Stand Out!
Contributing Educator: Brian Avers
Auditioning for Actors is, in fact, for anyone who wishes toenter a room with Presence, make meaningful Connectionswith whoever’s in the room, maintain a mindset of Success,and leave with head held high! Actors must also considertheir quality of performance & approach to assignedmaterials, which is explored here with an eye on coreprinciples that will lead to flexibility & expertise in theaudition room.In this course, we’ll use activities, games, exercises,rehearsals & mock audition modules to emphasizefoundational values & skills that lead to confident, joyfulwork in an audition environment. Core principles willinclude Body Awareness, Balance, Ease, Warmth, EyeContact, and the importance of defining 3 AchievableGoals. In the work itself, we lean into Given Circumstances,Playing Actions, Finding Dynamics, and the importance ofMemorization. Actors will develop as an ensemble, growas individuals, and learn practical skills (like how to makea Self Tape). The course concludes with Mock Auditions—apriceless experience!I’m passionate about Audition Techniques, because, simply,I could not have built my career without them. I wouldn’thave gotten into NYU’s MFA program; I would not haveearned a significant fellowship; I would not have booked myfirst Broadway job, or my first lead role, or first TV show, orfirst VO campaign—or my last! Just as notable, in my view,is the pain I’ve felt watching my extremely talented peersstruggle to find success. Put bluntly: AUDITIONING IS ITSOWN CRAFT.Importantly, the tools an actor employs in the audition roomare the same tools any of us can use when we want to geta job, sell a product, pitch our vision, or ‘connect’ withsomeone we admire. These tools have helped entrepreneursclose huge business investments—helped middle-agedworkers launch new careers—given confidence to shyintroverts.These are life-altering skills, which (I believe) should bethe backbone of any arts education—indeed, educationin general. I trust you will discover
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)
