My Audition Experience: NYU Tisch

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>Alrighty, so my NYU Tisch audition was 8:30 AM today in NYC. I'm gonna explain how the process went for me so those of you who are auditioning can know the basics of what to expect. Again, my audition was in New York, so out-of-town auditions may be different.</p>

<p>The first thing I noticed upon entering the holding room was how few auditioners there were; only 30 something, MAYBE 40 something. After a short speech about the Tisch program, the applicants were split into 3 groups of approximately 10 people each. Each group was led to a different room where one of Tisch's 3 auditors led us through the "movement evaluation."</p>

<p>For all you non-dancing actors out there who were fearing the movement evaluation: don't worry. There's NOTHING to fear. It was just 10-ish minutes of stretches and walking around. It just felt like warming up before any rehearsal and at no point did I feel like I was being "evaluated."</p>

<p>So, after that is when the monologueing/interviewing began! My group of 10-ish people auditioned for the auditor who led us through the warm-up and the other 2 groups auditioned for their respective auditor. So, yes, it was another one auditor audition, and if you read about my UCLA experience, you would know that I'm not a fan of the whole "one auditor" thing. But it was different at NYU. NYU=Nice auditor. UCLA=Battle-axe. NYU=3 auditors auditioning approximately 10 kids each UCLA=2 auditors auditioning approximately 40 kids each. So, there's a difference.</p>

<p>The audition order was determined by how early we submitted out application, not by when we arrived at the audition site. So, because of my amazing ability to turn forms in early, I was second on my group's list. After Ms. First Auditioner exited after a lengthy 10 minute audition, it was finally time for the second college audition of my 6 audition tour! My auditor was a very nice, sweet, blonde, pregnant woman. I forget her first name, but her last name was McMann, I believe.</p>

<p>Oh, and before I forget... You don't need to bring a physical picture and resume if you submitted them online when requested and if you're doing different monologue(s) than the one(s) you submitted online, just let your auditor know and they'll change it in their database. Your auditor will have a laptop with them and he/she will be taking all of his/her notes on it, so don't be surprised if you hear typing while you're acting.</p>

<p>Alright, now, the actual audition. First I did my very well prepared Eric Bogosian monologue. Then, I did my not-nearly-as-well-prepared-contrasting-contemporary-monologue-which-was-not-nearly-as-well-prepared-because-every-other-college-requires-a-Shakespearean-monologue. Then, we worked on my Bogosian for a while and didn't even talk about monologue number two, which I'm kinda glad about. After working on the Bogosian piece for a few minutes, I sat down at the table with Mrs. McMann and she asked me some questions about myself for a few more minutes, then the audition was over! I was in and out of there in under 90 minutes, and you will be too if you turned in your application early. </p>

<p>Overall, I thought it was a nice contrast to the incredibly impersonal UCLA audition. The Tisch audition was speedy, fun, and well-run. The auditors also spend a LONG time with you. </p>

<p>If anybody has any questions about the Tisch audition or wants to comment with their own experience, please, go ahead!</p>

<p>Next up: Juilliard, January 22nd, 9 AM in NYC...</p>

2

<p>You seem to have the same audition schedule as me thus far this week :slight_smile:
I auditioned for Tisch today too, and I have Juilliard tomorrow also!</p>

<p>I completely agree with you. The NYU audition is nothing to be feared, they want you to have fun with it. I was also the second person in my group to audition, and the auditioner spent about 15 - 20 minutes with me, which was a pleasant surprise! They really want to get to know you, and they ask you very good and answerable questions during the interview. They also let you play with your monologues - for instance, I had to do one of my monologues again as if I was desperately looking for a door which was not there.</p>

<p>Good luck to anyone who has yet to audition for NYU!</p>

3

<p>Thanks for posting this. My son is auditioning for Musical Theatre on the 29th so I guess it will be a little different with the additional singing evaluation. But it’s that movement evaluation that has him a little freaked out so your posts are very helpful! :slight_smile: It’s also nice to hear that they are selected in application order because he submitted back in October. It sounds like it went well for both of you. Best of luck!</p>

4

<p>The movement part of the audition for the Acting applicants is not the same as the dance audition for the MT applicants. The MT applicants actually dance, not simply move.</p>

5

<p>Soozievt, for the dance audition, will he need jazz shoes or can he do it barefoot or in sneakers? He’s a “mover” not a dancer so he doesn’t have them and we’d have to go buy them ASAP. This is his only MT audition and seemed like a good idea since he’s a very strong singer and they’ll consider him for the Acting Studios anyway.</p>

