So, for the past two weeks I've been auditioning for grad schools! My my what an experience. If anything, I can say that I've learned a lot through this whole process. Here are my thoughts...
First of all, it's mad expensive. First applying and then actually getting to the auditions. I met so many great people over the course of the few weeks and I talked with them about their experiences. There was a young woman named Cricket that I met in New York and I mentioned that I felt really bad for people who were coming up from Florida or Texas, my goodness it must be massively expensive for them. A lot of the schools have the bulk of their auditions in NYC and then a few days in Chicago and California. That's it! I imagine a lot of the applicants get their applications in early so they can get first choice on audition slots.
Secondly, you really have one shot and that's it. And by one shot I mean four minutes with two contrasting monologues. Each of the schools run their auditions completely differently, so you need to be up for anything they throw at you. Some of the schools don't do callbacks, some of them do. Of the ones that do, some of them let you know right away and others make you wait, some of them call back a bunch of people and others.....don't. The bottom line is, as soon as you walk in, you don't really have a second chance. THAT is your chance. And man do you have to be on it.
Third, you really never know how it's going to go. You can rip apart a monologue in a practice room and then walk into the audition and flop miserably. While I don't feel like that happened to me, I did have a different experience in each of the audition rooms. For the most part I did the same two audition pieces that I feel really good about. Two pieces that I know I can jump into and "lock-in" so to speak. All-in-all, I had five solid monologues that if asked I could do any of them. But I stuck with the two in all the audition rooms and each time it was TOTALLY different. In one audition, I felt better about my Shakespeare than I ever had, but it was the first time ever in my life that I felt like my contemporary wasn't "there". It was eerie. Yet all the same, it's human experience. Like I said, you need to be on as best as you can be.
Fourth, I learned a lot about my own process. I now know that I definitely need to go through audition pieces the day of, full voice, in a private room. That way it feels fresh but also in my body. I feel well rehearsed and not rusty when I do that. And usually I discover something new about the monologue.
Finally, traveling can by yourself can be lonely and auditioning for grad programs is easily one of the most stressful things I've ever gone through. It's always good to have an outlet and see people you love that you haven't seen in a while. I stayed with my awesome and supportive friend Chrissy who is in grad school herself at The New School. I saw my friend Tom in Queens who I grew-up across the street from. And I ran into my friend Dan from high school, and my friend Jamal from college at the same audition. And on the way home on the Megabus, who do I see but my good friend Ryan from Philly coming back from his auditions too.
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| Hamilton's in Brooklyn |
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| Chrissy in Hamilton's |
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| One of my best friends, Tom and kitty Q-tip, both of whom I've known since 4th grade. |
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| Ryan and I on the Megabus (....he looks crazed...) |
My final point, as Ron Van Lieu, the Chair of the Yale School of Drama said, everyone who wants to be an actor will be an actor. PREACH.
And now? We wait.
-Cindy
P.S. If you see Paul Giamatti just chillin in the hallway at your audition, don't try to engage him in conversation, just politely offer a Girl Scout cookie (as I did) and go on your merry way.
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