be memorable at auditions?

Question:

How to make a good impression/be memorable at auditions?

I've pinpointed the role that I'd really love in our fall show, The Good Doctor, and auditions are in a few months so I have a while to prepare. We don't audition for specific characters, so I have no guarantee that I'll even be called back to cold read for the one I want (The Girl in scene two, The Audition), but on the off chance that I am, what are some tips for standing out from the other auditioners?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: 1. Be prepared. Monologue memorized so completely you could do it in your sleep, and with a modicum of staging/movement. Do not ever, ever, ever "wing it" DURING an audition with regard to how you'll use your hands or migrate onstage.

2. Project confidence. I don't mean be imperious or over-bearing, but rather just confident. In other words, appear calm and happy to be there. Due to nerves, this appearance of confidence is partially you acting. You can be nervous on the inside, but don't let anyone see that.

3. For material, it's always a coin toss, because different auditors have different preferences -- some prefer something from the play at hand, other's prefer that you avoid doing that. Though you're not allowed to specify which character you're targeting, ask ahead of time if it's okay to do something from the play; if the answer is "yes," do something for the character you're interested in.

Another ideology [and the one I generally follow] is to do something from another piece by the same author(s). If a different play has a similar tone as your's, it will be sufficiently complementary. [However, "The Good Doctor" really is different than Neil Simon's other works, so there you are.] Along those lines, you can do something from a show that has the same tone but is by a different author. The first time I did Che in "Evita" I auditioned with The Mandalay Song by Kurt Weill -- it's a driving song that has a barbaric quality, and it piqued the auditors' interest enough to invite me to callbacks.

4. Finally, enjoy the experience of auditioning. Part of an audition is to see what the artist can do, so you should do your piece with performance-level energy and flair. The auditors KNOW you're nervous, so there's no need to show prove it to them. :-) It's okay to be nervous, but when you hit the stage be glad to be there. They'll enjoy watching you much more, AND they'll know that you have the ability to leave your nervousness off-stage -- a skill that is one of the most valuable any stage artist can possess.