AUDITIONINFORMATION

TECHNICAL&COSTUMINGCREW

Auditions for the Spring 2021 Productions

Puffs & Romeo & Juliet

will be December 7 & 8, 4:30-6:00 in the Auditorium.
 

  • You may audition for one or the other or both productions.

  • You do not need to attend both audition days.

  • Students auditioning need to choose 2 audition monologues.

    • Students auditioning for Romeo & Juliet must choose one monologue from group 1 and one from group 2.

    • Students only auditioning for Puffs may select any 2 from either list.

  • You may choose any of the monologues, regardless of gender or role.​

  • Student must bring a completed and signed Parent Permission Form to be eligible to audition.

  • Preference will be given to audition pieces that are memorized and polished, but this is not required. If you need the script when you audition you may have it.

Audition Tips

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  • All students are welcome to get involved in technical theatre. Crew sizes and positions depend on the needs of the production.

  • You can participate in one or the other or both productions.

  • No experience necessary! We will train you in production work. All you need is an open mind and a strong work ethic!

  • Students who work exceptionally well will be invited to join the running crew for the performances.

  • Technical theatre and stagecraft are highly-specialized, high-demand jobs that can lead to certification, apprenticeships, and even careers!

Interested in being the

Stage Manager

Assistant Director

Student Technical Director? Click below:

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T.E.D. Application
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Production Frequently Asked Questions

General

Do I need parent permission to be in a show?

Yes! Parents are an important part of this production! You and your parent need to sign a contract to participate, and abide by the schedule and rules for the production. In addition, parents are required to attend a mandatory parent meeting and volunteer to assist on the production.



Do I get credit for doing a production?

Students in the cast and crew will be enrolled in a Theatre Production class. This class earns elective credit, and requires weekly reflection assignments. Students enrolled in Theatre Production can also enroll in a concurrent enrollment course through Front Range Community College. This earns a semester of transferable college credit at no extra charge!



Do I need to be in a class to be in a production?

No. Being in a class will help build your skills and knowledge, which may mean more opportunities in productions, but auditions and crew selection are open to all students.



What are Poudre Theatre productions?

Poudre High School's Theatre program puts on three main-stage productions each school year. Usually there is a musical in the fall, a play in winter, and a smaller play or musical in the spring. Auditions and crew selection are held in September and December, and are open to all students. These are the highlights of the school year and showcase our talent, skill, and commitment to excellence in theatre.



I want to be involved in a production, but I do other activities. Can I do both?

We love that you want to do many things, and we will work very hard so that you can do both. On your audition or crew form, you will write down all of your schedule conflicts, real or anticipated. We will consider if we can work around your conflicts, and we may even talk to your coach, boss or advisor. We cannot promise that you can do both, but if we want you on our show, we will try!



Where will the Cast & Crew Lists be posted?

We will post the cast and crew lists on the call board (outside the IB office) and on the website. We try to get the cast list posted before the crew selection meeting: we want students who are not cast to have the opportunity to join the crew, if they choose. This doesn't always happen, but that is our goal. Please don't ask us when the cast list will go up: we will post it as soon as we have it set. No one is holding the cast list for dramatic effect! THe crew list is usually posted the day after the crew selection meeting. We aim to have the full production company at the first read-through and company meeting.



I didn't get cast in the show or get a job on the crew. What did I do wrong?

The short but frustrating answer is: you did nothing wrong! It doesn't feel good right now, but no one gets cast in every show they audition for, and no one gets to be on the crew every time. The bottom line is that, while we want to involve as many students as possible in every show, every production is different, and has different needs. Some show calls for a small cast. Some shows don't have a set, so we don't need as many on crew. Some scripts have very specific ages, genders, nationalities, or ethnicities for the characters. Sometimes, students don't have the strongest auditions. Sometimes we need different technical skills. The directors are looking, always, for what will best serve the specific production. We are looking for a sound, or a presence, or a style of movement, or a particular idea we have for what that character will be. We know it feels personal, but it really isn't. If you are not a part of this show, we hope that you will keep trying, keep building your skills, and perhaps you will be in the next one. Every audition, especially the ones that don't work out, is an opportunity to learn and grow and improve.



Auditions

How do I audition for productions?

Auditions are open to all students. Students usually do not need to sign up or prepare in advance: just show up! (Always check show-specific auditon requirements on the website to see if you need to do anything in advance.) The audition process usually starts with filling out an audition form that tells ubout your skills, experience, schedule, and other important info. The auditon will usually consist of a prepared monologue, or a workshop, or a cold reading, depending on the needs of the production. See details on our posters, call board, and website for instructions on how to audition for specific shows.



There is one audition for both spring shows. Am I required to be in both productions?

No. You can audition for the winter show, or the spring show, or both! There will be one opportunity to audition, in December, and one for crew selection, in January. Students will indicate on their forms if they want to be considered for both shows, or just one or the other.



Where and when are auditions for the 2021 Fall Musical?

Auditions will be in the auditorium from 4:30-6:30 on August 31 and September 1. You need to come to both days, and you need to stay the whole time on the day you attend. The cast list for the show will be posted on the call board and on the website on September 1 or 2.



