Audition Advice - Jason Loewith

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Disclaimer: I have no idea how you actors do this. I’m in the fortunate—if wacky—position of judging you based on your ability to do something which I can neither ever do nor instruct someone to do. I am continually humbled by your craft, so please take this with a grain of salt.That said… what do I look for in actors? VOCAL PRESENCE. I don’t know how to express it other than those two words. When I’m auditioning someone new to me, I don’t need more than the first 10 or 15 words to assess whether this actor possesses the vocal charisma, confidence, technique, command of her voice, and command of the material at hand.

If she does, it becomes a lot more complicated. Is she the appropriate physicality for the role and the rest of the ensemble I’m building? Is she comfortable in her body? Does she have a passionate connection to the material? Or an intrinsic understanding of it? If the part calls for sarcasm, is she a natural wit? If the part calls for absolute innocence, is her presence too sarcastic to believe? And finally, will I (and the rest of the ensemble) have a good time with her in the room? Will she be willing to say what she thinks, will she participate on this creative journey with me? I’m going to spend upwards of 200 hours with her at some point next year, and none of us get paid enough to spend time with people we don’t enjoy.

What monologues do I never want to hear again? Actresses already have a tough time finding good classical monologues, so this is sorta mean to say, but I’ll say it anyway: weeping and wailing women from the Renaissance make my eyes glaze over. There, I’ve said it. And I feel better having said it.

What bribe would work to get a role here at Next Theatre Company? Since I sold my soul for a cup of coffee in 2002, I’d say I’m an easy mark. But you can still stroke my ego by offering whatever you offered to Erica Daniels, Bob Mason or Adam Belcuore… PLUS a cup of coffee.

Jason Loewith, the artistic director of Next Theatre Company since 2002, stopped acting in the 7th grade because he wasn’t offered the lead in The Skin Of Our Teeth, and directs now because he still carries a grudge.