Open Forum

Hello!

We are going to be staring the audition process for Shrek this upcoming week. I am curious to hear any feedback or experience from others who have done this musical before.

How did you conduct your auditions?

What do you wish you would have known that you learned along the way?

Are there particular things you looked for or had them try during auditions?

Any advice would be appreciated! I have 45 middle school and high school students signed up and 28 elementary! Not a bad problem to have, but I'm definitely starting to imagine the pressure of making cuts.

Thank you!

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Jeanne-Marie Grewe
Theatre Director
Lake Mead Christian Academy
Henderson NV
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Most of my knowledge here is second-hand because they did this show before I came, but I have conversed with people involved and know a few things that helped or would have helped.

1. The cast was HUGE and they ended up cutting nearly half of the ensemble. It was the new choir teacher's first year and the kids took it as an opportunity to mess around back stage. He came in and cut anyone who wasn't taking it seriously. If you have a big ensemble it's hard to manage back stage, but it does leave the option of cuts during rehearsal if people aren't putting in the work.

2. One of the directors just talked to me last week about how important chemistry between the leads was. It might be worth looking for in call backs-- having them read in combinations or giving them a problem-solving task to see who works well together.

3. The accent for Shrek is iconic. Giving the kids a small speech with great key sounds for the accent is important early on. 

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Amy Strickland
Drama Teacher
AL

------Original Message------

Most of my knowledge here is second-hand because they did this show before I came, but I have conversed with people involved and know a few things that helped or would have helped.

1. The cast was HUGE and they ended up cutting nearly half of the ensemble. It was the new choir teacher's first year and the kids took it as an opportunity to mess around back stage. He came in and cut anyone who wasn't taking it seriously. If you have a big ensemble it's hard to manage back stage, but it does leave the option of cuts during rehearsal if people aren't putting in the work.

2. One of the directors just talked to me last week about how important chemistry between the leads was. It might be worth looking for in call backs-- having them read in combinations or giving them a problem-solving task to see who works well together.

3. The accent for Shrek is iconic. Giving the kids a small speech with great key sounds for the accent is important early on. 

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Amy Strickland
Drama Teacher
AL
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While I do agree with you, we did the JR. version of Shrek last spring, and our Shrek was not a strong singer at all. Decent rhythm but unpredictable pitch. What he did have was an overpowering personality that completely carried the role and won over the audience, even when he was off on his songs - in fact, his 'weak' singing became an endearing aspect of his character. 

And he didn't do the accent either - he just created his own Shrek that brought the house down. You'll have purists that will say he "wasn't like the movie," but for me, that's kind of the point!

We are still new in our community, and there's no choir and no encouragement toward singing, so starting to do musicals was kind of a risk. Maybe once we have a deeper roster of strong singers, my standards will shift upward, but for now, we overwhelmingly embrace energy and commitment over vocal brilliance. Weak actors with strong voices can anchor the ensemble, and don't have to be cast as leads. (No matter what their parents try to convince you.)

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Josh Kauffman
Teacher
Winfield AL

Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2016 13:58
From: Kelly Thomas
Subject: Shrek Auditions

Singing for boys is difficult.  Have boys who are doing Pinocchio use their falsetto.  The three blind mice sing in harmony need to be good singers.  The knights sing in 4 part harmony, again you need your good singers.  Have a Shrek who can  blow the house away.  It is a demanding tenor role.  Overall, a great show and fun time for all who were involved. Break a leg

 

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Kelly M. Thomas

Department of Theatre

Dr. Ralph H. Poteet High School

3300 Poteet Drive

Mesquite, Texas 75150

972-882-5300

Kthomas@mesquiteisd.org