STAGE NOTES
The WICA Blog
Notes from Last Night's Audition Workshop
WICA hosted our 14th annual Audition Workshop last night taught by Andrew Grenier.
We've compiled the 'take away" notes and hope you'll enjoy reading them as we consider an ongoing "What are You Working On" workshop for actors.
WICA Season Auditions are next week, please call or write to sign up. We'd love to see you!
Big thank YOU to Andy for a great class!
Whidbey Island Center for the Arts
Audition Workshop with Andrew Grenier, August 6, 2014 at 7pm
Take Aways:
Andy was very clear that these are his ideas, what works for him and by no means the absolute truth for everyone. He encouraged all actors to read more plays, read a few Auditioning books and audition audition audition. Strong encouragement to always “keep a few pieces in your pocket” so we don’t freak out when auditions come up…reminding us that “we are what we do not what we say.”
He is looking for:
• Show me a skill set that makes me want to work with you.
• Don’t put barriers in your way, on Whidbey Island if you need to hold your monologue because the memorization isn’t all there, hold the monologue. Help yourself.
• Be present, honest – don’t try to convince the director, just show
• Don’t defuse your energy, no pacing, unnecessary placement of furniture. Own the space
• Choose material in your range, choose strong plays from great playwrights. (Help yourself ☺)
• Choose pieces that give you something to DO
• Choose a piece that tells a story, has a beginning, a middle and an end. Read the play, know what has happened before and after what you’ve just done
• Do not choose a piece from the play you are auditioning for.
• Do not use pieces these directors have seen you do before, get new work!
• Stay on time, you will be stopped and it’s horrible
• Pay close attention to that audition sheet, don’t be cute on it, don’t skip anything, give them as much information as you can. Be honest about conflicts.
• Always “slate” – give your name and the name of the material including playwright (know the playwright!)
• Understand the space, DC is strongest but you can introduce and then move into that space as a way to show body awareness.
• Remember you are auditioning from the moment you walk in the theatre
After an audition answer for yourself:
• What did you like about what just happened
• What would you do differently
• Do you want feedback-okay to reach out and ask for that but not in a negative way like, “I was great, why didn’t you cast me?”
Question and answers:
“What mistakes have you seen” - Andy talked a bit about the occasional presumptuousness of actors; that we know the directors and each other, and rely on that rather than our skills. He’d like to see all of us us come in more professionally. No bullshit. Pay attention to the items mentioned above. Breathe, ground yourself, own the space. Say thank you.
Dressing for Auditions: Think about the character but don’t come in full costume, can always dress towards the character to help the director and yourself.
Accents: Best left for callbacks and individual conversations with director. Just showcase YOU
How to prep: Consider beginning a local “What are you Working On Workshop” keep everybody fresh. Pick a piece that shows off YOU, practice, rehearse, be confident
'A Christmas Story' Youth Auditions
WICA announces youth auditions for 'A Christmas Story'
Seeking boys and girls ages 6-12
WICA will be hosting auditions for all children’s roles for the December 2014 production of A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd, adapted by Philip Grecian.
Auditions will be held August 7 & 8 and August 18 & 19 starting at 4pm. Auditions are by appointment only. To schedule a time, contact Deana Duncan at (360)-221-8276 or deana.duncan@wicaonline.com.
The young actors chosen must be available for all rehearsals and performances. Children’s rehearsals will be after school on weekdays and/or a few weeknight rehearsals during 1st month. Performance schedules include both matinee and evening performances. A Christmas Story rehearsals begin the week of October 13. The show runs December 5-20, 2014.
“A Christmas Story” ROLES TO BE CAST:
Ralphie Parker: male age 9-12, lead boy who is often teased by bullies.
Randy Parker: male, age 6-10, Ralphie’s little brother, adorable
Flick: male age 9-12, Ralphie’s friend., also plays Desperado One
Schwartz: male age 9-12, Ralphie’s friend, also plays Desperado Two
Esther Jane Alberry: female age 9-12, Ralphie’s classmate.
Helen Weathers: female age 9-12, Ralphie’s classmate.
Scut Farkas: male 9-12, bully. Also plays Black Bart.
Summer at WICA
by Deana Duncan
It’s another gorgeous day and as we work feverishly to finalize our programming and get this season brochure to print it dawns on all of us, again, what an incredible beast this thing called WICA is. She holds all these years of artistic struggle and story, she offers us a cultural home for all art and she sits on this small hill above the sea and simply says “Believe” in the power of arts to change lives.
Summer at WICA means kids age 5-18 running in and out as they take camps ranging from Tech to Puppets to Broadway, it means Tyler is cleaning and organizing the shop, it means Annie is fixing all the new holes in the walls made by careening set pieces and people in the last 12 months.
Summer means Stacie is leading board and staff through strategic planning including solid reflection on what went well this year and what, honestly, needs some attention, it means the board is analyzing financials and re-energizing their forces while box office and front desk plan for the future by entering the new upcoming season in our ticketing program and create 7,000 labels for the season brochure to get mailed in three weeks.
Summer means Kathryn in marketing is buried to an inch of her life in Season Brochure, updated website, auction and Djangofest support and continued marketing of summer camps and rentals.
Summer at WICA means thank you to all our supporters, patrons, donors, and volunteers for another amazing year and it means we’re cleaning house, getting ready.
Feel free to drop by, say hi, take a tour, let us know your favorite moment at WICA or just come by for a sprite and grenadine – we have plenty!
Deana Duncan is a theatre producer, director, actress, and writer with a background in Non-profit leadership. She lives in Langley and is WICA's Production & Programming Director.
Our Town hits home
by Deana Duncan
Producers are lucky people, we get this opportunity to participate in artist process again and again and again. On Saturday I had the joy of watching the first full run of Our Town and as I listened to Jim Scullin welcome us to Grover's Corners all I could really see is...well…our town here on South Whidbey. He spoke of churches, and houses, and gardens, and town hall and the schools and I remembered my own children running up down this area growing up and moving on and it dawned on me again how wonderful this play is. It’s populated with 26 amazing actors bringing us story after story that we will laugh, cry, chuckle, and shake our heads at. There are lines that brought me to tears, and gestures that took my breath away. If you’ve seen it before, you know it’s a powerful American Classic and if you've never seen it…well you know what, if you've never seen Our Town you need to see it now.
If money is an issue call us, we’ll get you in. This play at this time is a gift from and to our community; thank you Tim Rarick and your wonderful team. Can’t wait for opening night!
Deana Duncan is a theatre producer, director, actress, and writer with a background in Non-profit leadership. She lives in Langley and is WICA's Production & Programming Director.
Auditions: Into the Woods
WICA Announces Early Auditions for Stephen Sondheim’s musical masterpiece Into the Woods, directed by Rob Prosch.
Auditions will be held June 23 from 6-9pm, with callbacks on the 24th.
Download a copy of Roles, Age Ranges, and Descriptions Here.
This Tony Award-winning musical hit Broadway with an epic fairytale where familiar worlds collide. James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone's favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant and compelling original story of relationships, decisions, and resulting consequences of "happily ever after."
Into the Woods will open WICA’s 2014-2015 Theatre Series October 10-25, 2014.
Those wishing to audition should be prepared with a song by Sondheim (16 - 24 bars, any show/style, does not need to be memorized, accompanist provided) and a contrasting monologue. Audition slots are 5 minutes each.
Please contact WICA Admin at 360.221.8262 to secure a 5-minute audition slot on Monday, June 23rd starting at 6pm.
*Update: This audition is suitable for ages 14 and up with a wide variety of available roles.
Download a copy of Roles, Age Ranges, and Descriptions Here.