Behind the Scenes of a New York City Open Dance Call Audition

Abstract

Behind the Scenes of a New York City Open Dance Call Audition How does it feel to try to break into musicals? Here’s a step-by-step account—and how to survive it by Megan Bowen 5:45 a.m.– EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM My alarm sounds off at 5:45 a.m., and I roll over in my bed to hit the snooze button on my phone. The sun has not come out of hiding yet, and it takes a little longer for my eyes to adjust to the brightness of the phone in my dark apartment. I immediately open up the Safari app and type AuditionUpdate.com into the search bar. I heard through several dancers taking class at Steps on Broadway the other evening that this website was crucial to finding out “day-of” audition information not previously posted on the audition listing website. That included specific studio locations (if locations had changed), if the casting directors would accept unofficial sign- up sheets before the audition began, how quickly the audition was going, how many girls were already lined up, etc. As soon as the web page loaded I noticed a new blog discussion column had formed and was titled “Chicago –The Musical- Open Dance Call.” Under this column there were several postings about the Chicago Audition, so I began to read. The blog discussion had confirmed that the audition would be at Ripley-Grier Studios at 10 a.m., that the unofficial audition sign-up sheet had been started, and that about seven girls had signed up already. I asked my friend who was going to another audition early that morning to sign me up on this sheet so I could be in the first group of girls to audition. An Open-Dance Call means only non-Equity dancers are allowed to audition and will be seen by the casting team. Equity is a union for stage professionals who get paid more, have benefits, and get insurance, while non-Equity performers do not. You become Equity when you complete a certain amount of performances and experiences that are logged onto an Equity Card. One weeks’ worth of work equals one Equity point. Once you reach 50 points you become an Equity member. You can also become an Equity member if you get hired straight onto Broadway. 8:00 a.m. – DO I LOOK LIKE A DANCER? I eventually make it out of my apartment on the corner of 41 st street and 10 th Avenue and start walking downtown to 36 th toward Ripley. It is about my third week of living in New York, in a program the UC Irvine Drama department offers mid-year, and I have already picked up the fast-paced lifestyle as I briskly walk through crowds of people, not even bothering to stop and wait for the pedestrian signal to cross the street. I find my way to the building where the studios are and go through the spinning doors. In the lobby, I see elevators in the far right back corner but notice people waiting in a line that snakes to the front desk. I join the line behind a tall woman who looks like a dancer—long blond hair, heavy makeup for it being so early, Lulu Lemon pants, a baggy sweater, scarf, Nike tennis shoes,