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soozievt · 09-27-2006, 07:45 PM

Lucie,
With regard to age appropriateness, you want to use material for a role in which you realistically would be cast. The audition is not an acting class, so don't choose material meant to "stretch" your acting skills. It should be material that is right for you at this time in your life. They want to see you deal with material that you could conceivably do on stage. If you choose inappropriate material, you may come across as inexperienced. This doesn't mean you must do a role that is your exact age, but keep to a range that you could realistically depict. Most people have an age range they can play. If you can play ages 16-25, for example, that opens up a range of material for teens and young adults. So, playing a mother, for instance, nope. You may have played roles like that in youth theater, but you should not for an audition. For instance, my daughter played a 102 year old woman in one musical and a grandmother in a play, but she would not in an audition, LOL. But while she is currently 17, she could perform a monologue in an audition where the character is 22 and be OK with it generally speaking.

As far as using profanity, I'd stay away from it to be safe. While it may be fine in some situations, it won't be in others and you won't know for sure which is which. Even at one school, within a panel of auditors, the view on that might differ. So, try to use "good taste" and avoice graphic language. You want them to like you and so you don't want to offend anyone who is judging the audition. Some auditors may have a low tolerance for profanity (particularly the "f" word), especially by a teenager. Once you are in an actual show, that is different. It is part of the piece and whomever is producing the show has chosen to use such material for the audience. You want to make a positive impression with the auditors so this is not a risk you should take in this particular situation. So, use material that the majority will deem is in "good taste."

PS, I do agree that it is within the character and organic and not to shock and I would not have a problem with it but you don't truly know how all auditors will feel and this is not the time to take big risks that way, in my view.

09-27-2006, 07:45 PM	#4
soozievt Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Vermont Posts: 20,417	Lucie, With regard to age appropriateness, you want to use material for a role in which you realistically would be cast. The audition is not an acting class, so don't choose material meant to "stretch" your acting skills. It should be material that is right for you at this time in your life. They want to see you deal with material that you could conceivably do on stage. If you choose inappropriate material, you may come across as inexperienced. This doesn't mean you must do a role that is your exact age, but keep to a range that you could realistically depict. Most people have an age range they can play. If you can play ages 16-25, for example, that opens up a range of material for teens and young adults. So, playing a mother, for instance, nope. You may have played roles like that in youth theater, but you should not for an audition. For instance, my daughter played a 102 year old woman in one musical and a grandmother in a play, but she would not in an audition, LOL. But while she is currently 17, she could perform a monologue in an audition where the character is 22 and be OK with it generally speaking. As far as using profanity, I'd stay away from it to be safe. While it may be fine in some situations, it won't be in others and you won't know for sure which is which. Even at one school, within a panel of auditors, the view on that might differ. So, try to use "good taste" and avoice graphic language. You want them to like you and so you don't want to offend anyone who is judging the audition. Some auditors may have a low tolerance for profanity (particularly the "f" word), especially by a teenager. Once you are in an actual show, that is different. It is part of the piece and whomever is producing the show has chosen to use such material for the audience. You want to make a positive impression with the auditors so this is not a risk you should take in this particular situation. So, use material that the majority will deem is in "good taste." PS, I do agree that it is within the character and organic and not to shock and I would not have a problem with it but you don't truly know how all auditors will feel and this is not the time to take big risks that way, in my view. Last edited by soozievt; 09-27-2006 at 07:56 PM.
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