<p>So, I know that there is no MT major at Juilliard (I also posted this on Theatre/Drama) but I feel that this board is visited more often and there might be some here who can answer!</p>
<p>I used to post here regularly a few years ago as a prospective BFA MT major. I after spending a year at a top MT Conservatory I left and have worked professionally in NY; however, I decided to apply and audition for Juilliard's Acting Program (which I did not do while in HS) to see what would happen.</p>
<p>Last time around, I wore a nice pair of Khaki pants and a button down shirt (very dress casual, in between normal school wear and going to see a Bway show wear, haha) and I found it very successful. However, I am really not sure what to wear to my Juilliard audition. (IMPORTANT: I am male)</p>
<p>I originally was planning on wearing a very nice pair of jeans with a tucked in nice button down shirt (slightly fancier than my past outfits because I did feel a little underdressed at the MT auditions). But, on the audition requirements page it says "Applicants are asked to wear comfortable clothing that permits freedom of movement." To me that sounds like jazz pants or breakaways with a T-Shirt or Polo... but I can't imagine that is what people wear to their Juilliard auditions.</p>
<p>So, preferably from someone who goes/went to Juilliard or at least from anyone who auditioned or knows what people actually wear, what are your thoughts? Jeans and button down (dressier or more casual?), or almost dance class-like clothes... What do most guys wear?</p>
<p>Most of the guys we saw last year were not wearing jeans. They were wearing casual dress pants and shirts with collars, such as you mentioned above.</p>
<p>The reason that they say they want you to be able to move is that you do a group warm up/improv where, for instance, they might ask you to pretend to be an animal.</p>
<p>I auditioned for Juilliard around this time a year ago in San Francisco, and only one girl was called back in my group- she wore sweatpants and converse, and had her hair pulled back in a ponytail. I couldn't really say what would be most appropriate for guys, but what NotMamaRose suggests sounds very appropriate. It seemed gutsy to me that the girl had been so casual, but when I think about how I had to take my heels off in order to participate in warm-ups, it makes a great deal of sense that the auditors from Juilliard would rather see comfy than fancy. </p>
<p>(In short, I would take the advice they give on "dressing to move" very seriously.)</p>
<p>There is a MAJOR difference between Musical Theatre School and prestigious theatre Schools. I find MT is a bit more about looking dressed up where Theatre doesn't care as much. I'v auditioned for MT and Acting and found a MAJOR difference.</p>
<p>Yes, the kids auditioning for musical theater are generally much more well turned out/polished than are the kids who audition for straight acting. My D, who is now at college for musical theater, auditioned at a few straight acting programs, too, and was frankly surprised at how, well, sloppy some of the actors were! Some of them wore baggy sweats or ripped jeans and grungy/dirty-looking graphic tee shirts. </p>
<p>I am sure there are several examples of kids who have gotten into top acting schools wearing sweats and jeans, so if you want to do that, that's certainly your prerogative! But in my view, auditioning for a school is like applying for a job: you want to show the panel that you <em>care</em> about how you come off and that you are care enough to take the trouble to wear something nice. </p>
<p>I hate to say this, but some of the kids we saw who were dressed the worst were also the ones who seemed to go out of their ways to do ostentatious warm ups in front of everyone else to show off how intense and serious they were. My theory is that those kids thought that coming to an important audition dressed down was, well, "edgy" and "daring." I thought it just made them look like they were trying to be impressive by doing the opposite of what they should do. :)</p>
<p>The Juilliard gang at SF was the best dressed of everyone we saw in all the auditions we saw. Dress well. (We saw suits and ties for guys. We saw nice pants outfits for the girls.)</p>
<p>I hesitate to say you should dress like you are applying for a job because we have young people come to our office to apply wearing jeans and T-shirts all the time. One girl even came in with wet hair! My theory is that they don't really want a job, they just have to APPLY FOR or at least INQUIRE ABOUT a certain number of jobs each week to continue to draw unemployment benefits. Don't let your attire make the auditors think you really don't want the "job."</p>