Acting and Original Works Audition Requirements

Applicants to the Acting & Original Works specialization within the Theatre BFA are required to complete an audition and interview as part of the admission process. Your audition gives us the opportunity to learn about your artistic voice, performance skills and creative potential as an actor and theatre maker. If you are applying to the Theatre BA, an audition is not required, and admission is based on Cornish’s standard application requirements.

You may audition in person or submit a recorded audition through your Redhawk Admissions Portal. The audition includes two contrasting contemporary monologues and a brief interview with our faculty. An optional Wild Card video may also be submitted to showcase additional creative work, performance experience or other talents beyond the required audition materials.

In-Person MONOLOGUE REQUIREMENTS

Prepare and perform two contrasting contemporary monologues.

First Monologue: We recommend choosing one of our prescribed pieces (options below). Select the one you feel most connected to and ensure that you read the entire play beforehand. We can tell if you haven’t! If time is a constraint, and you are unable to prepare one of the recommended monologues, you may choose a contemporary piece that you are familiar with.

Monologue Options:

CLICK HERE for Option 1 | Fool for Love, by Sam Shepard

CLICK HERE for Option 2 | Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller

Second Monologue: Choose a contrasting piece from a contemporary play. Look for a monologue where the mood, style, and intention differ from the Cornish selection. This piece should have a strong objective that allows you to perform dynamic actions and try different tactics as you engage directly with another character who is present in the scene. Above all, pick a monologue that you genuinely enjoy performing.

Interview

Each student will have a short interview with our faculty to discuss their career goals and educational priorities.

Recorded Audition Guidelines
Acting/Original Works

If you are unable to join us for a live in-person or virtual audition, you may submit a recorded audition and interview submission that follows the requirements above. Note that an additional live (in real time), follow-up component may be necessary. Our faculty want to see how well you take a note and how successfully we might work together.

Recorded auditions MUST be uploaded to your Redhawk Admissions Portal in the “Portfolio” section, and must follow the additional requirements below.

REQUIRED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

You are REQUIRED to answer the questions below on video. This can happen after your introduction or at the end of your audition.

You are on the cusp of big, personal change. What do you believe the next 4 years of your training need to hold for you, and why are you excited about Cornish’s programs?
Imagine that you received a grant to produce a play that you would either commission or write yourself. It could be in the theater of your choice, with the cast of your choice. The only condition is that it must be about some issue—personal, social, political, environmental—that you care strongly about. What would you want your play to be about, and what would you want the audience to learn from the experience of seeing your play?

OPTIONAL WILD CARD VIDEO: ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND INTERESTS

While not required for consideration, we welcome you to upload a video that showcases additional skills and interests that we do not ask for in our audition requirements.

For example, if you are a student interested in creating original works, we encourage you to submit a short video excerpt of a play you directed, a sample from a play/text that you have written, a self-written spoken word sample, a devised solo piece, or something similar. You could also showcase additional skills like: instruments you play, tap, tumbling, flexibility, etc.

Feel free to include this additional material in the “Portfolio” section of the Redhawk Admissions Portal. This is completely optional, and choosing not to submit additional material will not affect our consideration of you for the program.

FAQs:

How do I choose a strong audition monologue?

Choose a monologue from a play and not a monologue book.
Avoid “Story” Monologues: Select monologues where the character is actively pursuing a goal rather than simply telling a story or recounting events.
Strong Character Objective: Choose a piece where your character has a clear and compelling objective. This will allow you to perform actions that directly connect with another character who is present in the scene.
Dynamic Actions and Tactics: Your monologue should enable you to engage in dynamic actions and explore different tactics to achieve your character’s objective. This showcases your ability to make strong choices and adapt your approach throughout the monologue.

Transformation: By the end of the monologue, someone—whether it’s your character or the other character in the scene—should be changed in some way. This could be a change in understanding, emotion, or decision, but it’s crucial that there is a shift.

How do I make a great audition video if I cannot audition live?

Record your audition in a neutral open space. This can be a classroom or rehearsal space, if you have access to one, but if you do not, we understand. A living room or bedroom with furniture moved to provide ample space to perform will work just fine. Try your best to neutralize the space; meaning that walls should be bare (can easily cover with a sheet of fabric), and furniture is moved out of the way so that you have ample space to work.
Make sure that the acoustics are good enough for you to sound clear (no rooms with a strong echo)
Make sure that there is sufficient light. This means that your face and body are fully visible.
DO NOT wear costumes or use character makeup.

DO NOT use background sound effects or virtual backgrounds.

How should I set up my space for a live virtual audition?

Introduction of monologues should be filmed in a full body shot.

Monologues can be filmed however works best for how you prepared the material, but if you decide to film one monologue as a close up, the best practice would be to have the second monologue filmed in the ¾ shot. It’s important that we see a physically engaged character.

Record your audition in a neutral open space. This can be a classroom, or rehearsal space if you have access to one, but if you do not we understand. A living room or bedroom with furniture moved to provide ample space to perform will work just fine. Try your best to neutralize the space; meaning that walls should be bare (can easily cover with a sheet of fabric), and furniture is moved out of the way so that you have ample space to work.

Make sure that the acoustics are good enough for you to sound clear (no rooms with a strong echo).

Make sure that there is sufficient front facing light.

DO NOT wear costumes or use character makeup. Dress in an elevated version of your specific style.

DO NOT use background sound effects or virtual backgrounds.