I could not decide if I should post this today or tomorrow. I went to an audition last night, the first since graduation. Part of why I went back to school was to feel more confident doing community theatre. I learned a lot about how to audition at school. I have to be honest and say last night was my very first audition outside of a school setting. How is that possible you ask? After all, for over 50 years I have been performing in plays and cabarets! But the truth is I never auditioned! My dad took me to his rehearsals as a child and I did a spontaneous performance and got in the show, too. After that they just kept casting me. Other people heard about me and asked me to be in their shows. As a teenager I did audition in high school once, but that was a school setting. I got the lead from that ill fated audition!
After a several year hiatus I volunteered for the chorus of a show at church and next thing I knew I had a solo. From there I just kept being asked to participate all the way to a show at the Virginia Sanford Theatre. I am truly fortunate and blessed!!
At Montevallo I learned how to prepare for and execute an audition. I was required to audition every semester, even when I was not available for the shows. It is the worst part of any production, the audition. I am not very good at it! I psych myself out. I finally decided my bench mark was this- if I remembered my words and did not fall down, it was a success. I usually remembered the words (or faked my way through) and I never fell down (at least not on stage.) I didn’t, however, get many of the parts I thought I was perfect for. Conclusion- I am not very good at auditioning. Whether I am any good AFTER I get a part is also up for debate, but I do enjoy that more than I can say! Auditions- not so much.
My audition last night definitely had its good points and bad. I came home with some funny stories, that is for sure. But it showed me a lot of my weaknesses to the point that I had to contact one of my professors and ask a few questions. The results of what I did are yet to be seen. The cast list should go up tonight or tomorrow. As I said in the beginning, I was not sure if I should just wait until tomorrow to write this. If I get a part then I write about it. If not, then I keep my mouth shut and you, my readers are none the wiser. I decided that for all of these years I have told you the truth, the good, the bad AND the ugly. Why stop now? If I blew it, I can tell you and we can commiserate (but only for a moment) together. If I get a part we can celebrate together! So all I can say is- stay tuned…
