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Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
THEATRE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Sunday, April 13, 2008
THEATRE (T)

The Arts High Theatre Department is an intensive four year program and is recommended for entry at the ninth grade, first year level. However, consideration will be given to incoming tenth grade students who can demonstrate exceptional potential and previous first year training in another arts high school, comparable institution or theatre training non-profit agency. If accepted, a 10th grader would begin his/her studies at the second level of training.

Evaluation Criteria

• Energy
• Ability to communicate an understanding of the monologue
• Physical, vocal, and imaginative freedom that indicate a strong potential for professional growth
• Maturity and capacity for sustained focus and concentration
• A serious commitment to an acting career

Part 1
All applicants must sign in at the main office and proceed to the theatre warm up room at least 30 minutes before the audition. All warm-ups must be completed prior to entering the audition room. No time will be allowed for warm-ups during the audition.

Part 2
All applicants will be asked to perform two (2) memorized monologues. All students must memorize the Shakespeare monologue that is included in this packet. Female applicants must perform Juliet’s monologue and male applicants must perform Hamlet’s monologue (see included monologues). The contemporary monologue is your choice but must be written after 1920. The monologue must be no longer than 1½ minutes in length. Characters chosen should be close to the student in age. The monologue must come from a published play. The applicant should read the entire play before performing the monologue. Do not play characters of the opposite sex or use regional or foreign dialects. No props, costumes, or makeup are permitted. Wear something comfortable that you can move in, preferably solid back; and appropriate footwear, no flip-flops. Avoid jewelry.

Applicants will be asked to (1) state your name (2) the title of the contemporary play (3) the play’s author (4) your character’s name.

Part 3
To demonstrate the applicant’s ability to sight read dramatic text, only incoming 10th grade students will be asked to do a cold reading or participate in some voice & speech work.  No home preparation is required for this part of the audition.  NO INCOMING GRADE 11 STUDENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR ENROLLMENT IN THEATRE.

Part 4
Following the two monologue presentations all applicants will engage in a short interview with the adjudicators.

The Theatre Department audition for 2008-2009 school year is split into two parts. The audition for all theatre applicants is on Sunday, April 13, 2008. On that day, 60% of the incoming fall class will be selected based on the highest numerical scores. Students who are not accepted from the first audition will be invited to a one-day audition preparation workshop, on Sunday, April 27, 2008. The second audition for the Theatre Department will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2008.

The following list of plays offer good monologue choices for young actors: You are free to select a monologue from another play, but choose a character that is close to your age.

GIRLS

SHAKESPEARE MONOLOGUES

GIRLS
Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene 5, lines 1-17

Juliet
The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse;
In half an hour she promised to return.
Perchance she cannot meet him: that's not so.
O, she is lame! love's heralds should be thoughts,
Which ten times faster glide than the sun's beams,
Driving back shadows over louring hills:
Therefore do nimble-pinion'd doves draw love,
And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings.
Now is the sun upon the highmost hill
Of this day's journey, and from nine till twelve
Is three long hours, yet she is not come.
Had she affections and warm youthful blood,
She would be as swift in motion as a ball;
My words would bandy her to my sweet love,
And his to me:
But old folks, many feign as they were dead;
Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.

BOYS
Twelfth Night, Act IV, Scene 3, lines 1-21

Sebastian
This is the air; that is the glorious sun;
This pearl she gave me, I do feel't and see't;
And though 'tis wonder that enwraps me thus,
Yet 'tis not madness. Where's Antonio, then?
I could not find him at the Elephant:
Yet there he was; and there I found this credit,
That he did range the town to seek me out.
His counsel now might do me golden service;
For though my soul disputes well with my sense,
That this may be some error, but no madness,
Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune
So far exceed all instance, all discourse,
That I am ready to distrust mine eyes
And wrangle with my reason that persuades me
To any other trust but that I am mad
Or else the lady's mad; yet, if 'twere so,
She could not sway her house, command her followers,
Take and give back affairs and their dispatch
With such a smooth, discreet and stable bearing
As I perceive she does: there's something in't
That is deceivable.