Information on past shows
Details on Shows
With the play, ELPer show, and musical, EVERYONE who auditions, gets into the show. However with the one-act competition piece, not everyone gets in since it is a competition. Then, for the ELPer play, only ELPers can act in it, but high schoolers can do tech for the show. The one-act competition is only for high schoolers. Along with all of the above, you can participate in the individual theatre competition, but ELPers cannot. If that interests you, please email Mrs. Stacey. That also takes place in early Spring. For the individual theatre competition, you can participate in a pantomime scene, a classical or contemporary scene, a dramatic or comedic monologue, or a musical theatre piece.
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THE AUDITION PROCESS
The audition process looks a little bit different for each show, and you want to make sure you understand how exactly to audition. All auditions happen after school.
For the musical, you need around a 16 bar cut (approximately a minute and a half of singing, but it can be more or less) of any song that you will sing! You can sing it with or without a background track. Then there is a dance portion and an acting portion. The dance portion you learn and perform at the audition, and the acting portion you are given sides (a side is like a short script you perform for an audition) depending on which character you are auditioning for. The sides you can read over and practice with before the audition, but memorization is not necessary. Callbacks (callbacks are similar to an audition, but not everyone is invited to callbacks, only those who the director feels they need more time with before making their decision on who should get the role) are usually held the next day.Â
For the play/ELPer play/One-act competition, you do not do a dance or singing audition, usually just the acting work with sides. Sometimes with these shows, Mrs. Stacey wants to see more than just acting, like a movement portion, or something like that. Callbacks are also usually the day after, except for ELPer play callbacks, which usually happen the same day. For any additional information, please contact us.
What's it like in a show?
Being in a show at West is not easy, and definitely has a large time requirement. However, we do try to accommodate if you have other commitments like a sport or other after school activity. But, you need to tell Mrs. Stacey about this other activity during auditions, so she knows. Rehearsals happen everyday after school from 3:00 to around 5:00, but those times change as it gets closer to the show. You do not need to come for every rehearsal! The rehearsals you have to come for depend on your character, or your job if you are doing tech. When the show is only a week away or less, you are expected to stay until much later, like 6:30 or 7:00. There are also some Saturday rehearsals, but very, very few - usually less than two, but these rehearsals on Saturdays do last nearly the whole day. There are usually four performance dates, less than that for the ELPer show and One-act competition, For performances you are absolutely required to be there for the entire time. Do not worry, rehearsal schedules are posted before auditions, so you have all this information before you are even in the show. Additionally, it is expected you do work outside of rehearsal time, like memorizing your script, practicing blocking, etc. Though being a show is a lot of work, it is also so much fun, and a really memorable experience so we hope to see you at future auditions!
