Auditions: Overcoming Fear for the Better

Photo credit: Logan Olszewski

The cast of Clue: On Stage at their first rehearsal reading through the script.

To kick-off the 2022-2023 school year, the Adams Theatre Club comes out with a bang (in more ways than one) with Clue: On Stage. Auditions for Adams students recently took place on September 7th, which rack some with stage-fright, but those short moments are worth the fulfilling experience of participating in Adams Theatre.

This comical play follows closely to that of the film adaptation of the board game Clue, in which six guests are invited to the Boddy Manor where they must solve a murder mystery. In preparation for upcoming fall activities, seeing this production is a great addition. 

For this audition, and other Adams Theatre auditions like it, they work as such; students select a 1-2 minute comedic or dramatic monologue, perform for the directors (currently Adams staff; Mrs. Pillsbury and Mrs. Danielson), and if called back the following day, will perform another monologue for their assigned character.

For most participating, the days leading up to auditions are filled with anxiety.

“It was pretty stressful,” said senior and first time actor, Logan Dilley, who feared that he had made mistakes during the audition. 

Banner for The Drowsy Chaperone, The Adams Theatre Club’s spring musical during the 2021-2022 school year. (Photo credit: Rochester Adams HS Theatre Photos)

“I don’t get nervous during auditions a ton, (and they) are kind of my favorite part,” said senior Allison Komjathy, who has previously been a part of Adams Theatre productions such as She Kills Monsters and The Drowsy Chaperone.

The performances cause more nerves, as they are a much longer period of time than auditions with no breaks for the actors once they start. 

But, if one is interested in and passionate enough about acting, it’s worth it because they will have fun and get to be “with a team of people who you really love and you care about,” said Komjathy.

Despite the nervousness to speak in front of a crowd on audition day, or even during performances, there is value in getting over that fear, as the results are a good learning experience and memories that will last a lifetime. New actors are encouraged to take a leap of faith into this welcoming club that will offer them a plethora of opportunities.