Conviction, Curiosity & Eye contact = Connection
- Principles of Success Equality, Possibility, Flexibility & Three Achievable Goals = Success
- Prep — Given Circumstances Living the Material — Answering your Key Qs
- Prep — Memorization & Rehearsal Memorize Your Lines & Rehearse with Dynamics.
- Art of the Self-Tape How to Self-Tape, Start to Finish
- Performance & Reflection Mock Auditions & The Real Thing (On to the Next One)
