Every year, all 6th-11th grade students must participate in an end of the year evaluation. This evaluation, which doubles as their final exam, consists of a performance and interview by Mr. Rodriguez and Mrs. Hann. The goal of this jury process is to give our young actors constructive feedback to help them identify goals for the following year on how best to further develop as an actor and person.
6-10th Grade students must present
- Two contrasting one-minute monologues. Students have two minutes total to perform and should NOT go overtime. The timer starts AFTER your slate. Your slate should include your name, the name of the pieces you are performing, and the first and last name of the playwright. An exception is William Shakespeare, when just the last name should be used. Including the character names is optional.
Similar to their initial DSA audition, monologues should be from published plays, from plays they’ve never performed before – ie. new material, and should challenge the student. STUDENTS SHOULD NOT DO MONOLOGUES FROM THESCON, PREVIOUS AUDITIONS OR PREVIOUS SHOWS THEY HAVE BEEN IN EITHER OUTSIDE OR WITHIN DSA. Students are graded on their introduction/slate, transitions between monologues, professional demeanor during the jury, and preparedness.
- A minimum one page self evaluation essay
Students should write an essay addressing their strengths and weaknesses as an actor and an overall self-evaluation of their year.
11th Grade must do the same requirements except perform two additional contrasting monologues (for a total of 4 monologues) and one 16 bar cut of a musical theatre song. JUNIORS MAY DO MONOLOGUES THEY HAVE PERFORMED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. Each student must also create a professional website using the guidelines handed out in class. A mock college interview is also part of the jury.
Appropriate professional dress is required for juries. Please select clothing that best fits your gender identity. Professional attire means: dress pants, dress shirt or blouse, dress shoes/socks/belt; long skirt, dressy blouse, dress shoes that you can move in; optional: suit or suit coat.
A note on jewelry — less is best. Let us focus on your acting, rather than your accessories. Dark colors are good for professional appearance, (black, navy, forest green, maroon). Students with longer hair should pull it back out of the face and eyes. Your face and eyes are two of your most important tools as an actor—let us see them.At any audition outside DSA you should be in professional attire as well, especially Thespian Convention, representing DSA in a classic fashion.
College auditions at the Thespian convention are similar in format. If a student is considering “Musical Theatre” as a major, students must sing one song, and perform one monologue—making sure that there is a contrast in styles of pieces. In acting, students must perform two contrasting monologues. The auditors stress that students should refrain from using dialects or accents in pieces. Their main interest is natural acting and a contrast.