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AUDITIONING FOR "NEWSIES"

STEP ONE: RESEARCH
Please get as familiar as you can with the content! ​
THE HISTORY:

NEWSIES is based on an actual historical event. Please make yourself familiar with it! 

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THE MOVIE: 

NEWSIES was first made into a film in 1992. You can find out where to stream it HERE. It's not our favorite example, but it's a cult classic, so you might want to check it out.  NOTE: Please... do not COPY what the actors/actresses are doing.  We prefer you to watch it only one time just so you can get a sense of the plot and characters.  

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THE MUSICAL:

In 2012, NEWSIES premiered on Broadway. A live taping was made in 2017, and you can find out where to stream it HERE!

And HERE is a link to another professional production that we found on Youtube, that we would recommend! 

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THE MUSIC:

Listen to the Original Broadway Soundtrack! On Amazon, Apple Music,  Youtube, or Spotify. 

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Once you're super familiar with the story and the show, you can start to think about which characters you identify with, which you think you're right for, and which characters would challenge you at this stage in your training!  Please prepare 2 or 3 different characters so we can see some RANGE!

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EVERYONE auditioning should pick at least one male character to audition with.  (ie, please don't come in with just Katherine, Hannah and Medda :) 

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As a reminder, HERE is a link to the character breakdowns!

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STEP TWO: SCHEDULE YOUR AUDITION & CALLBACK

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You are now ready to schedule your audition and callback appointments!  

 GO HERE to schedule (or update) the time of your  appointments. 

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STEP THREE: ATTEND ORIENTATION

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May 28th (10-10:40am) on Zoom

Here's a link to Orientation for those who missed!  

https://youtu.be/vh4JaWwOUX4

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STEP FOUR: PREPARE!

 

WE REALIZE THIS IS A LOT OF MATERIAL!

THE SHOW HAS SPECIFIC NEEDS AND WE NEED TO SEE ALL OF THIS IN ACTION TO PROPERLY CAST. 

YOUR TIME AND WORK IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!

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The Dance Portion:

We want EVERYONE to show us this choreo at auditions - even if you're not auditioning for any characters who dance. 

If you're able to join us on June 11th from 12-1pm, we are teaching the audition choreography @ Anisa's School of Dance. 

If you can't attend, here are the YouTube clips with some basic choreo for you to study and learn at home, and show us at auditions!

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Newsies Audition Choreo - TIME STEP

Newsies Audition Choreo - King of New York (real time, with music)

Newsies Audition Choreo - King of New York (broken down, without music)

Backing Track for King of New York  (start at 3min, 20 sec)​

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The Vocal Portion:

* Prepare 2 to 3 characters (information below). 

* You will likely be singing at the initial audition "a capella" (without recorded or live accompaniment). But there are tracks in the folder for you to practice with, and we may use them at your audition. 

* It's usually a good idea to bring a copy of your sheet music in the room, but we would really like you to be memorized! 

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Accompaniment Tracks for your audition can be found HERE:

 https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/120RkISCUNbOSBRbCyFjBlFp86QzOQhLy?usp=sharing

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The Acting/Reading Portion:

* Prepare 2 to 3 characters (information below). 

* Be prepared to show us the reading in a dialect/accent! (It doesn't have to be perfect :) 

​* It's best to bring a copy of your sides in the room, but we would really like you to be memorized!  

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Acting Sides/Sheet Music can be found HERE:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XxTMX70rtqeMjHDzX07YpsBytOZQIa2g?usp=sharing

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If Auditioning for a PRINCIPAL ROLE: (JACK, KATHERINE, DAVEY, PULITZER, CRUTCHIE, MEDDA, LES) 

  • Acting Side/Song– Find your character at the link above and complete the entire packet 

  • If submitting for DAVEY, please do the ENSEMBLE NEWSIES material below. 

 

If Auditioning for an ENSEMBLE NEWSIE (OR: SPOT CONLON, OSCAR or MORRIS DELANCEY, BILL, or DARCY)

  • Acting Sides/Songs– Find your character at the link above and complete the entire packet 

 

If Auditioning for MALE ENSEMBLE NON-NEWSIE ROLES (WEISEL, STAGE MANAGER, JACOBI, MAYOR, BUNSEN, SEITZ, SNYDER, ROOSEVELT)

  • Acting Side –  Complete the entire packet for Jacobi and Weisel (at above link)

  • Song– please sing any 32 bar cut (1 min) of your choice from Newsies

 

If Auditioning for FEMALE ENSEMBLE NON-NEWSIE ROLES (HANNAH, NUNS, or BOWERY BEAUTIES)

  • Acting Side –  Complete the entire packet for Hannah (at above link)

  • Song – please sing any 32 bar cut (1 min) of your choice from Newsies

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TIPS ON PREPARATION:

  • Auditions are competitive and roles are limited.  Knowledge of the music and the show is required. Show us what role you deserve. It's always obvious to us who is prepared and it makes a huge impression.  Practice over and over - practice in front of your parents and siblings!  Ask them for feedback.

