what we do in a year
For the fall Musical, EVERYONE who auditions, gets into the show. However with the Play, Play Pro show and one-act competition piece, not everyone gets in since it is a competition. Then, for the ELPer performance, only ELPers can audition and everyone will get a role, but high schoolers can do tech for the show.
The UHSAA Theatre competition is only for high schoolers. You can participate in the individual theatre competition as long as you are 9th-12th grade.
Region 2025 will take place in March
All students who qualify will attend State in April.
For the individual theatre competition, the categories you can compete in are: Pantomime
Classical or contemporary scenes
Dramatic or Comedic Monologues
Musical Theatre
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THE AUDITION PROCESS
The audition process looks a little bit different for each show, and we want you to make sure you understand how exactly to audition. All auditions happen after school.
For the musical, you will need around a 16 bar cut (approximately a minute of song, but it can be more or less) of any song that you will sing! It can be from the show or not! 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.
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, we will want to see more than just acting, like a movement portion, or for character relationship. 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 us about your conflicts this during auditions. Listed conflicts will be excused. 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 no more than two, but these rehearsals on Saturdays do last nearly the whole day. There can be anywhere from one to four nights of performances depending on the type of show.
For performances you are absolutely required to be there for the entire time. Do not worry, rehearsal schedules are posted on the week of 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 commitment, it is also so much fun, and a really memorable experience so we hope to see you at future auditions!