Tips for getting parts in Shakespeare plays?

Question

From choosing audition pieces from his plays, to previous pieces that you have performed and can pass on some advice.

Answer 1

Whenever I audition for a play, I try and make myself memorable. I'll go the extra distance. Dress up! Who cares if you look good or bad, as long as you look the part, and feel it. Try talking like those in Shakespeare's time for a day. And as stereotypical as it may be, people are ALWAYS impressed when you can recite from his works. I personally always use this:

To be, or not to be: that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;

No more; and by a sleep to say we end

The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;

To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,

Must give us pause: there's the respect

That makes calamity of so long life;

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,

The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,

The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,

The insolence of office and the spurns

That patient merit of the unworthy takes,

When he himself might his quietus make

With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,

To grunt and sweat under a weary life,

But that the dread of something after death,

The undiscover'd country from whose bourn

No traveller returns, puzzles the will

And makes us rather bear those ills we have

Than fly to others that we know not of?

Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;

And thus the native hue of resolution

Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,

And enterprises of great pith and moment

With this regard their currents turn awry,

And lose the name of action. - Soft you now!

The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons

Be all my sins remember'd.

OR at least part of it. Don't be afraid to be confident either. You know, "Thanks for the opportunity, and for listening." And also, if you audition for one part and get another, ask the person that got the part you wanted what they did in their audition. This will show that you're outgoing and also you'll know exactly what they're looking for. Many places also host "workshops" where you get to learn a bit more about the play and they usually pass along tips about getting the part.

Hope I helped a little bit! BE CONFIDENT! People dig that!

Answer 2

articulation. it will sound stupid but trust me.

stick out ur tongue and  touch the tip of it as high as it can go  (to ur nose or whaterev) then in the same motion bring it down to touch your chin. without resting your tongue do that 10 times in a row. making a mmm sound when your tongue goes up and an ah sound when it goes down.

tongue twisters with the letter T are also good if you need to use a british accent (if u don't already have one)

volume. it is hard to say most of the suff in those scripts so if you have good volume and good articulation you should do good.  and yeah being a good actor helps too =P

Answer 3

know the play you are audtioning for at least read it. if you are a male wear a nice button down shirt, slacks, shoes; things you can move in, you never know what movement they might ask you to do. If you want to be memorable maybe a colored shirt or a bright tie, but don't dress like a clown. They won't take you seriously. Please don't do a hamlet monologue. Do you know how many of these audtioners hear in a day, and how many of them are bad?! sometimes an obscure  shakespeare monologue makes them sit up and notice you. Have several, about 3, monologues ready to go, sometimes they want to see how many you might have especially if it is an open audition. You could also choose some of shakespeare's contempories' shuch as Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, Tourneur, and Webster.(these 3 are later than shakespeare, but pretty good)

Answer 4

practice the lines a lot and try your best

Answer 5

Although these have all been very helpful suggestions, in speaking with playwrights and directors and learning about the audition process and what they are looking for I have a little bit different perspective (not that either is right or wrong it all has to do with preference.) I would NOT dress up. You should definitely dress sharp, look nice but not anything like Elizabethian times.  This is because more and more of the Shakespeare that is performed is leaning towards modern style with old language.  For example I recently saw a production of Midsummer in all contemporary clothing and the Fairy world was Native American.  These types of things are becoming more common than not in Shakespeare.

I would also have to disagree with choosing a monologue from the play in the part you want. This is because that immediately limits you in the eyes of the director.  If you weren't what he was looking in that part the minute you walked through the door, it isn't easy to change that opinion even if the monologue blows him/her away.  Then, since you might not have been what they were looking for in that part, they will be less likely to maybe cast you as a different part in the play.  However, if you do have a specific part in mind, the wonderful thing about Shakespeare is all his characters are so dynamic in his plays and you can generally find a piece of one character that can be conveyed in another in a different play.  

As for pieces, although Hamlet's famous "To be, or not to be..." is a wonderful monologue, most directors have heard it a thousand times, and a thousand ways.  I tend to be more partial to characters such as Bottom from Midsummer or Two Gentleman of Verona.  For dramatic monologues the Historicals are always a good way to go, but if you fit the part a well done Romeo tends to always gain favor (as long as it isn't the most popular one).

Anyway, just my opinion.  Good luck!

Answer 6

Read the whole play

Understand the tone of the passage you are about to read

Work out if there are any puns which you will need to read in a jesting voice

Remember it's like reading poetry with Shakey

And never call him Shakey

Answer 7

Dress and act as g*y as humanly possible...

::looks at the rainbow behind you::

Oh...well, then...nevermind.  You should get the lead.

Answer 8

for choosing audition pieces: pick one from the play you're auditioning for for the character you want to be. Also, don't pick a super well known one but rather choose a lesser known one so that you challenge yourself a bit more and stick out from the crowd which is exactly what you want to do in an audition. When i auditioned for Romeo and Juliette, I really wanted to be Juliette so I obviously chose one of her monologues and I chose the monologue where she's speaking after paris is dead and Romeo is banished. It was less known and had great emotion to it. I got background information on it before i started learning that way it wouldn't just be me saying a bunch of words that meant nothing to me because i didn't know the meaning. I also studied the way that shakespeare wrote so that i didn't say anything incorrectly. In the end they cast me as Juliette so i must of done something right. Just be confident in yourself during the audition and you'll do great. I hope this helps.

Answer 9

Absolutely the best thing you can do is to speak as if you're talking English.  There are terrific clues in the text to help you make the language understandable.  Then just use everything you know about acting -- character development, using your strengths, etc.

Answer 10

the tempest is a fun one

Answer 11

wear tights.