6

<p>You may wish to check with the school about footwear for the audition. Generally speaking, however, jazz shoes would be the best option. Barefoot or sneakers may work. Typically, my response would be that while I would not purchase attire just for the audition day necessarily, a student would need jazz shoes IN college anyway and in that regard, they may sense to purchase now. If one is going into MT, in other words, they need the proper equipment, not simply for the audition day itself. That said, it sounds like your son may not end up pursuing MT and applied mostly to acting schools. But if he has any interest in ever taking dance in college or going into MT, he really ought to own jazz shoes anyway. He’ll need them for dance classes and to attend MT auditions that have dance (for shows outside a school setting). So, in my view, they would then be worth purchasing (you can order them online).</p>

7

<p>Thanks for your prompt reply. Yes, the other auditions are for Acting programs so I hesitate to spend another $50 on this college application/audition process when he’s not sure he wants to focus on MT in college. But then again what’s another $50 when I’ve already spent so much?!!! :)</p>

8

<p>As I said, I would not spend that if it is just for this one audition outfit. But does your son have any interest in dong any dance classes in college? Auditioning for musicals on campus? In summers? Professionally? If the answer is yes to any of those, then jazz shoes are worth getting as he will need them for all those things. If the answer is no, I would not buy them at this time. But if the answer is no, I would wonder why he is even considering a MT program at all. He will have to dance a lot at NYU if accepted for MT.</p>

9

<p>Also, no need to spend $50 if you do purchase jazz shoes. If you order through Discount Dance Supply online, for example, they have Capezio Unisex class jazz oxfords for $29.95 on sale (I just checked for you) and several other pairs in the low 30’s. These may be handy to have for rehearsals if he is in any musicals in college.</p>

10

<p>My son is in a BFA acting program and the students need jazz shoes for a class that is part of the regular curriculum in the second semester of freshman year.</p>

<p>One way to look at it…students in BFA Acting programs generally spend very, very little on textbooks. :slight_smile: In that context, maybe a $30 - $50 pair of jazz shoes doesn’t seem so bad.</p>

11

<p>I agree on that point too. I have a child who has graduated from Tisch. She had less books to buy than her sister who got a BA degree, but had other school supplies like sheet music and specialized apparel (then again, her sister had specialized apparel for her college sports team that was very expensive and now in grad school has mucho amount of weekly art supplies, but I digress). But yes, a BFA may involve various school supplies in lieu of as much money on books that maybe a BA student might have. There are some books for academic classes and of course plays to buy. But any college student does have to have a “books and school supplies” budget and so jazz shoes fits that description due to the nature of a BFA program.</p>

12

<p>Oops, I have a typo in post #9…that should have been “CLASSIC” jazz oxfords, not “CLASS” jazz oxfords.</p>

13

<p>Yes, he’s not new to MT and will continue throughout college and thereafter so he, of course, has had jazz shoes but they have been outgrown…and he is still growing. My husband’s side of the family all had major growth spurts in college so you can imagine just how many pairs of shoes I will have to purchase over the next couple of years, lol! Thanks for the info on the Capezios.</p>

14

<p>did those in your group who were the first to audition have time to change from movement clothes to audition attire? did your fellow auditioners just wear their audition clothes during movement? </p>

<p>also on clothing, i’ve heard that nyu is pretty casual apparel-wise. what were most people wearing at your audition (girls in particular, if you can remember!).</p>

15

<p>If you’re first in your group to audition, you’d have to change very, VERY quickly, but if you’re second or later, you’ll have more than enough time to change. But, I do remember that at the conclusion of our warm-up, the auditor asked the first in our group if she wanted to change before her audition. So, auditors will give you a moment to change if you need it. Most people just did the movement in their audition clothes.</p>

<p>If you’re auditioning for acting, you really don’t need to dress in movement clothing anyway. I wore jeans and a polo shirt and was just fine. In fact, only a handful of people were in “movement clothing.” Unfortunately, I don’t remember exactly what people were wearing, but it was all very casual. But if you’re auditioning for musical theatre, you should prepare to do more dance based movement.</p>

16

<p>I’m a girl, and for my auditions I’ve just been wearing black tights with a plain shirt. I am happy I have been dressing casually and in “ready to move” clothing, because sometimes the auditors have asked me to do my monologue whilst doing strange physical activities, which wouldn’t have been possible if I wore tight jeans or a skirt. Good luck to your daughter!</p>

17

<p>hmm, seeing as i signed up october 2, i have a feeling i might be first. ha.</p>

<p>and thank you both for your (very quick! and) informative responses.</p>

<p>happy auditioning!!</p>

18

<p>has anyone not been asked to work a monologue for nyu? And were the results anything less than dismal?</p>

19

<p>I was not asked to work either of my monologues. I delivered them exactly the way I wanted to, but I have no clue how they liked them. I guess we’ll find out in April! :slight_smile: But they did tell us not to read anything into what we did or did not do in the acting evaluation.</p>

20

<p>I was ED last year for NYU and was not asked to work my monologues. I was however asked a question about the blocking of one of them- why I had made that choice, had I experimented with others etc… and I was accepted.</p>