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The audition process for drama school is the most exhilarating and nerve wracking experience in an actor’s life. The audition scene in Billy Elliot the musical, comes to mind. Some schools will accept a video audition and other schools take several days of in-person auditions, eliminating students from each round until those left standing become their incoming class.
The secret to giving the best performance you can is preparation — the nerves won’t go away, but the performance can be so ingrained in you that the nerves don’t get in the way. As someone who has experienced many drama school auditions myself, assisted during auditions for next year’s incoming class and done hundreds of professional auditions — I have developed techniques that give an actor their best chance to shine.
We will find those schools most suited to the student, prepare the written essays, select monologues that best suite their performance styles and go on this rollercoaster together.
The Common Application is widely used to apply to many drama school programs. Fill out the application as you would for any other school that uses it, then complete any additional supplemental materials the program may be asking for. If the program uses its own application, it’s probably going to be very similar to the Common Application.
Most drama school programs will ask for an artistic statement. These statements are designed to get a sense of who you are, what drew you to acting, the theater or performance and what your experiences have been like so far. It is an opportunity to clarify what you want from the degree and how you want to use it in the world.
The most important part of this statement is why you want to pursue a career in drama. Was there a moment or a role where you discovered this is your calling? What do you want to say as a performer? It’s okay not to have an answer to all these questions but it’s a good idea to try and articulate them.
How do you hope to change the world or contribute with this degree? Or is it learning about lighting, sound design and new technologies that excites you? Think about how you hope to use these new skills in the world and what you would like to say.
Check out this article, How to Write a Personal Statement for Acting School from Backstage, an excellent resource for all things acting-related.
As with any other college application, transcripts are required to demonstrate evidence of your academic skill.
Generally speaking, you’ll be required to submit 2 to 3 recommendations, so make sure to choose recommenders who are familiar with your artistic and creative endeavors—teachers, directors, and creative professionals who know your work (and appreciate it). Ask them to highlight your talent, skill, and future potential.
This is just a short description of your involvement in theater, youtube short films, any multi-media achievments and scenes or shorts on social media. If you’re an actor or director, list the shows you’ve acted in or directed. If you’re in technical theater, it’s a chance to list your production experience and technical expertise. Include any classes, seminars, honors, workshops, work experience, service opportunities, or special skills.
Do you have photographs of your past work, photographs of your sketches etc., This can be useful in helping the application reader get a sense of your talent.
Add photographs of props, scenery you’ve built, the costumes you designed or created. If you’re applying for a technical course, photos of 3D models you’ve created is a great idea. If you have designed or helped backstage crew on theater productions, send in photos of the sets, lighting, costumes and even the props themselves.
You can send in photos of the cue sheets and diagrams of a lighting design. If you’re applying for Stage Management, you can take photos of your prompt books. The cast contact sheets and rehearsal schedule. Show evidence of all your hard work!
Every drama school is different, so you’ll need to check out each school’s website and make sure you’re familiar with the program’s specific requirements. Think of your portfolio as a living document that breathes life into your resume. Since theater is generally a visual medium, most schools will require photos of your work in the theater. Lead with your strongest material.
Getting into drama school with no acting experience is possible but more challenging. In the end, the monologue auditions are far more meaningful than all your experience and resume put together. If you’re applying for a technical course, then your physical sketches, 3d models and photographs are more important.
Almost all professional auditions these days begins with a self-tape. Some Drama schools will ask for a self-tape, before they ask you to audition in person, or in a Zoom meeting. But nailing that self-tape is an important skill to learn.
Learn how to record yourself. What is the lighting like? How do you sound? Is there a better part of the house? Do you know how to edit? Learning how to watch your own audition isn’t easy, but it’s where you will learn the most about your strengths and weaknesses.