Mykel Del Angel/THE RIDER
For an actor, the audition room can be a high-stakes environment, a brief moment to prove themselves. For the director casting the production, it is a careful search for not just talent, but finding the qualities that can bring a show to life.
Auditions for the upcoming UTRGV production of “The Rocky Horror Show” took place on Sept. 4 in the Marian F. Monta, PhD Studio in the Liberal Arts Building South on the Edinburg campus.
The Rider had the opportunity to interview Richard Edmonson, director and theatre lecturer, to learn what it takes to stand out as an actor.
Edmonson said beyond the baseline skills of singing and dancing, he wants performers who are “unafraid to … emote to an audience.”
For the production in specific, he said he was looking for actors to be “big in their emotions,” and possess a certain kind of “rocker voice,” which is distinct from many other musicals.
When it comes to selecting audition material, Edmonson offers a universal piece of advice, “choose something that shows off your voice.”
He added that actors generally have a limited amount of time, often just a 32-bar cut, to make an impression.
Edmonson said the goal is to select an excerpt that allows a performer to showcase their range and vocal power within that small window.
The moment a director knows they have found the perfect person for a role is often a combination of factors, according to the director.
Edmondson said it is about more than just a powerful voice or perfect dance move.
The ideal candidate must first fit the character description laid out in the script, from personality to physical traits.
He said what seals the deal is a performer’s ability to “be big enough to an audience,” to project the character with enough personality to captivate everyone watching.
On the other end, for an actor, the mental preparation for an audition varies from person to person.
Laura Gutierrez, an English junior, said when she is in front of the casting directors auditioning, she loses herself in the character, allowing everything else around her to slowly fade away.
Guitierrez said one piece of advice for any actor interested in auditioning for the first time is to be bold.
“I think for this industry,” she said. “You have to want it more than anyone else.”
The Rider observed junior Valentina Capistran’s theater audition. As she walked into the audition room, she approached the accompanist and handed over her sheet music.
Capistran then proceeded to introduce herself to the casting directors, took a step back and with a small breath started her monologue, an excerpt from “Container of Sharks!” by Don Zolidis.
Her monologue, which itself was somewhat about an audition, depicted the range of emotions someone can feel when being judged on their performance.
After Capistran stepped out of the room, The Rider asked her to describe the feeling of auditioning in one word.
“Fast,” she replied. “A lot faster than you think.”
Capistran added that technical issues with the accompanist not having the right tempo for her song added to her nerves, but in the end she felt it went fine.
Once the final curtain falls on the audition process, a marathon session that can see more than 50 hopefuls in a single night of three, the real work of casting begins.
Edmonson describes a collaborative deliberation process, making final decisions with input from the music director, pianist and stage manager.
He explains they consider not only the audition performance but also the actor’s work ethic as they “narrow it down until we find the perfect fit.”
“The Rocky Horror Show” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 through 25, at 2 p.m. on Oct 26 and at 10 p.m. on Oct 31 in the UTRGV Albert L. Jeffers Theatre on the Edinburg campus. For tickets, visit showpass.com.
