Auditions may be for individual productions or for an entire season. They can also be for one theatre company or for several as in the case of regional combined auditions that happen around the country, particularly from January through March. Auditions for individual shows usually involve reading from the script. The actors may read with other actors throughout the audition, or the actors can read lines with a staff person. Generally, there are two basic types of auditions: open casting auditions, also well known as “cattle calls,” and casting auditions, or casting interviews.
Closed Casting Auditions - TV/Film
Most established actors, especially those with agent, set their sights on attending casting auditions. A casting audition occurs when a casting director releases the news that a certain role is being cast for, that requires an approximate age range and appearance, such as a certain ethnicity, height, build or look. This information is normally filtered to agents through particular channels such as Breakdown Services, Ltd., The Link, Theatrical Index, and other information sources, and your agent (if you have one) sets up the casting auditions. When agents receive word of a casting audition, they immediately send out all the actors they represent who fit the type, and whom they think have a good shot at winning the role.
