Get Your Feet Wet . . .

Jump Into Acting

We are the place to go if you always wanted to be on stage but never tried. No acting experience is required. We even have awards for the best newcomer and the best rookie, so we are serious in this statement. Here are some suggestions:

Practice emoting, exercise your vocal chords, polish up your smile, take some quick dance lessons and come on out to auditions! Everyone is getting into acting and the Vero Beach Theatre Guild is the place to try out your talents. This season the casting committee and directors for the schedule plays will be looking for new faces and old, of all ages and walks of life, with a multitude of talents.

The dates for auditions are on our home page, in the newspaper and in the playbill. You may want to stop by the Theatre Guild and pick up a copy of the script before hand, but eventually you will need to pluck up the courage to attend auditions. They can be an intimidating experience.

You are welcomed by the casting committee at the door and asked to fill out a card and have your photo taken. There is a typed sheet listing the characters in the play and you peruse that.

You will also be asked if you have any conflicts during the rehearsal schedule and production dates. Please list them. It won't necessarily jeopardize your chances of getting a part, but will let the director know if you are planning on going skiing in Colorado during the rehearsals. This wouldn't be fair to the rest of the cast who will have to work around your scenes without you there.

You may notice a lot of hugging and kissing going on between people as they arrive for auditions. This could look cliquey to newcomers, but in fact is an example of the Theatre Guild family and the camaraderie that you too can become a part of. The directors and casting committee try to cast plays with a good mix of seasoned actors and new people, and we definitely do not pre-cast.

Before auditioning begins, the director introduces himself and explains a little about the play. If you have told the director which roles you are interested in, you will be called up for those scenes. If you are new, it's preferable that you listen for a while and pick up a few pointers. For example, always face the director; don't hold the script up in front of your face. . . about chest level is fine and this allows the director to see your face and hear your words distinctly. Read your lines with feeling and animation, projecting your voice to the back of the theatre or greenroom, wherever the tryouts take place.

Don't try to follow the italicized stage directions in the script. Once you have read a couple of times, you will know who the other characters are in the scene, so turn slightly and address lines to the correct person.

Unless the director asks you to do physical actions such as walk like a blind person (auditionees for Wait Until Dark were required to do that!), just stick to reading the lines. If an accent is required and you can sustain it, then give it a try.

Toward the end of auditions, the director will ask if anyone would like to read for a part they haven't been called for. Now is your chance to raise your hand and have the opportunity to read again.

You may have envisioned yourself in one particular role, but the director could have different plans for you. By all means, just have fun.