<p>Ok, so I know there are old threads about this, but I’d like some fresh perspective on audition clothes for girls who are doing acting auditions. Dress? Heels? Consensus seems to be to dress professionally as if for a job interview, but others have said a dress is not necessary for just acting auditions…</p>
<p>Many girls were in dresses with either character shoes or nude colored low pumps. The clothes should not distract from your D.</p>
<p>I think it is really whatever your child is most comfortable wearing during the audition. If wearing a dress, make sure it is one she is comfortable moving in, in all sorts of ways. Our daughter was asked to do many different things during auditions that required her to move up, down and all around. She wore a cotton knit dress in a solid color, but wore spandex dance shorts underneath just in case so she wouldn’t flash anyone! The fabric her dress was made of was also very comfortable and the fit of the dress was fitted at the top and sort of an a-line skirt at the bottom. But if your daughter is more comfortable in pants, they are ok as well. Just make sure the fit is such that she is comfortable no matter how she needs to move. I would sit, bend, stretch, crouch, jump, twirl and whatever other movements you want to do when testing which outfit to wear. You never know what you’ll be asked to do. The real key is to be clean, neat, comfortable and confident in whatever you are wearing so you can do the best audition possible. We saw some girls in super short, super tight dresses that were uncomfortable even just trying to sit in a waiting area. Don’t do that!</p>
<p>And none of those high, high heels that girls (including my D) love to wear!</p>
<p>We found the Otterbein guidelines to be extremely helpful for all aspects of auditioning, boys and girls, acting and MT, wherever you’re applying. Scroll through to page 4 for a few notes on what to wear (and what NOT to wear): <a href=“http://www.otterbein.edu/Files/pdf/theatre/On%20Campus%20BFA%20Guidelines%202013-14.pdf[/url]”>http://www.otterbein.edu/Files/pdf/theatre/On%20Campus%20BFA%20Guidelines%202013-14.pdf</a></p>
<p>Last year my son said you could always tell the girls who were auditioning for MT!</p>
<p>Prodesse, did he say how?</p>
<p>Very true prodesse. My D and I would be in the elevator and just give each other the look of that’s an MT girl</p>
<p>The character shoes may have been a giveaway. He also says that MT girls are accustomed to doing their makeup for stage work, and it shows. And there’s something he calls “the MT bun” which is apparently different from the ballet bun.</p>
<p>I’ll have to ask him if he can tell the MT majors from the Acting majors at Ithaca in terms of looks. I already asked him that question about acting ability, because at his school the Acting and MT majors are all mixed in together in the acting classes, and he says there isn’t a difference, Ithaca is very acting-oriented overall.</p>
<p>HA! My daughter REFUSES to wear character shoes for auditioning, but she does her own makeup and others too if they ask! That’s funny!</p>
<p>Some sites and people I’ve spoken to said absolutely no character shoes!?!?! A ‘nude’ colored mid-heel pump was suggested. Are bare legs okay with dress and heels or are the dreaded pantyhose preferred?</p>
<p>Wear something simple and tasteful. Simple dress, simple color, simple shoes. You want the people in the room drawn to your performance and not your clothes.</p>
<p>My D also refuses to wear character shoes for auditioning. In fact, she doesn’t want to wear heels. She is 5’7" and is more comfortable in flats. I also know that she will not wear pantyhose, but go with bare legs.</p>
<p>Our daughter had both nude pumps and nude flats - sometimes she’d wear the flats while waiting and around the hotel during Unifieds then switch to the pumps before her actual audition. She did not wear character shoes.<br>
She did wear stockings for auditions although she does not regularly wear stockings. Remember, it is going to be February in very cold cities if you are in New York or Chicago. Feet can get swollen and stiff, as can legs. Stockings can help keep you warm and make shoes more comfortable. Some auditions can last as long as 4 hours. Also, stockings can help even out skin tone, hide dry skin, etc… I would throw a couple of pairs in just in case your daughter changes her mind about going bare legged.</p>
<p>This is an example of where the comment “its easier for boys” never annoys me LOL!! “the dreaded pantyhose”</p>
<p>The Otterbein guidelines are the best (and the best written) I’ve seen. Thanks for posting them Times3!!</p>
<p>Says it all, right? :)</p>
<p>A few thoughts:</p>
<p>No character shoes, please! With all of the cute nude pump options, there is no reason to wear character shoes to an audition! Save them for the dance call (if you can dance in them).</p>
<p>It is true that you can spot an MT girl from a hundred yards, but the same is true for acting girls! 
An MT girl in pants will be in the minority, not so for Acting girls. </p>
<p>ModCloth has a lot of very cute, up-to-date dresses in solid colors - some are cheap enough that you can buy two of the same or the same style in 2 colors. </p>
<p>My daughter also wore dance shorts under her audition dress. In fact, she found for the timing of many auditions, it was helpful to wear her leotard and dance tights under her dress so she could just peel off the top layer, change shoes and be ready to go.</p>
<p>If you don’t want to wear “pantyhose” invest in some dance tights to wear with the audition dress - if wearing nude heels, try to match the tights and shoes as close as possible (and those should also match your skin tone as close as possible). With a bit of care, dance tights will last for many months and have the added bonus that they can also be worn to the dance call. Wash the tights by hand or on gentle, but always hang dry (same for leotards). Always have a back up pair and save audition tights for auditions. </p>
<p>For dance call, be sure tights and shoes are the same color - tan and tan or black and black - the tans should match as close as possible for the best lines - buying the same brand of shoes and tights can help with that. Ballet pink is not the best option for an MT dance call. If wearing black jazz pants, wear black tights (or at least black knee highs) and black dance shoes. </p>
<p>Tappers should bring tap shoes, although many dance calls will just have tappers do time steps or whatever in their jazz shoes.</p>
<p>Dancers should bring character heels, but most dance calls are fine to do in jazz shoes; non-dancers should not attempt a dance call in heels. </p>
<p>At Chicago Unifieds, especially, be prepared to dance on carpet.</p>