WE ARE SO PROUD OF EACH & EVERY ONE OF YOU!
Thank you for your courage, joy, and professionalism during solo auditions and the callback workshop!
We look forward to seeing more next Wednesday and having a great time together on our Aladdin journey!
Now...
PLEASE READ THIS POST IN FULL, AND FULLY THINK ABOUT THE ADVICE SECTION TOWARDS THE END OF THE POST!
Greetings all!
This Wednesday, November 8, EVERYONE will be attending the first callback. If you are changing your clothes, please change immediately & quickly upon arriving at the LS. Once you arrive at the LS. Please sign in on the call board, and we will start promptly at 3:45 p.m. We hope to get everyone out as soon as possible. You will have time to eat snacks in rotations during our callback time, so please bring snacks (or bring/pack a light dinner) and a water bottle.Everything happens in real-time; if we see what we need to see from each actor to make a decision, we will be able to dismiss students throughout the day and not keep every actor until the end of callbacks which end by 7:45 pm. If you are dismissed before 7:45 p.m., you may stay in the theatre/arts wing of the lower school until your ride can pick you up. Parents pick up is at the LS carpool lobby. Please do not pick up at the main or gym lobby.
Please remember to take direction, make specific choices, speak slowly, loudly, and clearly, and understand who you are, where you are, what you are saying/singing, and why you are saying or singing it. WORK ON CHARACTER-DRIVEN MOVEMENT! Watch Aladdin the Musical. Aladdin, the original movie, or Aladdin, the Live Action movie. View clips on YouTube to remember how these iconic characters move about and walk! See how they move & use their faces!
All Students are called back to Callback Round 1.
Those students who are placed on basketball teams, please speak to Ms. Kendrick about your
Wednesday, 11/1, schedule if there is an overlap between basketball practice and callbacks, but if
If you wish to be considered for a lead or supporting role, please note is vital you attend the full
Callback time this day.
Students who are called back will not have to attend the entire duration of callback 2 or the final callback unless otherwise asked.
We will let you know ahead of time if you are needed for Callback 2 and/or the final callback
Wednesday, November 8th
3:45 - 7:45 pm
(Callback Round 1)
(Callback Round 1)
It is important to the audition and casting process that all students remain for the duration of the first callback.
All students should take the bus down to the theatre.
We will dismiss students promptly at 7:45 pm to the carpool lobby doors (the first set of double doors under the awnings that say Cone A, Cone B, etc....) Please do not drop off food during the callbacks. Students need to pack snacks and dinner with them.
Tuesday, November 14th
3:45pm - 7:45 pm
(Callbacks Round 2)
Wednesday, November 15th
ONLY IF NEEDED
3:45pm to 7:30ish pm
(Final Callback)
Callbacks
- A mandatory callback for ALL students auditioning will be held on Wednesday, 11/8.
- We will inform all students by Thursday, 11/9 callback if they will need to attend the Tuesday, 11/14 callback.
- Not every actor will need to stay for the duration of the entire second callback on Tuesday, 11/14. The first wave of auditioners will be dismissed around 5:45 p.m.
- Auditioners are advised to keep their phones with them so they may inform their rides when they are finished. All auditioners may stay in the arts wing or theatre until their rides are able to pick them up.
- A Final callback will be held Wednesday, 11/15, from 3:45 pm to 7:30ish pm only if needed. We will announce this Tuesday, 11/14, during callbacks.
- At callbacks, we will look at all script cuttings, movement pieces, and songs from the Aladdin, Jr. version of the musical. These can all be found linked under the audition tabs to the right of this post.
- There will be a fun group dance audition, improv scenes, singing: (solos, duets, trios, & groups), and a rhythm call as well.
- You will be called up to read for multiple parts of the show and will be redirected to try your scene/characters differently. So please be familiar with most of the characters and songs.
Attire
WHAT TO BRING TO CALLBACKS
PREPARATION LINKS:
- Please pull hair back from the face
You may change out of your uniforms upon arriving at the lower school. Wear comfortable but appropriate attire that is memorable, shows your personality, and creates a great first impression.
- Ladies, no jewelry or items on your wrists, please.
- You will need to be able to move in callbacks, so please wear or bring shoes in which you can move/dance. NO UGGS, BOOTS, FLIP-FLOPS, or CROCS. Sneakers, closed-toed slip-ons, and flats are great. If you have dance shoes (jazz, ballet, lyrical, character shoes), please bring them or wear them.
- A water bottle
- Your phone
- Your script (if you have already registered and received one)
- A pencil
- A snack and a light dinner if you would like.
- A great attitude! :)
PREPARATION LINKS:
PLEASE NOTE:
You must be registered with your form and activity fee on file to receive your Aladdin full script and access to the full guide vocals and instrumental tracks.
