More Audition Advice - Showbiz Sundays @ The Drama Bookshop

Panel, The Drama BookShop, 250 West 40th St., New York City:

Annie Chadwick, Up-to-Date Casting.
Joanna Merlin, author of Auditioning: An Actor Friendly Guide.
Marilynn Scott Murphy, Professional Artists.

Auditioning: preparation plus "in the moment" improv.

Annie, Joanna, & Marilyn, seasoned actresses and an experienced agent: warmly comfortable with themselves, inspiringly self-accepting and honest about themselves -- a very warm, open, positive panel

Some notes:

1) For cold readings (i.e., little to no preparation), learn to:

• throw out all pre-conceptions of the role: simply be "me" by
• responding/following any and all intuitions, any 'crazy' responses to the material
• find the sense, the objective, connect with it as well as I can, go for it

2) Becoming a reader in auditions is a great way to learn by seeing good (& bad) habits, approaches, attitudes. In fact, in 2001, I was a reader for one of Gabe's casting sessions. I really didn't know what to expect, but within mere seconds the experience hit me like ton of bricks . . .

. . . Immediately, I saw the importance of good, solid, connected cold reading skills -- and I saw what they are. I was blown away. Then and now, that memory of those actors has been my standard -- and my motivation. I'm going to see where I can do this. It is something -- esp. for a professional production -- where I would definitely find the time.
Some 'reader' skills: I follow, they (the person auditioning) lead. Support, don't draw focus.

3) What an agent looks for in a monologue audition: connection & understanding, i.e., sentence structure, beats, logic.

4) Great cold reading practice: In NYC, new plays and screenplays are being developed all the time. More and more, playwrights want to hear their plays. Participate in READINGS as much as possible.

Ok -- things to commit to, action-list from this workshop: 1) Being a reader, and 2) (really important) participate in readings.