So, let me just start by saying that if you haven’t checked out my previous article on Shakespeare auditions for people who have never done Shakespeare, you should definitely check it out. Would you like to know why?
I got the callback… and then I got hired!
I may be dramatic, but for someone who has never done Shakespeare before, this is a big deal to me. I took everything I could from Google and YouTube, sat down, and studied for hours to even understand what I was reading. And it paid off!
(If you were curious, I’ve been hired as the 3rd Witch, Lady Macduff, Fleance, and Gentlewoman! I’m so excited!!)
This article is about what to expect when walking into an in-person Shakespeare callback. I sent in a selftape audition, so I had no clue as to what an in-person Shakespeare callback would be like. I was sure it was going to be terrifying. But it wasn’t!
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Here is what I experienced:
You get there, at least 30 minutes early.
There wasn’t a parking lot for this theater, when I thought there was going to be. I got majorly lucky, because at least there was a little street parking one street over.
You walk in and sign in with the nice lady at the desk.
Obviously I can’t speak for every person at the front desk of a callback, but this lady was very nice! Also, side note–always be nice to the front desk people. Always.
You sit and wait for them to call your name.
Be sure to center yourself; you got this! You’ve done your studying, you’ve packed your audition bag, you’ve made sure to prepare for this audition. You don’t have to worry anymore.
You find the nearest restroom.
If you’re anything like me, your bladder might get very small when you’re nervous. As much as I’d love to be 100% confident, I’m also 100% going to have to use the restroom before my callback. Find the restroom.
They call your name.
By this point, if you’re in my situation, you’ve been sitting (or pacing) for about 30 minutes now and when you hear your name you feel nervous, excited and nauseous all at once.
You meet the director and walk in.
In this case, he is a very nice man with a British accent, apologizing for running behind!
You get introduced to the casting director.
He says that he remembers your selftape because you’re wearing that exact shirt! It’s nice to be memorable! (Also, it’s a very cool shirt that looks practically Shakespearean and you can’t help but pat yourself on the back for your fashion choice.)
They interview you first.
They collect your headshot and resume and start to look over it. They ask you questions about the things on your resume, what your experience was like, and your training. They also ask about your day job, how you started Shakespeare, and then when they find out that you’ve never done Shakespeare before, they tell you that it’s more about authenticity than what’s on your resume and you practically faint out of joy.
Then you perform your monologue.
For my case, they asked for the same monologue that I auditioned with.
They give you feedback on your monologue.
And they were very kind about it. They said that I experienced rather than showed them the piece, and they liked that.
They confirm the dates of the rehearsals and performances with you.
You have checked these dates prior to the callback, and you have no conflicts whatsoever. I’m sure one or two would be okay, but I really don’t like missing out.
You thank them profusely for letting you audition and then calling you back.
I mean, who wouldn’t? If you’re me, you have literally no Shakespeare on your resume and no Shakespearean training at all. You feel amazed to be there at all.
And then you gather your things and go home.
At this point I call my mom and my boyfriend because it was just so much fun and I want to tell them all about it. Neither of them pick up, because they’re busy people with their own lives, but I call them later on in the day.
That’s your rundown on what a Shakespeare callback is like!
Nifty, ain’t it? I don’t know why I stressed so much about what it was going to be like. It had the basic format of every other audition I’ve been on, so I don’t know what I was afraid of. It’s an audition! Just have fun! I left smiling my butt off, and I wish I could share that feeling with everyone I know.
If you’ve been to other Shakespeare callbacks or auditions and they were nothing like this, please comment below, because I want to know what you experienced. I want to be mentally prepared!
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