This spring, the Ridge High School Drama Club will be performing The Addams Family for its annual musical. While the Addams’ eerie mannerisms (the opening is an annual gathering with their deceased loved ones in a macabre graveyard) will surely unsettle audience members, greater horrors strike fear into the hearts of aspirant actors and actresses. Unflattering spotlights, traitorous voice cracks, temperamental memories – these are the truly bloodcurdling horrors of musical auditions.

The school musical audition is a quintessential element of the high school experience for many; it’s an opportunity to develop one’s voice, endure pressure, and build self-confidence. In fact, the process embodies the mission of secondary schooling itself: to challenge students with daunting experiences, but make them better off for it. Perhaps some of the following compiled audition hacks can ease these growing pains.

1. “Get to know the upperclassmen who have been involved in previous Ridge productions. The more you find out about auditions, the more confident you will be. Make sure to be meticulous about what is required of you. What does the audition entail? Singing? Dancing? Monologues? Are there forms to be filled out? Do you need to schedule times? Experienced drama students can help you figure out and prepare the logistics.” -Rohin Verma ‘17

2. “Don’t worry too much about the callback list. If you’re not on it, that just means that the staff has seen enough of your talent in order to decide which role fits you best. They’re confident in their choice about you. Also, you could still be eligible for the role you want. Don’t assume the worst!” – Tim Youtkus ‘16

3. “Choose contrasting characters to display as much of your talent as possible. The audition is meant to give directors a sense of how you will come across during the actual performance, so the more versatile of an actor/actress you are, the better.” -Sydney Vollmar ‘17

4. “Be animated, even when you’re singing! When you prepare, come up with facial expressions and gestures that mirror the piece. If you can, trying it out with a vocal teacher or a friend is a really good idea! Lots of people are willing to help, so definitely ask!” -Carolynne Conway ‘18

5. “My advice is simple: have fun! As cliché and unhelpful as that sounds, I think showing people that you actually enjoy auditioning really boosts your chances of landing the part. Why would they ever choose someone who looks miserable and nervous anyway? … Not only can you get involved by auditioning, but also by joining crew! Do you like to handle props, paint artistic sets, or control the lighting and sound at your fingertips? Then crew is totally a great first leap into your involvement with the musical!” -Emily Arakawa ‘16

6. “Nervousness is a part of life! Embrace it and turn it into adrenaline!” -Rahul Mirchandani ‘17

Although call-backs and monologues are elements specific to the theatre world, the wisdom bestowed upon us by the quoted drama students can easily be applicable to the greater high school experience. As Shakespeare once said, “All the world’s a stage.” Whether singing in the ensemble or waking up for yet another Monday morning, it’s always important to be prepared, be calm, and be yourself. Perhaps if high-schoolers approached everyday life like an audition, they would all shine in the great drama of life.