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School of Theatre and Dance
Professional Acting


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Audition Information

For Non-High School Senior Auditions scroll down the page

Auditions for High School Seniors for BFA in Theatre Arts
with concentrations in Professional Acting and Theatre for Youth

Admission into the BFA in Theatre Arts with concentrations in Professional Acting and Theatre for Youth is by audition only.  (Auditions for students currently enrolled at East Carolina University will take place on Monday, March 4, 2013.)

Auditions for current high school senior students wishing to be considered for provisional early acceptance into the BFA in Theatre Arts will take place on Saturday, March 2, 2013 from 12:00-2:00 at the Messick Theatre Arts complex on the campus of East Carolina University. (Auditions for the BFA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre will take place on the same day.  Students are welcome to audition for all three concentrations.)

You will be asked to perform a 1-2 minute contemporary monologue for members of the acting faculty.

Your audition will be followed by a brief interview, resulting in one of three outcomes:

1. Early provisional acceptance into the Professional Acting and/or Theatre for Youth program(s);

2. Recommended but not accepted -- meaning that we think you have strong potential for development and encourage you to attend ECU and begin course work as noted below in preparation to audition again for acceptance in March of your freshman year; 

3. Not recommended for this program.

If accepted, you will be required to take THEA 1010, -1020 and -2015 (Intro to Acting I, II and Voice-Articulation) in your freshman year. In the spring semester of your freshman year, there will be a juried evaluation of your work to confirm your continuation in the program.

To set up a time to audition for the programs, please contact Natalie Stewart via email (stewartn@ecu.edu) or phone  (252-328-2110).
           
Our BFA in Professional Acting consists of three years of conservatory-type training after freshman preparation, including two years of intense acting classes based in the Meisner technique, as well as classes in voice and speech, movement, stage combat, dance, dialects, directing, acting for TV/film, and professional preparation/audition repertory.  Our graduates are exceptionally well prepared either for a professional acting career in both theatre and TV/film, or for further training in graduate school. Further, we offer comprehensive education and training in all aspects of Theatre Arts with a core curriculum of classes in theatre history, costuming, stage scenery, lighting, and stage management.

Our BFA in Theatre for Youth prepares students to work in professional children’s theatre and theatre for youth in the areas of acting, directing, playwriting and management. Training in the areas of Theatre for Youth includes coursework in Youth Theatre I and II, Movement and Stage Combat, Acting, and Design and Production, extensive practical touring and community experience in main stage performances with Storybook Theatre at Wright Auditorium and the Turnage Theatre in Washington, NC.  Candidates are encouraged to view our video, “Storybook Theatre” by going to the School of Theatre and Dance Home Page at www.ecu.edu/theatredance.
           
The School of Theatre and Dance produces five main stage productions each school year.  All students, including freshmen, are encouraged to audition, as it replicates “real world” competition for roles. Casting is based on the student's ability and fit for the role, not on the student's class standing.  Since we offer strictly undergraduate degrees, our BFA students are not competing against graduate actors for roles on the main stage.   

AUDITIONS for the BFA in Theatre Arts with Concentrations in
PROFESSIONAL ACTING
and
THEATRE FOR YOUTH

Monday, March 4

Messick Room 201 from 2:00-4:30 

The audition process for the BFA concentrations in Professional Acting and Theatre for Youth will consist of an initial audition, a callback list, and an interview process.  Please read the following directions carefully.

Directions:

1) If you have passed THEA 1010 (i.e., received a grade of C or better) and have passed or are currently enrolled in THEA 1020 and THEA 2015, then you are eligible to audition for these BFA concentrations.

2) One month prior to the above date, an audition sign up sheet will be made available.  Once you sign up for a time to audition, you will receive three monologue choices at that time.

3) Select one of the monologues and prepare it for your audition.  Memorize the monologue and make specific choices about the circumstances.  Faculty members are not allowed to coach you with your monologue.

4) Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your assigned time in order to be fully prepared for the audition.

5) You can audition for both of the BFA concentrations or just one of them.  You will be able to indicate this choice at the audition.

6) This audition is an initial screening.  After the auditions, the acting faculty will select between 18-20 students to be called back for the concentration in Professional Acting and between 8-10 for the concentration in Theatre for Youth.  The call back, if needed, will consist of an interview with Greg Funaro and/or Patch Clark for the Professional Acting and Theatre for Youth concentrations, respectively.  The final list of students admitted into the BFA concentrations in Professional Acting and Theatre for Youth will be announced after the interviews.

7) Before you audition for the Professional Acting concentration, it is strongly recommended that you read Sanford Meisner On Acting, in order to familiarize yourself with the Meisner technique.  This book is available in the workroom.

8) If you have any questions, you may contact Natalie Stewart:  Messick 216, stewartn@ecu.edu, 328-2110.

If you wish to apply to ECU, you can do so by going to http://www.ecu.edu and clicking on the “Prospective Students” link.  This will take you to information about applying and to many other links about ECU including the School of Theatre and Dance Home Page,http://www.ecu.edu/theatredance. There are scholarship opportunities for ECU students including merit based scholastic scholarships and specialized scholarships found on the ECU website by searching the keyword “scholarships.”

Admittance into the Professional Acting Program

Students are admitted to this program by jury during the spring semester of their freshman year. Eligible students audition with a monologue provided by the acting faculty. Approximately 12-14 students are admitted each year (out of an average of 40-50 applicants).

Students are eligible to audition for the Actor Training Program if they have completed the following courses:

  • THEA 1010, Introduction to Acting I (This course is offered in the Fall, Spring and Summer Semesters)
  • THEA 1020 or currently enrolled (Introduction to Acting II)
  • THEA 2015 or currently enrolled (Voice and Articulation)
  • If you have met the above qualifications, you are eligible to sign a list that will be posted on the callboard in February. Auditions take place toward the end of March.
  • All students will be given the same selection of monologues for the audition. Faculty members are not allowed to coach students with their monologue.
  • Transfer students audition with the monologue the acting faculty supplies plus one of their own choosing. Transfer students must bring their transcript(s) and three letters of reference to the audition.
  • The final decision is usually made immediately following auditions. Approximately twelve students are accepted each year. Those not accepted are still eligible to take the upper division acting sequence, THEA 3050/3060, with the consent of the instructor.
  • All those accepted into the Professional Actor Training Program are committed to taking the following courses:
  • THEA 2010, 2020 (TTH 1:00 –3:50)
  • THEA 3010, 3020 (MW 9:30-12:30)

Providing they meet the above prerequisites, transfer students may audition on the same day as the current students. Those not admitted may be qualified to enter another acting sequence that still results in a BA degree.

Professional Acting students are not permitted to take Directing until they have completed THEA 3020. Students accepted into the program are not necessarily required to pursue a BFA degree in Acting. (There have been students who have majored in Musical Theatre, Teacher Certification, Art, and English.) However, it is preferred that the Actor Training students follow the full acting course of study which results in a BFA degree in Acting.

During the majority of the freshmen year, the acting faculty evaluate a student’s work in the classroom, during auditions, and in productions (e.g. main stage, workshops, directing projects).

In addition to the audition, the acting faculty evaluate students on the following criteria as displayed in acting and voice classes:

  • spontaneity/impulsiveness
  • initiative/courage
  • attitude/discipline
  • professional potential