Congrats, You’re Invited to Callbacks! Now What?

You’ve submitted your audition, and have been excitedly waiting to hear back from your director. Now, you’ve received an email inviting you to callbacks… great! Except you’ve never done that before. What should you expect? Well, here are some pointers:

DO:

• Be prepared! If your director has given you material to have prepped and ready before-hand, make sure that is ready to go! If you can be off-book (completely memorized), even better. Pick an outfit that is appropriate for the style of show and isn’t too casual (and a change of clothes, if there is also a dance call). Be on time, and come prepared and warmed-up, ready to go the minute you walk in the door! It is never too early to start practicing professionalism – trust me, the casting panel notices!
• Remember that every director and casting panel will have slightly different preferences on audition processes, so do not be afraid to ask for clarification should you need it. Every audition will be slightly different, even if it is for a director that you have worked with before, so it is always better to ask than assume, if you are in doubt.
• Be flexible. Many directors will ask you to perform your material again, and give a direction for what they want you to do differently. Often times, they will do this to see how you can take direction. Other directors will ask you to cold-read for a part, and hand you the material there, on the spot! Both of these scenarios can be nerve-wracking, but it is important to remember to 
• Be a help to others if they need it! If someone is nervous or needs to run through their lines, you can be the person to help make their auditioning experience an enjoyable one. Teamwork is a huge part of every production, and that can start before the production is even cast.
• Have fun! The casting panel wants to watch people who are having fun with their auditions. We do not want to see you fail! If you get off to a rough start on a song or monologue, don’t be afraid to ask to start over, it’s not a big deal. Remember to make brave, bold choices that will stand out – we will remember those way more than any small mistakes made along the way.

DON’T

• Assume you are guaranteed that role because you are called back for it. Casting is one giant puzzle, and directors have a lot of pieces to assemble before the picture can come into focus. Calling actors back for certain parts means that we see the potential for that character in your initial audition, and we want to see even more of that, including your stage chemistry with other actors who are also called back. Also, some callbacks may serve as a callback for another role that you aren’t necessarily aware of (For example, if I am directing a production of Legally Blonde and I call you back for Elle, I might be looking at you for one of the Delta Nu sisters as well.)
• Be a distraction. If you are watching others perform their material, audience etiquette is key. Treat others in an audition room as you would want to be treated. Remember that your behavior off-stage is often factored into casting decisions as well, and sometimes, it is even more important than what you show us on-stage! Every director wants to work with actors that are kind to others, and that show our Ten Characters at all times!
• Get in your head. Be open to new possibilities in the audition room. Again, flexibility is key here! If they ask you to do something different, don’t focus on the “why” – focus on how you can approach the material from a new perspective. That is your job as an actor! If you don’t get to perform all the material prepared – don’t panic. The casting panel often has many actors and scenes to get through in a limited amount of time, so more than likely, they are just adjusting their schedule so that everyone gets a chance to be seen.
• Ruminate on what the outcome will be – I know, easier said than done! This one was extra hard for me as a student actor, but I have always found that having something scheduled immediately after callbacks helps with this. Avoid talking with other auditioners about what the results will be like – believe it or not, this does not actually affect the results!

No matter how many callbacks you have done or how experienced you are as an actor, the process can be nerve-wracking, so learn how to channel those nerves into positive energy and excitement about the production, regardless of your role. Being able to gather together and share in this art form is a privilege, so treat every opportunity as a learning experience, and you will gain the most from your time here at NTPA and beyond!