What to Bring to a Community Theatre Audition: A Packing List
The night before an audition, it’s easy to start throwing things into a bag “just in case.” But don’t pack your whole closet. You want to be able to find your music, paperwork, and shoes without unloading your entire bag at check-in.
As you pack your bag, start by consulting the audition notice. Every theatre runs auditions a little differently, so double check if there is anything specific you need to bring. Then, use our suggestions below to pack anything useful you might have missed.
The quick audition bag checklist
- The audition notice, address, and check-in details saved on your phone
- Any requested forms, headshot, résumé, and a list of your rehearsal and performance conflicts
- Sheet music for a pianist or a ready-to-play backing track, depending on the theatre’s instructions
- Dance shoes and/or a change of clothes if there’s a dance call
- Water, pen, pencil, and any small personal essentials
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Everything to include in your theatre audition bag
Paperwork
If the theatre provided any forms to fill out ahead of time, or any other printed materials, be sure to bring them with you. If not, bring a few pens and pencils to fill out a form onsite.
Do you need a headshot and résumé?
I always bring them, unless I’ve already uploaded them via an online form. Even then, sometimes I still bring them. But I have many years of theatre experience, and I don’t want to write it all down every time I audition!
If you don’t have a professional headshot, it’s totally fine to bring a recent, clear photo of yourself. These days, it’s easy to take a high-quality selfie with your phone and give it a quick crop!
Many community theatres will not require a headshot or resume. And if you’re a beginner, you might not have enough experience to fill out a page (but you will soon!). So don’t stress about it. And don’t make up experience that you don’t have — we love beginners; we get to teach you!
Bring your conflict dates
The casting team will want to know about any conflicts you have for rehearsals, tech week, and performances. And, honestly, if you can’t make a performance or final rehearsals, you probably won’t be cast. It’s usually okay if you need to miss a couple of rehearsals, or they may work around your schedule.
Check your calendar before you leave and make a list of upcoming days and times when you have any work, school, travel, or family commitments. Keep the list on your phone or on paper so you can quickly list them on your audition form.
Performance material
If you’re singing with a pianist
Bring readable piano sheet music in your key. Mark clearly where your cut starts and ends, along with any skips or repeats. Put the pages in a binder or another format that will stay open on the piano and make page turns easy.
If your book has multiple audition pieces, move the one you plan to sing to the front, so you have no trouble finding it.
If you’re using a backing track
Have the exact track and cut ready on your device. I have a folder in Google Drive called “0Audition” (that’s not a typo — it starts with the number 0, so it’s always at the top). When I have an audition, I put just the one track I plan to use in that folder, so I can easily find it and don’t risk playing the wrong file.
Download the file so you aren’t relying on a streaming app or the theatre’s wifi signal, and test how it starts and ends.
Charge your device and bring a cable or adapter if the notice says you’ll connect to the theatre’s sound system. If the theatre asks you to send the file in advance, follow their submission instructions instead of assuming you’ll play it from your phone.
Need an audition song?
Get some divine help. See our picks for every major character in the show, or let the Audition Song Finder match you with songs based on your role, voice, age, and style.
If you’re reading scenes
Most theatres provide sides (portions of a script) at check-in, so you shouldn’t need to bring your own script pages — but again, check the audition notice because you never know!
This is where a pencil may come in handy, because you might want to quickly mark some notes in your audition script.
Clothes and shoes
If there’s a dance call, keep any required shoes or change of clothes easy to access so you can change quickly. I suggest always having a pair of jazz shoes in your audition bag. They don’t take up much space, and they are the most versatile dance shoe that can be used for most dance auditions.
If the show has tap dancing, it’s probably wise to bring a pair of tap shoes. Usually the audition notice will mention if there will be a tap audition, but I wouldn’t rely on it!
The other type of dance shoes I recommend for all community theatre performers to have is a pair of character shoes (men can get away with a pair of black oxford-style shoes). I usually end up wearing my character shoes to the audition anyway.
Should you plan to change clothes for a dance audition?
For me, this depends on the show. If I feel like I need to dress up for the singing portion, then yes, I may throw in some leggings and a top I can dance in for the dance call. I also pay attention to others. If it seems like most people are changing into dance clothes, I will too.
But I really prefer not to change. If the show features characters who are more likely to wear casual clothing, I’ll go more casual with my singing audition outfit and wear it to dance in as well. Especially if it’s a theatre I haven’t worked at before, I want them to remember me during the dance audition as the one who just blew them away with my singing! 🤞
A few useful extras
For a longer audition, a few small extras can help:
- Water and a small snack if the audition includes multiple rounds or a long wait
- Throat lozenges for keeping your voice in shape
- A pen for forms and a pencil for marking sides
- A phone charger, especially if you’re using it to play your audition track
- A hair tie or clip, and a light layer for a chilly room
- Any other personal essentials
I recommend reserving a bag for your audition materials and always keeping it (mostly) packed. Your audition binder, extra headshots and resumes, lozenges, pens, pencils, hair ties, and a dedicated water bottle can live in there, so you’re always ready for a last minute audition!
What’s one thing you always keep in your audition bag? Have you ever forgotten something you really needed? Share your best audition prep tip in the comments!
