Audition Advice - L. Walter Stearns

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Porchlight Music Theatre hosts open auditions for each production. We find that the pool of talent in Chicago is ever changing and it makes sense to do multiple open calls throughout the year.

I really hope that actors do their homework before an audition. Learn a little about the company and the show, strategize for a role and tailor their audition for that project. Please leave drama outside the door. We are looking to begin a long term relationship and if I get an indication that you will be any trouble, I don’t want to climb into bed with you (metaphorically speaking of course).

Please be honest about your availability and interest. Bring your schedule. I have sometimes made offers to actors, only to learn that they will be missing performances. You must be available to do the show or else why are you auditioning. I recently made an offer to an actress who asked, do I have to stay and do the entire run. No, it’s just fine to open the show, get the reviews and leave (please read my sarcastic tone).

At a general audition, we typically have actors prepare two complete songs. We don’t really have time for two songs, but we like to have two from which to choose. Chances are we will never, willingly, choose to hear songs by Frank Wildhorn. There are some songs which are just overdone; “Popular” from Wicked, “A Fine Fine Line” from Avenue Q and most of the score to The Last Five Years.

We used to have an actress audition consistently in a tube top and a mini skirt (even in the dead of winter). She would find all sorts of reasons to bend and squat to show off the goods. Needless to say, it had little impact on my gay partner and me.

I think the best advice I ever gave was to a young actor on his way to the Tisch School of the Arts. He was very bright, talented and accomplished; having performed on all the stages in Chicago at some point in his 18 years of life. His parents were struggling with how to come up with the $100,000 in tuition and expenses for Tisch. I recommended that he take the cash, hand it to producer Cameron Macintosh and ask for a role on Broadway. $100,000 would make a great bribe.

L. Walter Stearns is the Jeff-Award winning artistic director of Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago.