AUDITION - STEP ON UP Fall 2018 Audition THDA 194-01 9:40 11:10 AM 1550 Summit Dance Studio Instructor: Harry Waters Jr. Office: 36 Snelling, Lambert Bldg. 3 rd Floor Phone: X6256 Office Hours: Monday/Wednesday 10 11:30 or by appointment Auditions. Memorization. Presentation. Imagination. Theatre and performance techniques for getting cast in stage productions, film, television and commercials. But do not be deceived! These are important elements for any number of career paths. More than just theatre and performance but job interviews, personal growth explorations as well as opportunities to reimagine connections to self, colleagues, research and publishing. How you present yourself, the awareness you have that others are perceiving your work and first impressions are explored in this class. Throughout the course you will be learning and sharing specific techniques to select appropriate texts, monologues and/or scenes to address a number of topics. In addition, we will be bringing in professional casting agents and commercial agents to review and advise your work. This is an opportunity as well to prepare for Graduate School URTA auditions which happen in Jan, Feb and March around the country. This semester s investigation will focus on audition techniques, especially the art of the 60- secondmonologue as well as a 2-minute scene. Students will participate in a required weekend workshop with Ingrid Sonnichsen October 12 14. We intend to help identify five audition monologues (classical dramatic, classical comedic, contemporary dramatic, contemporary comedic, wild card) that will be the focus of each student s work for the semester. By the end of the semester, students should have a solid portfolio of monologues. The syllabus that you are receiving this first day of class will be amended throughout the semester and will need your patience and willingness to float- as you would with the process of being an ACTOR or artist in the field. Our texts will be our foundation of awareness and technical focus. However, throughout the weeks together, there will days that you will not have class with me and will be expected to work on your monologue(s) or scenes independently. There is a concern sometimes as to how students confront their personal work and the ways that dynamics occur among your peers. This is where we will grow from (and through) to understand the ways of working with a process that is not etched in stone. There are multiple ways to address this wonderful craft and many ways that you may be tested, frustrated, invigorated, celebrated, surprised and stunned. To begin- you will have to discover, unearth, bring in monologues that you feel show off your best skills. Whether you have never auditioned, or have been cast in numerous productions and shows, the choices you are going to bring in will begin to open up the ways that your innate essence can
shine. You will have a wonderful opportunity to view other students work through personal as well as professional challenges. IN the course of these weeks, we will be having a number of outside opportunities for you to interview, and talk to professionals in the field both from stage and commercials. We will discover ways to grab onto a text, take the time to delve deep and to deliver strong choices towards the next levels of your growth and it may come unexpectedly. And not when you decide or think it must. Patience- Risk try again Risk patience try again risk. Please come prepared with an open mind, a willingness to fail and a desire to search out new ways of being in the world with yourself and with your cohorts. We have two text we will be referencing over the semester- Keep them handy. AUDITION by Michael Shurtleff Welcome -and here we go. SYLLABUS AUDITONS - STEP UP September 4 September 6 September 11 September 13 September 18 Introduction to defining what is needed and who you are Presentation of initial monologues and how to break them down. Ist Pass at what your monologue means to you and then re-write We will be drawing a name out to decide who will be choosing monologues for each other Please use this time to find what you might consider a monologue for one of your classmates Activities for your 1 st monologue - integrate the reason why
September 20 Sunday SEPTEMBER 23 September 25 September 27 October 2 October 4 October 9 October 11 Initial presentation of completed MONOLOGUE and activity WEST OF CENTRAL at Pillsbury House THDA trip to see 3 pm performance Bus from Weyerhaeuser - Monologue presentation of the GIFTS the selections for your colleagues. Assigning selected monologues begin cold readings Initial Presentation of monologues and feedback Reconstruction activity of monologue and character. Assigning and work with new monologue classic Memorization and work through two monologues SPECIAL EVENT: Jennifer Liestman Casting Director at The Guthrie Theatre will be at a special LUNCH Discussion for all Theatre and Dance students Attendance required 11:30 AM 1 PM Friday October 12-14 Weekend Workshop with Ingrd Sonnichsen - clear your schedule. YOU MUST BRING IN YOUR TWO MONOLOGUES well rehearsed and be prepared to work on a new text this time. Friday class will extend through lunch, Saturday most of the day and Sunday early. This will be an awesome event. October 16 October 18 Classical Monologue Selections distributed Engaging the text. GUESTS: Working with outside coaches/mentors
October 23 October 25 October 30 FALL BREAK Classical monologue presentations November 1 New Contemporary Monologue continued - November 6 November 8 November 13 November 15 November 20 November 22 November 27 November 29 December 4 December 6 SUNDAY DECEMBER 8 December 11 THANKSGIVING INITIAL PRESENTATIONS Final Presentation inclass DISTRACTED by Lisa Loomer at Mixed Blood Theater THDA trip to 2 pm Performance Professional Panel for Audition presentations
MORE TO COME THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PRESENCE AND PATIENCE. The remainder of the semester will be addressing specific new monologues, learning camera audition techniques and preparing for MOCK URTA auditions - two professionals will be attending your final.