What is the audition process for musicals?

For a musical, we are going to want to see how well you act, sing, and dance. That's a lot, so we want to make it as simple and accessible as possible. Musical auditions usually start with an audition workshop, where we will teach you everything you need to do for your audition. Our vocal director will provide song materials and help you learn the song or songs we want you to sing for the audition. Our cheographer will teach you a bit of dance, and our director might give you some sections of script to practice or learn. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PREPARE ANY OTHER MATERIALS FOR YOUR AUDITION! We will teach you everything you need! The audition itself will take place over two afternoons. We will give you an audition form to fill out. We might take a reference picture of you. We will ask you to sing the auditon materials, one at a time. We will ask you to dance the audition choreography. This is usually done in small groups. The director might ask you to do a cold reading from the script, either individually or in a small group. Some people might be asked to read more than once. This is usually to even out numbers. We might ask questions about things on your audition form, like conflicts or schedules. Auditions are not open to the public, but they are not private: you will be auditioning in the same room as everyone else auditioning.



What do I need to prepare for my audition?

For our musicals, nothing! If you come to the audition workshop (usually a week before auditons), we will teach you everything you need to audition! For our plays, you might need to prepare a monologue or two, or practice with a script we will provide in advance. Make sure you check the audition posters and website for audition requirements, as they change from show to show.



What is a cold read?

A cold read is a reading from the script without any rehearsal or memorization. When doing a cold read, the director is not looking for your level of preparation or polish, just your raw and immediate interpretation of the material. When you do a cold read, be sure to speak clearly and project your voice, maintain strong posture and presence, and do your best to find some hints of character and awareness. Since the director knows that you have not had any time to prepare the material, don't worry about tripping over words or choosing the "wrong" character. Just show confidence, enthusiasm, poise, and purpose.



How do I choose audition monologues?

If monologues are required for the audition, generally you need to choose 2 contrasting monologues from published plays. These monologues should be rehearsed, polished, and memorized: the monologue audition is a performance, not a cold read. Usually, the performance of the entire piece should not exceed 2 minutes. Choose monologues of about a minute each. Avoid monologues from TV, film, prose, or other non-theatrical works. Your audition should start with a Slate, an introduction where you say your name, the names of the plays and the playrights for your monologues. Sometimes students include their age or their school or their troupe number. There should be a beat between your slate and your performance, as well as a beat between the monologues, to show transition and shifts in character. Most importantly, your monologues should show off your skills and your range, showing the director not just your best materials but also your ability to play comedy, drama, young, old, movement and stillness: you can do it all!



How many days a week are rehearsals? How long do rehearsals last?

This depends on your part in the show: if your character is in every scene and sings every number, you might be in rehearsal 5 days a week most weeks. If you are in the chorus or ensemble, it might be 2-4 days a week. As we get closer to the performances, more and more people will be called every day. Rehearsals typically last 2-4 hours, but not everyone will be required to stay the whole time. We try to build a rehearsal schedule that maximizes our time: we don't want people just sitting arund! The schedule is published in advance so that people can plan around their rehearsal times. There is usually a draft of the schedule posted on the website before auditions and crew selection. Tech and dress rehearsals, as well as performances, will require everyone in the cast for the whole time. IMPORTANT: There is no real way to "make up" rehearsal time: missed rehearsals affect the whole show. We will work around conflicts and schedules if we know about them in advance, but we have little tolerance for "no shows". Being in a show is a commitment!



I can't make it to the audition workshop. Can I still audition?

Yes! The workshop is not required, but it is highly recommended. If you cannot make it, you will be able to pick up printed materials in the Band Room, and get audio and video materials on the website. You will need to prepare on your own, but we won't disqualify you if you miss the workshop.



Crew & Costuming

What do technical and costuming crews do?

The technical and costume crews are responsible for everything that goes on backstage and behind the scenes. Depending on the production, this might mean designing and building the set, designing and working on lighting, sound, music, and microphones, costume design and construction, special effects, and more! If you are interested in construction, designing, sewing, fashion design, or you really love theatre but don't want to be onstage, crew is a great way to be creative, work on a fun and exciting team, learn new things, and join a great community!



When do crews meet and work?

Crews work after school and on the weekends. At first, crews will work two afternoons a week. Once we get going, we will add Saturday work days (11-5). Once we get to technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances, many members of the crew will be putting in long afternoons and evenings everyday. Usually, costumers are put on teams that work together on a rotating schedule. Like with technical crew, we will usually start with 2 days a week, after school, and then add more days when we get closer to the show. It IS a major time commitment, but it is totally worth it! See the posted draft calendar for specific dates and times.



How do I join the tech or costuming crews for the Spring 2020 productions?

Crew and costumer selection will be January 7, after school in the auditorium. You do not need any experience, and all students are welcome. Please bring a pen/pencil to complete your crew form. Crew lists will be posted the next day, and crew meetings will start that week.



Do I need technical or costuming experience to be on crew?

No! We will teach you! Some of our crew and costuming leads couldn't sew a stitch or cut a board when they first started. We will train you (and get you ready to show off those new theatre skills for colleges and professional theatres!).



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