The Essentials:
- Some important reminders (the barebones necessities -- know these!)
The Longer Story:
Auditions take place between 6 pm and midnight all five days from Monday - Friday. Each show holds a number of 3-hour slots throughout the week in which to audition actors; each slot is either between 6 and 9 pm or between 9 pm and midnight. If you're trying out, you might want to show up a little before a slot begins, to increase your chances of an early audition. Auditions end approximately 15 minutes before the end of a slot (i.e. 8:45 and 11:45), in order to allow for transition or clean-up.
Auditions are for one show at a time. (You won't be auditioning in front of 20 directors at once!) If you are interested in a specific show, come to Common Casting when that show has a slot and sign your name on that show's audition list. Audition lists for shows with slots in the Loeb building are located in the Loeb Ex; for shows with Agassiz slots, the lists are in the Agassiz lobby. A show's list is only available for sign-up during that show's audition slots. You may sign up for as many shows as you want; if you are out of the room when your name is called for an audition, it is left on the list for the rest of the night and you may come back another day with your name near the top of the list.
Lists are first-come, first-served, so (again) showing up early in the time slot (and early in the week!) is to your advantage.
For each audition, an actor needs to have an audition sheet (available in the Loeb Ex and the Agassiz Lobby, as well as in the back of the printed Common Casting booklet and online here). Actors are strongly encouraged to fill out one sheet early on and then make as many xeroxes of it as necessary. Other than that, nothing else is required for Common Casting auditions (no need to memorize monologues, for example; the shows will provide sides for you to look over briefly and read at auditions).
There is one exception: for musical auditions, you should prepare a song to sing. It need not be a song from the show (they'll teach you those at callbacks!), but you should have the sheet music for it, whatever it is, so that you can give it to the accompanist. If you don't have sheet music, you can either sing a capella, or else choose to do a standard (like "Happy Birthday" or "My Country 'Tis of Thee") which the accompanist should be able to do on the fly. You also do not need to be familiar with the shows you audition for, although it may help when reading scenes for the directors.
Callbacks take place on the weekend. All actors must check the callback lists between 10 and 11 AM on Saturday morning. If you do not want to attend a callback or have a conflict, you must call the number listed on the callback sheet and cancel or reschedule. The directors are dealing with a scheduling headache to beat all; your help is essential for the success of Common Casting.
Cast lists will be posted at 6:00 pm on Monday night. Actors are given a day to think, contact directors for more info (a great idea!!!), and decide whether to accept each part offered. Whether accepting or not, all cast actors must show up at the Loeb Ex between 4 pm and 6 pm on Tuesday night to sign yes or no to each part. If you cannot come to the Loeb during those two hours, please leave a message on the HRDC message machine (496-3030) or email the CAMPUS LIAISON (find the name here), telling the HRDC Board whether to accept or decline each role on your behalf.
Signing yes is a final commitment to a show. Congrats, and have fun!
If you want to accept roles in multiple shows, you are required to call each director and find out if this is feasible. Though show dates may not overlap, rehearsal times probably will. The best way to find out about times of commitment is to call the directors. If you do accept more than one role, you must have cleared this with the director of each show you are acting in.
Directors may also choose to post "alternate actors" for roles. Directors may choose to post on their cast lists their number-two (and three, etc.) choice for a role; if you are posted as an alternate, you are free to contact directors, first-round-cast actors, and other alternates, both to find out about the role, and also to find out whether the first-round-cast actor plans to accept the role. Directors have to offer the part to alternates in the order posted; if there are no (more) alternates, directors are free to cast anyone in the role.
An alternate, unlike a director's first choice, does not need to sign cast lists. However, if you are an alternate and are certain you would or would not take the role, you may sign the cast list yes or no.
After all 6pm on Tuesday night, when all the cast lists are signed by the actors, "first-round casting" is considered over, and "second-round casting" begins. Directors will look at their cast lists, and see which roles they are still missing actors for. They will then call any alternates they have listed for those roles (they have to), and if they have no alternates listed, or if the alternates decline, they are allowed to call anyone to offer them the role. This means that, if you're an actor who wants to be able to be second-round cast, it is a very good idea to be easily reachable after 6pm on Tuesday, for much of the rest of the evening, since this is when directors usually call to second-round cast. If you're going to be out, leave a message on your machine saying where you can be reached, or have a roommate tell anyone who calls. That way, you can know when the big call comes!
An actor may not accept a role during second-round casting (i.e. not the primary choice on a cast list) which conflicts with a role he/she accepted first round. If you have accepted a role in first-round casting, you may not accept another role without consulting the director of the show in which you were already cast. Except when there are alternates, a director may offer a part declined in the first round to anyone, whether someone who auditioned or not.
Most important, have fun during Common Casting -- talk to the actors around you, try to meet as many folks as you can, and come talk to the HRDC Board. We're there for questions, comments, suggestions, and pretty much anything else you want to entertain us with. Thanks a lot!
Go back to Common Casting page.
Go back to main HRDC page.
Questions or comments? E-mail hrdc@hcs.harvard.edu
Last modified January 2004.