Karen Kohlhaas Workshop at Theatre Resources Unlimited (11/17/09)

I attended an outstanding workshop last night with Karen Kohlhaas (http://www.monologueaudition.com/) through Theatre Resources Unlimited (http://www.truonline.org/). I've always heard great things about Karen, and after getting the honor of being selected to work with her last night, I know now why she is so great. Here are some of my notes:

Study the door at an audition so you can plan your entrance. What is the least amount of effort will you have to use to close it? Will it close on it's own? Are there steps coming in? You want to enter with ease.

Choose each step in and out of the room. They are the steps you take to reach your dream, coming in and going out.

You are the dance partner in an audition, you follow the casting director by being there, ready and giving out positive energy.

THE GREETING:

• Be you, not the character.
• Have an intention to share something that comes from the best part of you in the moment (does not have to be positive).
• Answer ideas to: "How are you?" "I'm great, just finished a show that I am really proud of/ just got back from a great vacation."
• Answer ideas to: "Tell me about yourself." Anything, non theatre related, that you can tell them to give them a vivid image of you. Example: "I spend my weekends working at an animal shelter."

Don't try to show too much in your audition piece. All it needs to show is you changing from one thing to another.

COLD READING:

• Connect to the person and to the material.
• Face your scene partner and be far enough back that you can take them in 100%, cheat out with your heart.
• Be out of the script on their line, look down to read your line off the page, taking as much as you can to other person, but DO NOT memorize your line.
• Be ready for the words that help you make changes. Take everything at face value, if your character says "I'm sorry" then you go with that intention.
• Always hold the script even if you have memorized it.

Know what you are auditioning for; the director, theatre, style. Don't do a dark piece for a theatre who's mission is positive messages.