Audition for Purge

Update – April 19, 2021

Due to the continued Stage 1 restrictions in Alberta, the in-person auditions for Purge are cancelled and the deadline to submit a video audition has been extended to Sunday, April 25 at 4:00 PM. Callbacks will be held virtually on Sunday evening. The safety of the artists, volunteers and Artistic Team is our topmost priority. We’re excited to see your audition!

NEW Video audition deadline: Sunday, April 25 at 4:00 pm
Callbacks: Sunday, April 25 via Zoom

Theatre; Just Because promotes equity, diversity and inclusion in our audition process. We encourage artists of all races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities to audition.

Due to the mature nature of this production, Theatre; Just Because will only be casting actors 16 years of age or older. This production contains mature themes including sexual abuse, violence, and oppression as well as mature language and imagery. An Intimacy Coach will be present during rehearsals to help with difficult scenes.

How to Audition

Video

1. Read the Audition Handbook

2. Fill out the Audition Form

3. Choose a monologue. All audition materials can be accessed HERE

4. Record two separate videos of you performing one monologue in two different ways. 

   1. Start each video by saying your full name and the piece you will perform. 

   2. Record yourself in landscape mode, waist up. 

   3. Name your videos LastNameFirstName_1 and LastNameFirstName_2. 

   4. Upload the videos using Google Drive, WeTransfer, or similar software and send it to info@theatrejustbecause.com.

Auditions might feel intimidating - but rest assured that our Artistic Team is thrilled to meet you and grateful to you for joining us! You don’t need to have any previous performance or theatrical experience to audition, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have.

If you have any questions, email info@theatrejustbecause.com.

Community Director: Ashley Freimark

Ashley Freimark, Community Director

Community Director Ashley Freimark might be new to Theatre; Just Because, but she’s definitely not new to either theatre or Fort McMurray! With over ten years of theatre experience, Ashley caught the bug after taking vocal lessons leading to musical theatre classes at Keyano Theatre. “I had to be a part of theatre everywhere I could! All my options courses in school were theatre and performance based; this included extracurriculars as part of my high-school's Theatre Appreciation Group, where we would go to workshops at the Citadel theatre in Edmonton and then follow up with one of their season's performances (first of every Tuesday this happened). All the way through college as I took Drama and English focus studies in Red Deer College before taking a different direction with Professional Communications at Grant MacEwan University. After I moved away from Fort McMurray with my family in 2008, I had gotten involved in community theatre where I had decided to expand my horizons further with not only acting in various performances and talent shows, but also give producing, stage managing and directing a shot. For 9 years I volunteered on the Sheeptown Players Drama Society board of executives, starting as Membership Director and working my way through Communications, Secretary and finally President of the board in my last year.”

Having returned to Fort McMurray in 2018, Ashley is back in the swing of the theatre things! She’s one of the Community Director’s for the Theatre; Just Because productions entered into the ADFA Acting Out! One Act Theatre Festival, celebrating our fifth anniversary. She chose to take on the classic David Ives piece Mere Mortals.

“Mere Mortals by David Ives is a 20 - 30 minute one act that listens in on a lunch time conversation of three construction workers. As the play progresses, the stories of each worker become more incredible. To me, this play somewhat covers the idea that even though we are seemingly ordinary people on the outside, it's what we think of ourselves and the ideas that we impose on ourselves that make us grander in our own eyes.

I decided to apply to the Community Directors programming after having been away from the Fort McMurray community for 10 years before I moved back, I found that it was hard to get myself out there on my own to meet new people. If it weren't for work, school or volunteer opportunities I would have a very hard time meeting new people on my own.

When this opportunity arose, it couldn't have come at a more perfect time! I had been back living in town for about 4 months by that point, and had been looking everywhere for opportunities to get back into theatre, my first love. By that point I was getting a bit stir crazy just having the routine of going to work, coming home, cleaning or reading a book and then sleep. I needed friends! And the friends that have stuck around with me the longest I met because of our shared passion of theatre (or karaoke!). So this was the perfect opportunity to meet new people with similar interests as well as get my fill of theatre and get out of the house!

