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Stage Management Running Auditions/ Prompted books - Coggle Diagram
Stage Management
Running Auditions/ Prompted books
The Space
Equity requires that the auditions must be held in a theatre, a rehearsal hall, or in some Equity-approved location.
Setting up the Reception Area
The Sign-in Table
The Auditioning Staff's Table in the Theater
X Marks the Spot
tape on the floor of the audition room a highly visible mark (white tape) where the performers should stand to do their auditions.
This mark needs to be placed just far enough away so the auditioning staff can see the actors’ body movements and yet close enough to see the actors’ faces and eyes.
Audition staff
usually small
director or assistant
casting
writier
musicals
pianist
coreogipher
Types
open call
Equity open calls are designed to give all Equity members the opportunity to audition for all roles in the show.
Date, starting and ending time, place
all equity actors get to audition first
cattle call
Open calls for musicals and shows that are popular and promise long employment often to turn into what performers
Auditioners may be rooted out before they even preform
Appointment
Musicals
Star and Lead Role
probable not needed
Preparing for
Auditions Held in a Theatre
The time the theatre will be opened (hopefully at least an hour before the auditions begin so the SM can set up).
Is an IATSE electrician required to put on the lights, and if so, has it been arranged for the electrician to be there at least twenty minutes before the auditions are to begin?
Parking for the audition staff.
Have arrangements been made to set up an audition table in the audience with electrical power, a light (on and off switch), and a microphone (also with an on and off switch)? Will it be set up and operational at least twenty to thirty minutes before the audition staff arrives?
Access stairs from the stage to the audience
Audition Somewhere Other Than a Theatre
Are there three or four banquet-type tables available along with chairs that can be set up in the reception and audition rooms?
Is there a copy machine on the premises available for use? In asking this question the SM assures that all copies will be paid for and also finds out the charge for each copy.
Is there a time, prior to the day of the auditions, when the SM can come to look over the audition site?
Can the SM come the day before to set up? If not, on the day of the audition it is imperative the SM be allowed an hour or more before auditions begin.
Heating in the winter, air-conditioning or airflow fans in the summer.
Bathroom facilities on the premises along with fresh drinking water fountains.
Auditions for a Musical
Is there a piano in the audition room, and has it been tuned? If not, will the audition site do this in time for the audition? If not, then the producer needs to be informed and get a piano tuner to the audition site, pronto!
If on the day of auditions the producer decides an additional room is needed, would there be one available at the last minute? If not, the SM needs to ask the producer what will be needed and if the producer thinks a second room should be reserved in advance.
Dancing as Part of the Audition
Have there been other Equity dance auditions in the space? If not, are the floors in the audition room made of wood and not slick tile or cement?
If the dancing audition room is separate from the room in which the performers are auditioning songs or scenes, is there also a piano (tuned) in that room?
Expective Job
Serving Performers
Reading Scenes W/ Performers
Closure to the Audition
Ask staff if there are anything else
Thanks the performer for coming
Leads them out of the room
Give timeline for call backs info
Timekeeper
Promptbook
script
Blooking
Queses
Forms
Promps lists
contact sheets
Costume fiting sheets
Rehearsal timeline
Emergency sheet
Things used most often near the front
2nd prompted book
Script
queue
Emergency sheet
Office Supplies
Pencils:
For the actors to fill out the producer’s required paperwork and for the audition staff to use at the audition table. Lay out only a few, and as those pencils disappear, put out a few more.
Pencil sharpener:
The SM either has many sharpened pencils in supply or has a pencil sharpener available.
Stapler and paper clips:
The resume gets stapled to the back of the performer’s picture, while the producer’s information sheets get clipped to the resume and picture.
Rubber bands:
At the end of the day there will be packets or piles of pictures and resumes—the rejects, the callbacks, various roles, and so on. They will need to be held together for transporting or filing.
Writing tablets/pads
Placed on the audition table for the audition staff to use if they choose.
Blank typing paper
For the SM to make last-minute signs that were not thought of in advance.
Marking pens
Wide and medium tips for correcting signs or making additional signs.
White tape
To mark the spot on the floor where the performers will stand during their audition.
Scotch tape and pushpins
These will aid in posting the directional and instructional signs that the SM will make.