Audition Advice - Matt Elwell

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ComedySportz focuses on the players. More than anything, we look for whether you are memorable, do you make bold choices, can you work well with others? You need to be able to create trust quickly on stage. If you get cast, you will have to work with hundreds of different combinations of cast members. Versatility is a must.

In an audition, we’re looking for power, boldness and immediacy. You need to get the scene done in three minutes and not spend the first two saying “Hi, how are you.”

The most common mistake I see is when improvisers go negative—they denigrate their partner for a big laugh. Another one is that they play too hokey. We’re looking for an intelligent product and something that’s really urbane. You really need to keep an eye on creating a product that is both high quality and accessible to a large audience.

You also need to be able to sing and dance. And acting fundamentals are very important—even just basic stuff like good diction, maintaining an accent, self-blocking and a sense of the stage picture. We cast people who have a sense of themselves as performers. A big thing for us is whether you can read your audience and alter your product accordingly.

And just because you are an improviser doesn’t mean you aren’t a professional. We do a lot of corporate work; if you show up looking like you just fell out of bed, we aren’t sure you’re going to be ready for a paying gig.

My bribe: do my laundry.

Matt Elwell is the Artistic Director of The ComedySportz Theatre, a professional improvisers since 2000, and an associate faculty member with the Second City.