Study Smart:Stand Out at School

Performing Arts: Drama Survival Tips

Why Get Into Drama?

• You get to express your emotions.
  
  
• Watching an audience react. Believe in what you're saying. It's cool.
  
  
• Acting teaches you how people think and why they do things.
  
  
• The whole experience is incredible.
  
  
• It's a safe place to try and be everything and anything you imagine.

Thanks to: Autumn, Michelle, Betsy, Trina and Jenny.

Audition for the School Play
Getting Ready

• Find out the day of the audition.
  
  
• How many parts? Pick two you really want
  
  
• Find out what you have to prepare -- a song? Dance steps? A scene?
  
  
• Do they give out the scenes (also called "sides")
  
  
• Learn your scene.
  
  
• Also learn a monologue: that's a scene you star in all alone
  
  
• Here are tips on how to memorize dialogue.
  
  
• Think about who your character is and why they act the way they do
  
  
• Be able to tell someone else. The director may ask you.
  
  
• Wear something brightly colored. Stand out!
  
  
• Work in front of a mirror. Make sure you have lots of expression.
  
  
• Be able to look really happy, sad, mad and lots of other emotions.
  
  
• Watch old movies on TV - how did the actor do that?
  
  
• Practice your acting skills. Get together with friends to analyze scenes.
  
  
• But, don't audition with a friend. You want to stand out on your own.

The Audition

• Review your lines
  
  
• Be ready to let the director tell you what to do.
  
  
• Follow directions. You won't get the part if you're fussy or hard to work with.
  
  
• A star is somebody who can make the director believe the line.
  
  
• Be ready to do your lines with other characters.
  
  
• Be ready to do a different character. The director may decide you're perfect for another part.
  
  
• When you read or say your line, look at the actors you are working with, not your script.
  
  
• Don't be afraid to move. Be animated.
  
  
• If the director says to project, that means be louder.
  
  
• Learn how to push your voice to fill the whole theater without getting tired.
  
  
• If you don't get the part, ask to be an understudy.
  
  
• Ask to help on the crew too.
  
  
• Don't give up. Take more acting classes and just do your best.

Thanks to Kana.m, Monica.m, Erin.y and Lorraine.v for their contributions.

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