Please note: there is more information on all of these steps in the dropdown menus below.

The Audition Process:

1. Sign up for an audition time.
   • Unavailable to audition in person? Email the Theatre PSM, Samantha Goblrisch-Paradis and follow the video audition tips below.
2. Create/update your Performer Bank profile.
   • Be sure to select the auditions you're participating in.
3. Prepare for your audition.
4. Check the calendar information for the shows auditioning and complete the Conflict Survey.
5. Read about the shows auditioning including the roles being cast and any expectations for the performers who are cast in roles that require intimacy or fight choreography.
   • There are perusal copies of each script available in the Main Office, 107 Theatre Building (TB).
6. Audition! Arrive at least 30 minutes before your audition time. Check-in at the registration table in the Theatre Building lobby (look for the red carpet).
   • You may forfeit your audition slot if you're not there 30 minutes before.
7. Attend callbacks. Callback lists will be posted starting at 10:00pm Friday, August 25 under the Callback Lists dropdown menu below.
   • Be sure to check the callback list for each show.
8. Accept or decline a role if you are cast. Cast lists will be posted starting at 10:00pm Sunday, August 27 under the Cast Lists dropdown menu below.

• A 3-minute time period is allotted for each general audition.
• Please prepare 1-2 monologues.
• If you would like to be considered for Macbeth, please prepare at least 8 lines of text from Shakespeare as part of your audition.
• Your total audition time must not exceed 3 minutes.
• You will be timed and asked to stop if the time limit is exceeded.

Special Note: American Rusałki is a play with music. As such, we are looking to cast an ensemble of singers with strong music skills. In addition to a General Audition (required to be considered), we are asking anyone who would like to be considered to submit an audio or video recording. Please choose 16-32 measures of a contemporary folk/southern gothic song, and submit an a cappella vocal recording to samantha-paradis@uiowa.edu, by 8pm on Friday August 25th. Some examples of modern artists in this style include: Allison Russell, The Civil Wars, Tom Waits, Brown Bird, Lucius, Brandi Carlile, and Parker Millsap, among others. Callbacks will consist of group harmony work, and cold scene reading.

The sign up sheet is linked here. It is now view-only. If you'd like to audition today, walk ups will be welcome. Please arrive any time between 7pm and 10pm.

If you have any questions please email the PSM, Samantha Goblirsch-Paradis.

Please complete or update your audition profile on the Performer Bank prior to your audition.

To use the Performer Bank:

• Login with your HawkID and password. If you do not have a HawkID, contact Samantha Goblirsch-Paradis for access.
• Enter your basic information on the front page and select which auditions you are participating in.
• Save your information and logout. Directors will be able to see your information immediately.

Access the Performer Bank

Show Dates (Rehearsal - Close)

• American Rusałki: August 28 - September 11

• Ghost Town: August 28 - September 23

• All the People We Used to Know and Their Cars I'm Too Afraid to Drive: September 5 - 29

• Global Express: September 25 - October 5

• Macbeth: August 28 - October 14

• In This Sepulcher, We Are Fed: September 25 - October 15

• Reflections: September 25 - October 21

• The Space Between Coke Bottles and Orange Slices: October 2 - 28

• Men on Boats: September 25 - November 11

• Brother, Brother: October 30 - November 18

Important Dates & Holidays:

August - December 2023

7/19 Muharram, 8/21 Fall Classes Begin, 9/2-9/4 Labor Day Weekend, 9/4 Labor Day (Observed), 9/15-9/17 Rosh Hashanah*, 9/19 Ganesh Chaturthi, 9/23 Equinox (Mabon/Ostara), 9/25 Yom Kippur*, 9/27 Mawlid al-Nabi*, 9/28 Anant Chaturdashi, 9/29-10/6 Sukkot*, 10/6-10/8 Sh’mini Atzeret *, 10/8 Simchat Torah*, 10/9 Indigenous Peoples' Day, 10/9 Columbus Day (Fed. Observed), 10/15-10/24 Navaratri, 10/24 Dasara/ Dussehra,​ 10/31 Halloween/ All Hallows Eve, 11/1 All Saints Day, 11/1 Dia de los Muertos, 11/1 Samhain-Beltane*, 11/12 Diwali, 11/28 Loy Krathong, 11/5 Daylight Saving Time Ends, 11/7 Election Day, 11/11 Veteran’s Day (Fed. Observed), 11/19-11/26 Fall Break, 11/23 Thanksgiving Day, 12/3 Advent Begins, 12/8 Bodhi Day, 12/7-12/15 Hanukkah*, 12/11-12/15 Fall Finals, 12/17 -1/15 Winter Break, 12/21 Solstice (Yule/Litha), 12/25 Christmas (Observed)

 * Holidays marked with an asterisk (*) begin at sundown on the previous day.

