Auditions...
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All UNC-CH registered students (except those in the Professional Acting
Training Program) are eligible and encouraged to audition. Here's a step-by-step
guide through the process.
Step One: Sign Up
Whenever The Lab! holds auditions, an Audition Sign-Up Sheet is posted in the Center for Dramatic Art on the hallway callboard. All those auditioning must sign up for a five-minute audition time on this list--those who fail to reserve an audition time will likely not be granted an audition. Note: when you audition for Lab! you audition for both directors at once, meaning you are being considered for BOTH productions (see more on this in steps 4 and 5). Once you've signed-up for an audition, prepare a two to five minute monologue and complete TWO copies of our Lab! Audition Form to submit at your audition.
Step Two: Check In
All Lab! auditions are held in the studio rooms of the Center for Dramatic Art. We recommend arriving to your audition at least ten minutes early to relax before your audition. Once you arrive, check in with the Lab! Board member on duty to notify them of your presence. When your time comes, the Lab! Board member will show you into the audition room, introduce you to the directors, and then the floor is yours...
Step Three: Work It
At this point you will proudly hand the TWO copies of your audition form to the directors and then present your monologue. Monologues may be from any play or movie (Shakespeare to 40 Year Old Virgin). If you are having trouble choosing a monologue to audition with, you should simply pick the one you enjoy doing the most. The more fun you have at your audition, the greater your chances of being cast.
Step Four: Callbacks
After all auditions are held, the directors will post their Callback Lists on the CDA hallway callboard and will also be posted on this website (usually between midnight and 1am). Note that you may be called back for both shows, one show, or no shows. While the initial audition is for both directors, each director holds their own set of callbacks.
If you are called back for one or both shows, you must initial by your name on the callback list to confirm your intention to attend the Callback. By attending a callback, you are stating that you are willing and able to perform in that production.
Callbacks usually consist of cold readings and ensemble work, so aside from being as familiar as possible with each script, there is nothing to prepare. Most directors will allow you and your scene partner a few minutes to review the scene selections before the callback.
Step Five: Preference Policy
When you have completed your callbacks, you are asked to make a "preference sheet" and post it on the call board. This is to allow the actor some voice in their casting. For example, if an actress was called back for both Proof and Evita, her preference sheet could read something like:
Eva Cassidy Preference Sheet:
1. ) Proof
2. ) Evita
Then, during the casting session (composed of the directors, producers, and faculty member Greg Kable) if both directors wanted Eva Cassidy the producers would look at her preference sheet and, due to her preference, Eva would go to PROOF. Note: actors may only list the show titles in order of their preference; they cannot request things like "I'll take the lead in SHOW 1 first, but if I can't have that I'll take the lead in SHOW 2, then the supporting lead in SHOW 2, then the romantic supporting role in SHOW 3--but only if the person I play opposite is attractive."
The directors will never see your preference sheet and the producers will look at them only if there is a conflict (i.e. both directors want the same actor). If an actor fails to submit a preference sheet and is wanted by both directors, the actor will automatically be cast in the larger role. The size of a role is not necessarily the part with the most lines, but could also be the more demanding role which would provide a greater stretch for the actor.
Finally, know that any actor to drop-out of a Lab! production (except in the case of an emergency) will be blacklisted, meaning they will be ineligible for the next two Lab! sets. So please, out of respect for all auditioning, be sure you are available and willing to participate if you are cast.
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Never grow discouraged should a role not be offered to you. During an academic year, The Lab! will hold four sets of auditions, providing several opportunities for people to try again. Some freshman score leads straight away while other actors have continuously been denied roles before they finally see their name on a cast list. Those not cast are encouraged to participate with Lab! in other ways and may be asked to join production teams or additional ways of contributing.