How to nail a Broadway audition and get the part

Use these tips from theater veterans to land the role of a lifetime!

Step 1: Go on a lot of auditions
Go on as many casting calls as you can. It’s the best way to gain experience and confidence.

Don’t be bashful about re-auditioning for a show that turned you down; people are sometimes hired the second or even third time around.

Step 2: Bring a headshot
Bring a professional headshot that looks like you in daily life, as opposed to a glammed-up version. Directors and producers don’t like it when actors look nothing like their photo.

Step 3: Don't go in costume
Wear clothes that suggest you have an understanding of the show so the director can envision you in the part. But don’t show up in full costume.

Step 4: Pick the right song
If you’re auditioning for a musical, pick audition songs that reflect the period or genre of the show – not the show itself. You can prepare a few from the actual show, but only sing them if you’re asked to. Sing just 32 bars of a song unless otherwise specified.

Have your sheet music organized for the pianist: Mark where the music should start and end, and put it in the right key.

Step 5: Rehearse your scene
If you’re auditioning for a drama, rehearse the “sides” – a few pages from the script that you are provided with in advance of the audition. Bring the pages to the auditioning venue; it’s common to hold them while you perform.

Step 6: Jump right in
At the audition, greet the people judging you and then begin your performance; don’t ask them for direction. If you make a mistake, keep going, or ask if you may start again. No one is looking for or expecting perfection.

Step 7: Go with the flow

If the director asks you to try something different, do it without argument, no matter how terrified or ill-equipped you feel. They are checking to see how well you take direction and how easily you go with the flow.

Step 8: Act confident
Exude confidence, or at least fake it. After all, you’re an actor!