January - June 2024

12/17 -1/15 Winter Break, 1/1New Year’s Day, 1/6 Epiphany, 1/7 Christmas (Orthodox), 1/25 Mahayana New Year, 1/14 New Year (Orthodox), 1/15 Tamil Thai Pongal Day, 1/15 Makar Sankranti, 1/15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Observed), 1/16 Spring Classes Begin, 1/25 Thaipusam, 2/2 Groundhog Day, 2/7 Lailat al Miraj*, 2/10 Seol-nal, 2/10 Chinese New Year (Year of the Dragon), 2/10 Tet Nguyen Dan, 2/10 Tsagaan Sar, 2/10 Losar, 2/11 Superbowl, 2/13 Mardi Gras, 2/14 St. Valentine's Day, 2/14 Ash Wednesday (Beginning of Lent), 2/15 Nirvana Day, 2/19 Presidents’ Day (Fed. Observed),  2/24 Magha Puja Day,  3/8 Maha Shivaratri, ​​​​3/10 Daylight Savings Begins, 3/10-3/17 Spring Break, 3/10-4/9 Ramadan*, 3/17 St. Patrick's Day, 3/18 Beginning of Lent (Orthodox), 3/19 Equinox (Mabon/Ostata), 3/24 Purim*,  3/24 Palm Sunday, 3/25 Holi Phagwa*, 3/25 Lailat al Bara*, 3/27 Nuzul Quran*, 3/29 Good Friday, 3/31 Easter, 4/4 Qing Ming Jie, 4/6 Laylat al-Qadr*, 4/9 Ougadi/Ugaadi, 4/10 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)*, 4/17 Ram Navami, 4/21 Mahavir Jayanti, 4/22-4/30 Passover*, 4/24 Theravada (New Year), 5/1 Beltane-Samhain, 5/3 Good Friday (Orthodox), 5/5 Easter (Orthodox), 5/5 Cinco De Mayo, 5/6-10 Spring Finals, 5/9 Ascension Day, 5/12 Mother's Day, 5/23 Vesak- Buddha Day, 5/11 Commencement, 5/19 Pentecost, 5/27 Memorial Day (Observed), 6/10 Duan Wu Jie, 6/11-13  Shavuot*, 6/24 Pentecost (Orthodox), 6/29 Armed Forces Day,  6/14 Flag Day, 6/19 Juneteenth (Fed. Observed), 6/16 Father's Day, 6/20 Summer Solstice-Litha

* Holidays marked with an asterisk (*) begin at sundown on the previous day.

Production Lab Cast vs Crew Chart:

Please complete the Conflict Survey prior to your audition. iPads will be available at the General Auditions if you prefer to complete your survey at check-in.

Click on each show title for additional information:

American Rusałki

Ghost Town

All the People We Used to Know, and Their Cars I'm Too Afraid to Drive

Global Express

Macbeth

In This Sepulcher, We Are Fed

Reflections

The Space Between Coke Bottles and Orange Slices

Men on Boats

Brother, Brother

American Rusalki

Reflections

All the People We Used To Know And Their Cars I'm To Afraid To Drive

Brother, Brother

Men on Boats

In This Sepulcher, We are Fed

Ghost Town

Macbeth

The Space Between Coke Bottles and Orange Slices 

If you are called back for multiple shows and your callback times overlap you should attend your callbacks in the following order and inform the stage manager for each production: 1. Mainstage 2. Gallery 3. Workshop. The stage managers will work together to help you get to a portion of each callback.

Callback Schedule:

Macbeth

Men on Boats

In This Sepulcher, We Are Fed

Brother, Brother

Ghost Town

All the People We Used to Know And Their Cars I'm Too Afraid To Drive

Reflections

The Space Between Coke Bottles and Orange Slices

• First, know that everyone in the audition room wants you to do well and are excited to see you. We want you to audition and are grateful you have taken the time to prepare something for us. Directors and other casting personnel are pulling for you to do well. They're on your side. They want to discover new talent. They also want to see the growth you have made since they last saw you. The audition is a good chance for them to see you in new ways.

• A prepared piece gives you the advantage over a "cold" script reading because you can choose something that shows you off best. Remember that you, not the plays, are auditioning. A well-done prepared piece can cause a director to change their thinking about a role before they see you again.

• Suggestions for Selecting a Monologue: The audition is your opportunity to perform--not a hurdle or cruel and unusual punishment. Do something you enjoy. This is probably more important than anything else.

  1. Try to pick a piece from a play that is not hugely popular.  The piece should not be over-used. A piece that begins, "To be or not to be..." must be performed far better than one from a good but lesser-known play in order to make a positive impression in an audition.

