Audition Advice - Richard Shavzin

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Richard Shavzin

Two one-minute-maxpieces(regardless of the given max times) is ideal because frankly, the yes/no/maybe process is well underway very quickly. It’s sort of like that Mary Kay Place line from The Big Chill about dating after 30—”You may not know right away if it’s right, but you know in 10 seconds if it’s wrong.”

It’s stupid to waste time by introducing your pieces separately instead of doing both at the top. Also in the intro area, if you’re doing a piece from, say, Long Days Journey, please don’t bother identifying the playwright. Ditto Shakespeare, Stoppard, Pinter, etc. You really don’t want to start your audition with the auditor mentally screaming, “Duh!”

As to resumes, four things:

1) Attach to pic—it’s not my damn job. If they get separated...hundreds of pics, big messy piles, dozens of your type—you do the math;

2) Size it to match your pic at 8x10—this is not junior high;

3) When you list your credits: a) List your shows with the producing entity—NOT THE RENTAL HOUSE!! Just because Brand New Eager Theatre Company rented from Victory Gardens does not mean you did a show at Victory Gardens; and b) If you have only, or mostly, college credits, identify them as such. There’s no shame in being an early career actor. Despite advice from certain local institutions to the contrary, it annoys some directors and casting directors to see credits listed as the Getz Theatre when everyone in town knows it’s actually Columbia College. This practice seems vaguely deceptive. If it matters which theatre at the school, then list it with both. Ditto DePaul, Northwestern, et al.

4) DON’T LIE! Assume everybody knows everybody—or at least somebody. Getting busted is embarrassing, and not conducive to getting cast.

As to my bribe I’d accept…hmmmmm…either Packer season tickets or a seat in the World Series of Poker HORSE event.

Richard Shavzin was the artistic director of Strawdog Theatre Company from 1993-1998, and received a Jeff for Direction of their production of Burn This. In 1999 he was awarded a special Jeff for founding the Unified non-Equity General Auditions. He also directs theatre, and casts for films.