Tips for Students Auditioning For the Theatre Program at Butler University

Acting

Following a morning of orientation with the Jordan College of Fine Arts and theatre representatives, acting auditions will begin with a 50 minute class consisting of a warm-up session, movement, voice and monologue work. Please wear comfortable movement clothing.

Monologue presentations and individual interviews with Theatre faculty will begin at 1:00 PM. Please prepare one monologue, which may be classical or contemporary and should be less than two minutes in length, from a full-length published play. If you choose a monologue that you enjoy preparing and presenting, your audition will be more successful.

Your monologue should demonstrate your abilities. Always choose material that is within your range of life and stage experience. Parts which call for extremes of accent, age, or occupation should be avoided. Work honestly within your limitations. Young actors often ask about auditions, “What does the faculty want?” A much better question is, “How can I best show them what I am?”

Always read the whole play from which you are taking your monologue; only by doing this will you gain real insight into the life of your character and hints as to how your monologue should be played.

Seek the help of teachers or friends with theatre experience when preparing your presentation. Props should not be used in your audition.

You may prepare to stand or sit for your audition.

Wear appropriate clothing that you are comfortable moving in so as not to distract or detract from your work.

Begin your audition by introducing yourself, stating your name. Then introduce your monologue including the name of your character and the play. For example, “Hello, I’m Jane Smith. I’ll be performing Nora from ‘A Doll’s House’ by Henrik Ibsen. After your introduction, pause before you begin the piece.

Do not direct your monologue directly at the faculty. Place the person you are talking to in the monologue on one side or the other and beyond the faculty. Do not make direct eye contact with the faculty during your piece. It is often helpful to “cast” the person you are speaking to in the monologue and place them at a spot beyond the faculty.

When your piece is finished (and don’t rush the ending!), pause for a moment to let the piece ‘finish’ and then make eye contact with the faculty who will ask you to take a seat for the interview portion of the audition. (You may say “thank you” if you wish but avoid finishing your audition by saying “scene”.)

Above all, enjoy your audition. Relax, breathe and enjoy this opportunity to perform.

Design, Stage Management or Arts Administration

If auditioning for design, stage management or Arts Administration you will have an extended interview. If you have a rehearsal or prompt book, please bring it. We would be interested in seeing artwork (does not have to be from a production), drawings, light plots, pictures of sets you have built/painted.
For Costume design, if possible, we would be interested in renderings, fabric swatches, pictures and samples of your sewing.

If you are auditioning for Arts Administration with Theatre concentration you may prepare a monologue and/or a portfolio, if available. Include administrative materials and experiences such as posters, programs, front of house forms, any publicity, stage management book. Additionally, please bring a short essay on why you are interested in Arts Administration.

Please indicate on your Theatre application if you will be doing a monologue or portfolio presentation.

Back to main Audition Page