  2. Make sure the piece is active (not reflective or remembering a moment from the past). Pieces are usually more successful when they convey a clear want, need or intention by your character. Choose accordingly.

  3. Pick a piece that showcases your strengths as an actor. Ask yourself if the piece demands qualities that you can project well. Don't choose a piece said to be a good piece if it doesn't compliment you. You are the important one in the audition.

  4. In professional and regional theatres, actors play their own ages. Choose a role that you could conceivably play.

  5. You should not have to set the piece in context by explaining who is talking to whom, etc. If you must explain anything, the piece is probably not a good audition piece.

  6. Most casting people know most plays. Do not waste your audition time by explaining or telling the story of the play.

• Time: You have 3 minutes to perform 1 or 2 monologues.  You do not need to use the full 3 minutes. 

  1. Time your pieces by doing them several times aloud for someone. You should be aware that directors form an impression of auditioners in the first minute. The second minute is for confirmation. 

  2. If a director needs to see more, they will call you back or talk to you.

  3. Auditions will be timed. This is done in order to be fair. Without it, the large number of actors who deserve to be seen, couldn’t be. The monitor will sit in a seat fairly close to the stage. They will signal when you have 10 seconds remaining by raising their hand, and will say "stop" when your 3 minutes are up. Timing will begin after you say your name and the names of your pieces. 

• Prepare yourself well. If you can, choose and prepare your pieces well ahead of time. You never know what good things may come from proper and full preparation. Give yourself the best chance you can.

  1. Know your material well. Rehearse it thoroughly. It is expected that pieces will be memorized for these auditions. However, in cases of not auditioning at all versus an audition using a script, an audition with script is preferable. A well-prepared audition is an indication that you care about your audition and the opportunity it presents. If need be, bring a copy of your pieces with you to the audition, in case you need to refer to it.

  2. Immediately before the audition, while you are waiting your turn, give yourself some time to concentrate and focus on yourself and the intentions of the character you are going to play.

• You will be asked to Slate your piece before you begin, which means giving the following information, your name and what pieces your are about to perform.  An Example: "My name is (your name). My pieces are (character's name) from (play title) and (character's name) from (play title)." OR if it is for a musical audition: "My song is (title) from (title of musical)."

  1. Pause briefly before you begin and again between pieces. Almost everyone is nervous before an audition (just like before any performance). Nerves can help you become more vibrant. Use the extra adrenalin energy to spur you on. Open yourself up to it and it can work for you.

  2. Don't be afraid to be extravagant and enjoy yourself. If you enjoy yourself, those watching will as well.

  3. When you are finished, thank those watching and leave the stage briskly. If someone wants to ask a question, they will. Time is precious to the others who are auditioning. Use your time fully, then move on so that others can do so.

Recording Your Audition

• Find a quiet space.

• Record Horizontal not Vertical. (See picture below.)

• Phone Camera or Web Cam will work great! (DO NOT buy a new camera for auditions, it is not necessary).

• Record in HD -1080p at 30 frames or SD 720p. (No need to us HD 4K as it will make the file larger and harder to upload.)

  • How to check resolution on an iPhone: ettings>Camera>Record Video> (Set to 1080p at 30fps)

  • How to check resolution on an Android: in the camera app, swipe from "Photo" to "Video." in either a dropdown menu (which you can open by tapping the arrow) or the Settings Menu (tap the Gear Symbol), you will have the options of resolution (choose 1920x1080 or 1080p) and Frames Per Second (choose 30)

• Frame the shot at Full body or 3/4 quarters if possible. (See picture below.)

• Natural Lighting is great, just make sure you are visible.   Try to avoid large shadows, including casting large shadows on the wall behind you. 

• Camera at eye level if possible.

• Filming orientation should be horizontal and ideally a full body shot is best. We don't recommend a close-up shot.

• Neutral Background. Declutter the space as much as possible so we are not distracted by your background/surroundings. You could hang an neutral colored ironed sheet for your background, get rid of the wrinkles. 

• Make sure you slate at the top of your video (Your name, name of the play your piece is from, and playwright). Timing of piece will begin after the SLATE.  You have 3 minutes for your monologue(s).  You can end the piece with a simple "Thank you".

• No crazy edits please, keep it simple and have fun!

Uploading Your Video

• Once recorded, upload your video to YouTube.

  • Watch this video to learn how: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT9ScMAe5yQ

  • If you want to make the video only accessible to the Team Leader and Directors, set the privacy setting to "unlisted". Then only those with the URL link will be able to view your video.

    • Watch this video to learn how: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poGiVTXuqS8\

• Send the link to your video to samantha-paradis@uiowa.edu.

• Questions? Email Samantha Goblrisch-Paradis, PSM at samantha-paradis@uiowa.edu