Theatre Arts Auditions

We understand that everyone begins their college theater experience with different levels of  training.  Some students have received lessons, classes or performance opportunities that equip them with years of specialized preparation for the audition process. Others have not had extensive training or been given the chance to perform as often or are new to theater and auditioning altogether. We do not believe that any one path is an indication of talent or potential, but that training is what best helps students succeed. We ask that you prepare your audition in a way that matches your training.

When slating, please indicate which option you have chosen.

Option 1

Acting: Prepare two contrasting monologues to be performed in three minutes or less. Contrasting monologues may be comedic and dramatic, classical and contemporary or realistic and presentational. Monologues should be memorized.

Musical theatre: Prepare two contrasting songs with accompaniment (live piano or pre-recorded music) and a one-minute monologue or dance combination. Examples of contrasting songs include classical and contemporary, character piece and legitimate melody or ballad and up-tempo. We strongly suggest no patter or heavy dialogue songs.

Option 2

Acting: Prepare one monologue to be performed in under two minutes that demonstrates your awareness of monologue performance. The monologue may be in any style (but should be from a published script) and should be memorized.

Musical theatre: Prepare two contrasting songs. May be done a cappella. See option 1 for examples of contrasting monologues. 

Option 3

Acting: Arrange a live audition (may be virtual). Prepare to work with the director on a monologue arranged at the time of the audition request. This does not have to be memorized but should be rehearsed to your best ability. The director will work with you to achieve a level of comfortability which also shows capability.

Musical theatre: Arrange a live audition (may be virtual) in which you perform a chosen musical theatre song you feel comfortable singing, but will sing live with feedback and work with director.

Please contact program coordinator Dr. Tara Brooke Watkins if you have any questions or need suggestions of monologues or songs.  

Students who wish to pursue the technical theatre concentration will present a portfolio for their audition. The portfolio may be hard-bound or digital and the presentation may be recorded and uploaded. If arranging for an in-person presentation, a computer and display screen will be available.

We understand that not every student has had technical training or experience in high school, but we would like to know what you have done and what interests you. If you have not designed or technically contributed anything you feel is significant enough to present, you may choose to schedule an interview with the program coordinator and technical director.

If you are prepared to present a portfolio, please include:

• Resume listing all technical jobs or services in any theatrical event. This may include design, stage crew, sound or light board operation, painting, box office, house management, technical assistantships and more. 
• Images of any design work you have done (costumes, set, prop building, lighting, hair, makeup). This may include drawings, photographs of final production designs or digital images. Any work found to be plagiarized will result in an automatic non-acceptance into the program. 
• Three images or film clips of professional theatrical design you personally find appealing and an explanation of why (the explanation will be verbal). If you know which technical area you would like to pursue, choose three images/clips from different theatrical productions in that area. For example, those interested in lighting should have three different aesthetically appealing images of lighting design. If you do not know which area you would like to pursue, choose images/clips of three different types of technical design. For example, one image of costume design, one of set design and one of sound design.  

Please contact technical director Marc Tiberiis if you have any questions.

Students who wish to major in theatre arts in a non-performance manner (dramaturgy, directing, marketing, playwriting, teaching, etc.) or minor in theatre arts should schedule an interview with program coordinator Dr. Tara Brooke Watkins. The interview is best seen as a conversation about goals, skills and interests so that we can determine the best plan for you as you consider a career pathway at Salve.

You might be encouraged to double major or minor in a specific area that would help you reach your goals and express yourself as an artist. We believe that the skills gained in theater are so unique and beneficial that any career finds additional strength with skills gained in the theatre arts. While popular double majors include marketing, creative writing and publishing, psychology, education and social work, any field you are interested in will be made richer with a theater-trained background.