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| A whole list of links under cast actor resources on the blog is there to help you create the best audition and performance ever. USE these resources to bring out the theatre and acting side of your musical theatre performance. Don't just focus on singing- ACTING is the heart of musical theatre. |
MUST-READ ADVICE
- Being prompt and listening to directions is an important aspect of auditioning.
- Use your best theatre etiquette.
- Don't worry if you make a mistake, own it, and act like you meant to do it! We will never know if you made a mistake or were nervous if you own the stage and "fake it 'til you make it!"
- Opportunity favors the prepared mind!
- PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE!!! We are expecting fully rehearsed, prepared, dazzling audition selections. Your audition should be BETTER than an actual show performance.
- So practice, practice, practice. HAVE FUN! BE BOLD AND CONFIDENT! Be open-minded. Take Creative Risks; these are iconic characters! BE LOUD AND PROUD! Show us your presence and style!
- Use your full voice and energy. Do not hold back. This is YOUR chance!
- Be prepared to show us you can take direction!
- Don't get stuck on reading for one part/role. Every part/role is amazing, and we will place you where you will best shine and be the star you are!
- Don't ask for feedback during the callback. Feedback comes from acting classes, lessons, workshops, and training, not auditions. Work with a coach/teacher/director/family member/person before your audition and ask them for feedback. Come prepared with the material ready to give your best performance, and don’t expect to get anything but a “Thank you” at the end. If you get more, that is great! The casting directors are looking to cast the actor who best embodies the character from head to toe during auditions for the parts they are casting. It is not the casting directors' job to give feedback to all the actors at callbacks. The actor's job is to come in prepared with all the emotion ready to give the best performance.
- Have fun at the audition! We want you to do well. :)
WHAT ARE CALLBACKS?
- They are NOT a list of people who have been cast in the roles for which they are call-backed. Callbacks are to see things we didn't have a chance to see during individual auditions.
HOW DOES CASTING WORK?
Many factors play a part in how a show is cast, such as confidence/presence on stage, ability to be heard and understood, scheduling conflicts & rehearsal availability, academic good standing, energy, and chemistry between actors and how they look together, sound together, what vocal ranges or acting demands a part requires and if that actor fit those demands/ranges, (e.g. in Lion King, Young Nala must look and sound younger than Nala who is older, wiser, and sings in a lower alto and a mezzo soprano power belt, while both Nalas need to have similar movements/tones/mannerisms/looks on stage, Young Simba and Young Nala need to look about the same age, as do Simba/Nala, so if an actor "goes out" for Young Nala but is the tallest and oldest looking actor auditioning in the group of all Nalas, this wouldn't be believable to an audience, these things are out of an actor's control and an actor shouldn't worry about what he or she can't control in an audition or in casting)
So what can an actor control in an audition?
Every actor has an equal opportunity to show what they can do. An actor can ensure they give the best audition at the moment they need to deliver it most, which means at the time of the individual audition and throughout callbacks. If an actor shows on stage that they give an outstanding, fully prepared, and dynamic audition for the role they are most interested in at the time of auditions by taking risks, making specific character choices, voices, movements, and expressions, then they have given themself the best chance at getting that part. It is about being prepared, memorable, heard, and expressive! Also, it is about taking directions from the audition panel and immediately changing a character when asked. (e.g. If the panel consistently keeps asking an actor to be louder or use facial expressions every time the actor is on stage, the actor is having difficulty applying direction. So be loud and expressive the very first time when asked! And you will wow all! :)
The basics matter!
Don't Upstage yourself. Cheat out! SPEAK SLOWLY, LOUDLY, and CLEARLY.
The more fun you have, the more fun the audition panel will have. Remember, this is in your control to have a blast and enjoy performing and entertaining a crowd!
When you sing your song, remember you are giving a performance, you MUST use your body, face, and eyes to convey emotion and your character.
This is Musical THEATRE, so the emphasis is on acting and conveying character through song.
At the end of the day, remember the audition panel is made up of Davis staff and industry professionals who have years and years of experience casting and placing performers in roles where their talents best fit and will shine best, where they will have the most wonderful experience, and where all will shine brightly on stage.
Theatre is a collaborative team experience that relies on the efforts of everyone in the cast and the crew. EVERY PART is equally important to the success of the show.
A great example is the amazing actor Dame Judi Dench who won an Academy Award for a total of 8 minutes of screen time in the 2-hour, 17-minute movie Shakespeare in Love. She upstaged the entire movie and all of the other characters because she was that memorable and entertaining!
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A WONDERFUL FIRST CALLBACK DAY TOGETHER!!!
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