So far, this process has been incredible! A very fun experience! Finding solutions to problems like sound and set design, to just working with the cast and figuring out what works best both for them and the play itself has been very rewarding. This experience has brought me more out of my... well... somewhat of my "newcomer" shell in the community (as new as I can be, having grown up here and then being away for so long before coming back). It's opened up new doors, new connections and, most importantly, new friends. I'm finally getting the social life that I'm used to again.”

Experience Mere Mortals directed by Ashley Freimark at the Acting Out! One Act Theatre Festival on April 13 at the Keyano Recital Theatre.

How to Audition - Helpful Tips and Tricks

By Hanna Fridhed for Theatre; Just Because

Whether you have done it a thousand times before, or if this is your very first time, auditioning can be a nerve-wrecking experience. We get a lot of questions about how to nail your theatre audition, so we put together a handy list of things to remember!

COME PREPARED!
You might be asked to perform a monologue, or a piece they’ve asked you to prepare in advance, or do a cold-read (reading parts of the script with it in hand). Whatever it is, practice and come prepared. Learn your piece, read it to friends and family, get feedback, then practice some more!

Make sure you know as much as possible about the show you’re auditioning for, and the part you want (if you have a specific character in mind). Read the script if it’s available, or the character list and synopsis. Do your homework!

Do a vocal and physical warm-up before your audition. Not sure how to warm-up? Check out these helpful videos: vocal warm-up & physical warm-up.

BE YOURSELF!
The director is there to meet and get to know YOU! We know it’s easier said than done, but walk into that audition room as yourself - not who you think they want you to be. Knowing the character that you are audition with or for is important, but make sure that it’s authentic.

BE POLITE AND FRIENDLY!

Being professional and nice to the other actors waiting to audition, the volunteers helping to sign you in and the artistic team that you’re auditioning for is extremely important. Bringing a bad attitude, even if it’s outside the audition room, will get you noticed - but not in the way you would like.

DON’T RUSH!

When you’re in the audition room in front of the director, your nerves might get the best of you, and you feel the urgent need to get it over with and rush through your audition. Don’t! Before you begin, take a second and breathe, make sure your feet are grounded and that you’re ready. Get comfortable! We can’t stress it enough: remember to breathe!

If you make a mistake, it’s likely that you are the only person who noticed it. Don’t stop and apologize! Just stay in the moment, stay focused, and keep going!

MAKE CHOICES!

When you’re delivering your monologue, song or reading - who are you talking to? A friend? The mirror? An audience? Your boss? Your delivery will be different depending on who you’re speaking to. How old is your character? Do they have injuries? What did they have for breakfast? Why are they saying what they are saying? These are only examples of questions, but the more you know and understand about your character, the easier it will be to be truthful to who they are.

When auditioning, don’t deliver your lines to the director or other people at the table. Find a spot slightly above and behind them instead (plant “the person” you’re talking to there, and speak to them).

PLANT YOURSELF!

When you’re performing your piece, it’s easy to let your energy out by pacing and fidgeting. Plant your feet! Every movement on stage has a reason, and it’s the same in auditions. Delivering your piece with your feet grounded and a choice behind your movement makes for a much more powerful audition.

TAKE DIRECTION!

After you complete your audition, the director may give you some direction and ask you to do it again. It might be weird, or difficult, but go with it! Do your best to incorporate the direction into your second performance. Don’t take it as a critique of your first performance, or think that they didn’t like it: the director wants to know if you can take direction! They might also be trying to picture you in different parts. Make a choice, and go for it!

When it’s done, you may be thanked and welcomed to leave. If so, great! That means that they have seen everything they need. Thank the artistic team, and leave remembering that the director WANTS you to succeed! Even the most experienced and talented actors don’t get cast in every play, there are many factors that play into a casting choice. Just relax and enjoy performing!

If you have a question, ask! An audition isn’t a test, this a chance for people to get to know each other. Above all, HAVE FUN!

BREAK A LEG!