  • You will perform a lot better if you are memorized. Always bring your sheet music/sides with you just in case, but if you never have to look at them, it will make a much better impression! Being off-book frees up your hands to express yourself, and frees up your face and eyes so we can connect to you emotionally (instead of you looking at a paper).

  • Work on projecting loudly and articulating clearly. 

  • In addition to your musical proficiency and competency, we are looking to see you act a character through song and dance. Just as (or MORE) important as a pretty voice is the way you ACT out your song. Tell us a STORY with your song! We want to see that you can use your body, your hands and your facial expressions at the same time as you sing. We know, it seems obvious, but we see so many stand-and-sing performances!

  • It's very, very important that you make bold, exciting choices and give the character a strong personality - that is much more important to us than having you sing or act perfectly!  We can even sometimes change the key of the song for the right actor.  

  • Do some character research!  Watch videos of other performers doing your song and decide what it is you like about their performance, or don't like, and WHY.  Were you bored because they just stood there and sang with their hands by their sides?  Were you entertained because they acted out the lyrics well and had great facial expressions?  Did you like the way they voiced the character?  Did they choose things to do physically that helped tell the story?   Did they have an interesting emotional arc?  How was their energy?  What can you do to make some memorable choices about your song and scene?  :)   

  • Be familiar with the style of the show. Is it realistic/naturalistic, or cartoonish/over the top? It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the show.... but please do NOT merely imitate another actor's performances.

  • The key to comedy?... timing, being in the moment and making fresh choices!​

  • If you do work with a vocal coach or acting coach on your audition, that is totally fine. But we ask that during the rehearsal process, you honor the direction, tastes and creative choices of your director, producer and musical director rather than any private coaches. 

  • We are not expecting a perfect, finished product from you. It's only the beginning of the production process, and it's our job to direct you to make you even better. But we DO want to see you give it all you've got!

 

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STEP FIVE: YOUR FIRST AUDITION 

@ 14236 Emelita Street, Sherman Oaks

  • Your audition appointment will last approximately 15 minutes and appointments are booked closely together, so please make every effort to arrive on time (or early!) We are on a tight schedule. 

  • Bring your registration contract/audition form. We would like to know your vocal range, if possible, so if you do have a vocal coach or private teacher, please check it with them and write it on your form.

  • Bring your lyrics and sides with you, just in case!!! (yes, even if you are memorized).

  • When you get dressed and do your hair, you may want to try to match the persona of the character. It really helps!  This does not mean you should come in full costume (a suggestion of the character is the more professional route). 

  • Wear your hair back off your face.

  • Wear shoes and clothes that you can easily move around in.

  • Please don't make ANY apologies or excuses ("I'm under the weather," etc).  Just walk in smiling and be your awesome, confident self!  (even if you have to fake it 'til you make it!)

  •  Try not to be too nervous. We are totally rooting for you!!! :) 

STEP SIX: CALLBACKS 

@ 14236 Emelita Street, Sherman Oaks

  • We ask that you please respect other students by not posting to social media about your audition process, or otherwise behaving in a manner that could be considered insensitive. 

  • We need to see everyone for callbacks. We will let you know exactly what to prepare. 

  • Callbacks will occur thru June 22. After that, we will be taking some time to discuss casting and do the hard work of deciding and scheduling! We MAY call a few of you back in for a second callback (June 23-26).

  • If you choose to pull out of the program at any time, your deposit will not be refunded. 

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STEP SEVEN: GETTING YOUR PART(S!)

  • On Monday, June 27 you will attend the first day of camp, get your parents, and we will do our first rehearsal/table read! We do not share our casting choices before then. 

  • We know there will be a few disappointed students. The table read is the only opportunity that we will be open to talking with the students about casting. An example of an inappropriate question is: "why didn't I get the part I wanted?" A more appropriate question to ask is, "What should I work on to improve in future auditions?"

  • We do not discuss casting decisions with parents, at all.  Please trust us and be supportive of our casting decisions. 

  • Thank you for reading all of this and getting this far!

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