<p>I have my CMU audition for the acting program on Sunday. I understand what the requirments are and I feel prepared, but can anybody help me more with what to expect? What are they looking for? I’m desperate for as much information as possible because this is one of my first choice schools and this is the first one I’m auditioning for.</p>
<p>Thank You!</p>
<p>Martha, break a leg! I would suggest you take some time today and read through the various threads on this board about Carnegie Mellon. I think there are plenty of posts made by kids who went through auditions at CMU and can tell you what to expect. CMU is an amazing school!</p>
<p>My son is at CMU for acting. He had a very nice audition there - it seemed friendly and comfortable. The other students auditioning also seemed nice and exchanged experiences while they were waiting. As a warning, though, they did ask him to do his monologue as a chicken, as a stand-up Brooklyn comic, and something else, I don't remember just what. Good luck.</p>
<p>Pennmom's description fits my son's experience last spring. He's there for MT/Acting this year. CMU faculty are encouraging throughout the audition and the general "buzz" among students and parents there for the audition is positive, not competitive. Have your material ready but also be ready to work with the faculty since that's a key part of fit--can you take direction and work from a new perspective when asked to interpret something differently. Being able to be relaxed and enjoy that interaction will make this much more fun (even though it's probably hard to think "fun" right now!).</p>
<p>I have heard that the CMU faculty is famous for asking auditioners to (as Kedstuff said) do their monologues from different perspectives, from the famous chicken to others that are even more far out! I think they want kids who not only are willing to take direction, but also are not afraid to take risks. Break a leg, everyone! :)</p>
<p>You'll do great, DearMartha! My son will be there auditioning, too. It is also a top choice for him. We are wondering whether there will be many at this first audition of the "season."</p>
<p>My D was at the first CMU audition 2 years ago -- there were only about 10 people there. And yes, she was asked to do a variety of different things with her monologue. It was one of her most enjoyable auditions!</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! I think it will be good to have the first of the auditions behind us!</p>
<p>Kedstuff, Were you at family weekend last weekend? Did your son perform in the senior/freshman cabaret? We watched that and were very entertained.</p>
<p>I have to agree with Pennmom and Kedstuff that the faculty was very encouraging during the audition last year. My daughter felt great about everyone she met and auditioned for and felt that they really wanted her to do well! It was a great audition experience for her and she is loving being at CMU this year for sure! </p>
<p>We loved the freshman/senior cabaret too last weeked! All the kids were just wonderful!! Kedstuff what did your son sing?</p>
<p>Good Luck to all of you auditioning at CMU this weekend. My daughter will be there helping and would be thrilled to answer any question she can about CMU! :)</p>
<p>Thanks, Kaysmom--we'll look for her! Glad to hear all the kids love CMU!</p>
<p>The CMU auditions on Sunday seemed very well-organized. There was a brief info session conducted by a faculty member and an admissions officer, and then the auditions began. While the kids were auditioning, the parents had a mini-tour of the drama building given by sophomores. My son was there for acting, he was first to audition, and so he was done before me! He reported that his audition consisted of presenting his monologue to a faculty member, chatting with that faculty member, then presenting to a second group of auditors. At the second stop, he was asked to do one of his monologues again, to do that monologue two different ways, to do a third monologue, and to do that one two different ways. He received some fairly general feedback and chatted with the faculty members. He was pretty comfortable at CMU, as he had attended the summer program there, and all-in-all it was a positive experience.</p>
<p>I would say there may have been about 30 students auditioning, mostly mts. It seemed like the mts were ramdomly assigned to groups, some dancing first, some singing first, some acting first. </p>
<p>There has been some discussion on CC about what to wear to auditions. I would say that at CMU the kids were dressed more casually than expected. A number had jeans (and some of the jeans were not new!), some had untucked shirts, etc. You could tell the mt girls, because they were more dressed up, many wearing spikey heels.</p>
<p>At the info session we learned that they aim to accept 28-30 students into the Freshman BFA class--and they consider acting and mts together in that number. CMU is committed to these students; it is not a cut program and they do a lot to help connect students with jobs once they complete the 4 years. However, they expect to see over 1200 students at auditions and they cautioned that they can not accept all the very talented students they see.</p>
<p>I hope this is helpful for students who will be auditioning at later dates! Good luck!</p>
<p>Hi Kaysmom,
I sent you a private message.....
Thanks for all the info!</p>
<p>Is it March yet? Thank goodness my d will handle this wait better than I will. I agree with you all - the feeling of encouragement from the CMU auditors is wonderful. I think just hearing that they are "on your side" from the beginning frees up these kids to be more open and take more risks during their time with the auditors. They get a boost of confidence before they even get started. I continue to be amazed and in awe of the courage these kids have to do what they do....to be faced with rejection one day and show up the next to do it again.</p>
<p>I love CMU, i did the pre college program this past summer and i think the school is awesome...i want to make sure my audition is THE BEST it can be.</p>
<p>any suggestions?</p>
<p>CMU is very interested in your potential as an actor. Be prepared to do variations on your monologues -- you may be asked to improvise or to approach the monologue as a different character, i.e. a stand-up comic, an elephant, etc. If this happens, don't be afraid to really go for it -- they WANT you to take risks.</p>