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The Art of the Audition

For High School Students

December 2, 2020

Prepare, practice and perfect your material in a three-session series to help you nail that college or professional audition. Over the course of three weeks, Broadway’s Matthew Scott (Sondheim on Sondheim, An American in Paris, Jersey Boys) breaks down the different skills needed for both college and professional auditions and then helps you select the best material, refine your role, tame anxiety, dress to impress and more. Then polish your piece with a practice audition featuring feedback from Signature’s Resident Casting Director Kelly Crandall d’Amboise and ArtsCentric Artistic Director and professional actor Kevin McAllister.

This individually tailored series is limited to a few students, so sign up today.

Session Breakdown:

All sessions take place over Zoom from 7:30 – 9PM

December 2: College. Matthew Scott covers all aspects of college preparation from how to choose the right material, school selection and research, handling challenging text including Shakespeare and more.

December 9: Professional. Matthew delves into professional auditions with his “Before the Door” and “After the Door” preparation system. From creating an audition book, how to dress, taming anxiety and doubt, working with accompanists and readers to taking your time and spreading joy, learn how to stand out from the crowd and make an impression.

December 16: Practice. Now is the time to practice all you’ve learned. Perform your pieces in a mock audition for both Signature’s Resident Casting Director Kelly Crandall d’Amboise and ArtsCentric Artistic Director Kevin McCallister. Kelly and Kevin then give constructive feedback to refine your audition and ensure you are ready to take center stage.

The Instructors:

Matthew Scott SIGNATURE: Company, First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb, Ace, Side By Side By Sondheim. BROADWAY: Grand Horizons, An American In Paris, Sondheim On Sondheim, A Catered Affair, Jersey Boys, The Best Little Whorehouse… (Actors’ Fund). WEST END: I Loved Lucy (Arts Theatre). REGIONAL: Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, Paper Mill Playhouse, Signature Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Co., Pittsburgh CLO, Muny, TUTS, Goodspeed Opera, Alliance Theatre, York Theatre Co., O’Neill Theatre Center. TELEVISION: First You Dream: The Music Of Kander & Ebb (PBS), All My Children, 2006 and 2009 Tony Awards. RECORDINGS: Sondheim On Sondheim; Jerome Kern: The Land Where The Good Songs Go; Noel And Cole. EDUCATION: Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. Twitter: @thematt_scott, Instagram: m.a.t.t.h.e.w_s.c.o.t.t

Kelly Crandall d’AmboiseSIGNATURE: Resident Casting Director. Light Years (Choreographer), An Act of God (Musical Staging); Motown 2 and Entirely Elvis (Director); Crazy for You (Associate Director); Billy Elliot, La Cage, Cabaret, The Studio (Associate Choreographer). CONCERTS: Director: Lincoln Center Winter Gala 2018 (starring Patti LaBelle and Jennifer Holliday), Kravis Night of Stars (starring Chita Rivera),RESPECT: The Music of Aretha (featuring Michelle Williams), Let’s Misbehave: Cole Porter After Dark (with Liz Calloway). CHOREOGRAPHY: DC AREA: Olney: The Crucible; Next Stop: Urinetown; The American Pops Orchestra. REGIONAL: Connecticut Rep: Newsies!. PERFORMANCE: BROADWAY: The Boy from Oz (Original Cast), Chicago, Dirty Dancing (workshop), Last Dance (workshop). NATIONAL TOURS: Chicago, The Producers. NEW YORK: Susan Stroman’s A Christmas Carol; NYC Opera: The Most Happy Fella. FILM: Disney’s A Christmas Carol, What Women Want. TV: The TONY Awards, The Academy Awards, Penn & Teller’s Sin City Spectacular, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Kevin McAllister SIGNATURE: Blackbeard, Grand Hotel, Ain’t Misbehavin’, A Little Night Music, Titanic, SCKBSTRD, Brother Russia, The Break, Show Boat, Sweeney Todd. BROADWAY: Come from Away. DC AREA: Washington National Opera: Lost In The Stars, Ford’s Theatre: The Wiz, Ragtime, 110 In The Shade, Freedom’s Song, Spelling Bee, Violet (Helen Hayes nomination), Our Town, Parade (Helen Hayes nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actor), The Civil War; Arena Stage: Five Guys Named Moe, Olney: Annie (Helen Hayes nomination) Cinderella; Kennedy Center: 2013 Gala, James and the Giant Peach, The Phantom Tollbooth; CenterStage: Expanding the Cycle Series; Toby’s: Rent, Dreamgirls, Ragtime (Helen Hayes nomination, Outstanding Lead Actor); Teatro 101: Brooklyn, Side Show, Wild Party; Artistic Director, ArtsCentric, Inc. AWARDS: 2016 and 2018 Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Lead Actor in A Musical.

Class will take place over Zoom.

Registration will close at 6PM the day of the event.