Turn up that spotlight!
Community theater is a great outlet for actors of all skill levels. When you're acting in a community-theater production, there are countless ways to learn something new, tune up your performing skills and increase your emotional awareness. While you don't get paid to preform in community-theater productions, you will still need to audition, rehearse and perform. Preparing for a community-theater audition is fun and provides an acting lesson in itself.
Instructions
1. Learn about the director. Find out who is directing the play you are auditioning for, and what other plays that person has directed. Determine if he has a penchant for casting actors with a certain look, or if he stays true to the character descriptions as they are written in the plays. Community theater can consist of a tight-knit group of regular players, and you should be prepared for this.
2. Find out the name and author of the play you are auditioning for. Go to your local library and borrow a copy of the script. Read the entire play before your audition, so you get a sense of all the characters. You will be able to see the growth of each character; work that potential for growth into your audition.
3. Choose which character you would most like to play, and study that character's lines, mannerisms and evolution. You do not want to go into the audition acting exactly as you think that character would, but you can add some subtle characterization that could sway the director toward casting you.
4. Choose clothing that suits the character you want to play. Again, this should be subtle. Don't come in a toga when auditioning for a Greek tragedy. Wear character-appropriate clothing that still appears “normal” for an audition. You can also add accessories that would work well for the character.
5. Put together a resume that highlights all of your acting experience. Include high school, middle school, church programs and other community-theater work you've done. List the characters you played in each production. You can give the name of the director you worked with on each play. Community-theater directors often network and work with other performing groups, so this can help you get a part.
6. If the play you are auditioning for requires an accent, be sure to study that accent and practice it on your own. You can borrow books from the library that will teach you to enunciate words with certain accents, and you can watch television programs and movies to hear accents at work.
