Harlequins Auditions

Spring Musical—Shrek The Musical

Vocal Audition Zoom Session: November 7th at 7:45 PM. Join assistant director, Ms. Kloos, on Zoom for help with what an appropriate vocal piece would be for your audition. This brief session will cover what sorts of shows you should choose a vocal cut from, as well as the logistics of how to prepare your vocal piece. Email theresakloos1@gmail.com for the Zoom link. 


Harlequins Spring Musical Interest Meeting: November 21st at 3:45 PM. This meeting will take place in the Thomas Room at the Breen Center for the Performing Arts. This will cover the logistics of auditioning for the show, how to prepare, and what being a part of the Harlequins cast will look like. This will also discuss details on how to join the crew or audition for the musical pit. The meeting should take about 45 minutes. 


Tap Master Class: November 25th 4-6 PM.  This will take place on the Breen Center stage. Any students interested in learning tap should plan to attend, any level of experience (or no experience!) is welcome. Keep in mind that at dance auditions, there will be two auditions: a general (non tap) audition, and a special tap audition for anyone who wants to be considered for the role of Fiona or the pied piper chorus. Attending this master class would be helpful to be prepared for that audition. Students should come dressed in clothes they can move in. Tap shoes will not be provided. 

Vocal Master Class: November 26th 4-6 PM. This will take place in the chorus room in the Breen Center for the Performing Arts. Students should bring their prepared vocal cut and accompanying sheet music for the accompanist. Sheet music should be printed single sided with clearly marked indicators of where to start and end for the accompanist. Students will have a chance to perform their audition for the assistant director, Ms. Kloos, and the music director, Mr. Croglio, and receive feedback. 

Dance Auditions for Shrek: December 3rd 4 PM. All students auditioning for the show are required to attend this audition. Auditions will begin at 4 PM, and check-in will start at 3:30 in the lobby of the Breen Center. Students should come dressed to move. All students will learn a short dance combination, and then perform it in groups for the audition team. After all students have completed the general audition, any students interested in being considered for the role of Fiona or being a part of the pied piper chorus should plan to stay to learn and perform a tap combination. 

Vocal Auditions for Shrek: December 4th. 4:15-7:15. These auditions are OPEN CALL, meaning that there is no signup ahead of time. Show up any time within 4:15-7:15 to sign in outside the chorus room in the Breen Center. Students should bring a performer's resume and a printed headshot, and they will be asked to fill out an audition form. Students should come prepared with all conflicts between January 6th- April 12th. More information about this audition can be found below under "What do I need to prepare?" and "What do I need to bring to auditions?" Auditions will be with the audition team inside the chorus room and should take 5-10 minutes at max. 

Callbacks for Shrek: December 5th 4-5:30 PM. Students will find out by 9 PM the night before via email if they are needed for a callback. These will take place in the chorus room. 

A full offer and casting list will be released via email on December 6th by 5 PM.

Please follow us on Instagram @SIHS_harlequins for more information.

I'm interested in joining the cast. Can you tell me more about it?

What do I need to bring to auditions?

On the first day, please bring an 8x10 headshot and resume.

Don't have a headshot? No problem. Here's a good general overview. We know that many websites, including the one just linked, state that you should have professional headshots. Don't worry, you don't need one for this audition. If you don't have a professional headshot, save the $600 and ask a parent, sibling, or friend to take a picture of you, following as many of the recommendations listed in that link as possible. Print your 8x10 out at Walgreens or another similar photo place and bring it in.

If you already have an acting resume, please bring one in – and make sure it is updated! If you've never had an acting resume OR have no acting experience, that's totally OK; every successful actor has had their first role. Click here for some guidance on how to make an acting resume with little to no experience.

We are asking for your headshot and resume for two reasons. For one, it's standard in the professional theater world. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, we want to see the effort you put in for things that matter to you. Even if your headshot or resume isn't as polished or professional as some of the other auditionees, you can still impress us by your effort.

What do I need to prepare? 

For acting auditions: You should prepare a one-minute monologue in the style of the play (ie if it is a comedy, a comedy, if it is Shakespeare, a period piece, if it is a modern drama, something from a modern dramatic play, etc.). Try to pick a monologue from an actual show, rather than a made-up monologue. There are lots of monologue databases online, monologue books, or ask Ms. Martin for some help!

When you are lead into the audition room, head to the X taped on the floor, slate ("Hello, my name is [name] and I am going to be performing a monologue from [title of the show] by [playwright]," take a second to prepare yourself, and recite your piece. When done, the audition team may or may not ask you to do it again, or complete another activity. Wait for the audition team to release you, smile, thank the team, say goodbye, and head out the door. You may then leave for the evening.

For singing auditions: You will be presenting a fully memorized 32-bar cutting of a song of your choosing, solo. Please pick a song that a) you can sing well and b) act effectively. It is strongly recommended that you pick a song in the style of the given musical; however, please do not sing a song from the show itself. 

When you are escorted into the room, greet the audition team and walk over to the accompanist with your sheet music. After showing him where your cuts are and the tempo you're going to sing at, head to the X taped on the floor, slate ("Hello, my name is [name] and I am going to be singing [title of the song] by [author] from the musical [name of the musical]"), and sing your song. When done, wait for the audition team to release you, smile, thank the team, say goodbye, and head out the door. You may then leave for the evening.

For dancing auditions: come prepared to move! You do not need a dance prepared. 

What should I wear to auditions?

I heard there could be tiebreakers in casting decisions. What are those?

• Being polite to your production staff and fellow auditionees at all times.
• Having a headshot and resume.
• Wearing the appropriate outfit.
• Remaining focused during your auditions (not goofing around with your friends, etc.).
• Not apologizing for your performance or making excuses as to why you weren't at your best. 
• Having a good reputation if you've been in shows before, whether here or elsewhere. 
   

I heard there are deal breakers in casting decisions. What are those?

• Being rude to your production staff or fellow auditionees. 
• Not having a headshot or resume – remember, they don't have to be professionally polished, but we want to see your effort.
• Not coming prepared for auditions, whether it be dressing inappropriately, forgetting your sheet music at home, or having a song that is not memorized. (On that last point – everyone on the casting team has gotten nervous at an audition. We've all forgotten our place or made a mistake. That's OK. We are not worried about that. We are, however, concerned if you clearly did not prepare your piece. We can tell the difference between a mistake made due to nerves and a terrible audition due to lack of preparation, and will cast accordingly.)
• Being on your phone or talking when your director or other members of the production team are addressing the group.
• Having a reputation of being difficult to work with.

Any questions?