Audition Requirements
Auditions for Randolph College For The Performing Arts reflect the Triple Threat nature of the program.
Prospective students are assessed for talent, aptitude and potential in the arts. Students must be physically able to sustain the rigours of the program, and be able to individually undertake training in all three disciplines: vocal technique, acting technique including movement, and dance (ballet, jazz, and tap).
Your audition is a critical part of the application process at Randolph College For The Performing Arts. Remember that auditioning for theatre school is not like auditioning for a show. You’re not competing to fill a particular role, you are playing the role of ‘You’. Your audition should show us who YOU are and why YOU would make a great addition to the school.
In addition to showing us what you can do, a good audition can also tell us a lot about you as an artist, a student and a collaborator. We love to see spectacular talent, of course, but in a small, tightly-knit community like ours a strong work ethic, an open mind, and a collaborative attitude are prized just as highly as talent.
A Note To Applicants:
Detailed instructions for completing your video audition, including the link to submit your video audition, will be sent to you by email after your application package has been received. A step-by-step guide to the application process at RCPA can be found here.
Break a leg!
Preparing Your Video Audition
Some tips for the technical aspects of recording your audition video:
Use a tripod or ask a member of your household to record you with the camera held horizontally, as still as possible.
Ensure that you are in frame from your waist to just above your head (for acting and singing - the full body is best for dance).
A nice bright room with natural light and a neutral wall as a background is best. If you don’t have a neutral wall, don’t fret. I like rooms that have some furniture or carpeting in them because it soaks up some sound and reduces echo and that cavernous feeling.
Most importantly: HAVE FUN!
Acting
Prepare one monologue from a published contemporary play (1960-present). The monologue cannot be from a musical. The monologue must be performed from memory and approximately one minute in length. Please state the name of the play and the character you will be playing before you begin. The audition panel will expect that you have read the play from which you sourced your monologue.
Some advice from Acting Department Head M. John Kennedy:
“We believe that acting requires you to be believable and interesting. When working on your monologue please consider: Who are you talking to? What do you want from that person? What are you doing in order to try and achieve that? We’re looking for grounded, believable characters in high stakes situations making a variety of tactical choices in order to try to get something that matters to them from another person.”
Vocal
Prepare two memorized songs. Aim for 2 minutes and 30 seconds maximum for each piece. Before recording your video, do a test video and listen back for sound quality and balance (headphones or speakers are best for this rather than phone speakers).
At the beginning of the piece, please state the name of the song and the musical it is from or the artist/band who originally performed it.
Perform one musical theatre piece.
Perform a second piece that thrills you and captures who you are. This piece can be of any style of music from any era.
Some advice from Vocal Department Head Jeannie Wyse:
“Choose pieces that contrast with one another to give the audition panel the broadest picture of your abilities and personality.”
Dance
Prepare one technique exercise and one choreographed piece approximately one minute in length. RCPA will provide* two options for each component: one for dancers with 6+ years of experience, and another for dancers with 0-5 years of training.
*Video links will be provided upon receipt of your application package and payment of your audition fee.
Some advice from Dance Department Head Steph Galpern:
“Less experienced dancers should show enthusiasm and willingness to learn; more experienced dancers should focus on demonstrating technical ability and artistry at their level.'“
Questions?
Fill in the form below and our Student Recruitment Officer will be in touch!