Auditions
September 2018: Stay tuned!
Typically, we hold auditions each year during the first weekend of Fall Semester which is usually in September. They are open to all BYU students of any major. Check our website, Facebook, or Twitter to stay appraised of the details of where and when it will be. Auditions are open, so there's appointment or sign ups. You just show up, fill out a form, get a number and wait for your number to be called. You will perform your piece in front of the current cast and a live audience. If you have visual and/or sound tech needs, we will have our Tech Crew available to assist you. If you make it to call backs, you'll be notified late Friday night (maybe even as late as 2 AM!) Call backs are held at an undisclosed location all day Saturday from 7 am to 8 pm. If you don't make it into the cast, fret not. There are plenty of other opportunities on and around campus where you can share your talents. There's also always next year! Many cast members auditioned 3 times before getting in! (Sarah Thompson, Bryson Frehner, James Perry, and the list goes on!) If you never get in, then know that the Good Lord has a need for your talents elsewhere. Really though.
Here’s some good advice you may want to consider when preparing your audition:
Although this is not required, having comedic sketch writing skills will definitely give you an edge amongst the rest auditioning. Since writing is a huge part of what DC does, we like to know if you have had some comedic writing experience. However, even if you don't have much writing experience, that's okay! Most of our cast never wrote a thing in their life before getting in. C-A-T spells Cat.
Our auditions are a lot of fun, and many people just come to watch and support. If you’re thinking of auditioning though, we’d encourage you to do so. These are some main points that should help you in preparing your 1.5 minutes of original comedic material.
First: Remember that you have 90 seconds to audition, and going over time is like the kiss of death. We will have a timer to let you know when your minute and a half are up, so make sure your audition doesn't go over (even if you have to sit down mid-sentence). Also, don’t forget that people will be laughing, which will make your audition run longer, so it may be wise to allow some time for that.
Second: Many ask us what we are looking for. The answer: Funny. We want to see something funny. But not just any old thang. Something unique and different! A lot of talented people audition for DC and it’s usually a very difficult decision process. There are many ways that people can set themselves apart though, so try to find what sets you apart and then show it.
Third: Stand-up. Many people audition with some kind of stand-up routine. There’s nothing wrong with that, but please know that DC doesn't do stand-up comedy, we do sketch comedy. So, the stand-up routines that catch our attention are the ones that show what you can do, not just that you’re funny. For example: If you’re telling a story about how your mom accidentally shrank your lucky t-shirt in the wash on the day of your big test, don’t just tell us about it. Show us! Become your mom, show us your reaction to the now minuscule shirt as you pulled it from the dryer. Let us see your range of talent and humor.
Here’s some good advice you may want to consider when preparing your audition:
Although this is not required, having comedic sketch writing skills will definitely give you an edge amongst the rest auditioning. Since writing is a huge part of what DC does, we like to know if you have had some comedic writing experience. However, even if you don't have much writing experience, that's okay! Most of our cast never wrote a thing in their life before getting in. C-A-T spells Cat.
Our auditions are a lot of fun, and many people just come to watch and support. If you’re thinking of auditioning though, we’d encourage you to do so. These are some main points that should help you in preparing your 1.5 minutes of original comedic material.
First: Remember that you have 90 seconds to audition, and going over time is like the kiss of death. We will have a timer to let you know when your minute and a half are up, so make sure your audition doesn't go over (even if you have to sit down mid-sentence). Also, don’t forget that people will be laughing, which will make your audition run longer, so it may be wise to allow some time for that.
Second: Many ask us what we are looking for. The answer: Funny. We want to see something funny. But not just any old thang. Something unique and different! A lot of talented people audition for DC and it’s usually a very difficult decision process. There are many ways that people can set themselves apart though, so try to find what sets you apart and then show it.
Third: Stand-up. Many people audition with some kind of stand-up routine. There’s nothing wrong with that, but please know that DC doesn't do stand-up comedy, we do sketch comedy. So, the stand-up routines that catch our attention are the ones that show what you can do, not just that you’re funny. For example: If you’re telling a story about how your mom accidentally shrank your lucky t-shirt in the wash on the day of your big test, don’t just tell us about it. Show us! Become your mom, show us your reaction to the now minuscule shirt as you pulled it from the dryer. Let us see your range of talent and humor.
Fourth: Be prepared. Come ready to show us what you've got. You get a lot more notice if you’re polished and gave it some thought. We can tell if you're sufficiently prepared or if you're just winging it. (Though sometimes winging it works...but come prepared!)
Fifth: Stage presence. Average jokes can get big laughs because the person delivering it has good stage presence. Grab the audience’s attention. There are many ways to do this, so find what works for you, and remember that stage presence doesn't mean you need to be loud or crazy. You can keep an audience’s attention without ever speaking (Former cast member Jeremy Warner never said a word in his audition piece).
Sixth: Original material. People have been/will be disqualified after giving great performances because they took someone else’s idea. Don’t do it.
Seventh: Ideas. Coming up with ideas can be tricky sometimes. A strong audition often comes from someone who takes something we’re all familiar with, but looks at it from a new angle that no one had considered, but can instantly appreciate. For example: We all can appreciate the inherent humor of having to take an audio tour of the library as freshmen. But what if we give the audio tour a mind of its own and it leads freshmen into diabolical traps and awkward situations? You've taken something we’re familiar with, and twisted it a little so that it’s fresh and unexpected. You’ll notice lots of things like that when you start to look for them. There are also plenty of things that no one has pointed out yet, but when we see a comedian reenacting it we say “That’s exactly what it’s like.” Best advice to help generate ideas: use your imagination.
Eighth: Impressions. If you can do some good impressions, more power to you. But be careful to show us that you yourself are a funny and clever person, not the individuals you’re impersonating. Example: If you’re doing a Jimmy Stewart impression, don’t just recite the script from “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Instead, show us Jimmy doing and saying things we haven’t seen him do, like working the cash register at Taco Bell. Jimmy Stewart saying the word “Chalupa” = hilarity.
Ninth: Get feedback. Divine Comedy gets feedback before every show, as do other sketch comedy groups like Saturday Night Live. The reason for this is because sometimes we may think something is funny, but for whatever reason, it needs some help. Many times, a few simple adjustments to your script may be all it takes to transform a sketch from average to brilliant. It may be the addition/deletion/modification of a line or even a word. Maybe adding a pause in the right place, or using a different facial expression. Sometimes you may need to scrap the script altogether. Performing it for your friends/family/strangers on the street can help you gauge how funny your material is and identify potential weaknesses.
Tenth: Have fun with it! Most everyone feels nervous about auditioning. Hopefully by the time the audience laughs at your first joke, you’ll be comfortable and really able to go all out. The audience will feel you relax and be all the more apt to laugh at your jokes. Performers should enjoy it as much as the audience.
That’s it! We’ll see you at auditions. And remember, everyone is welcome to come to the auditions, so even if you’re not auditioning you’re more than welcome to come support those who are. It’s always a full house, and always lots of free fun.
Break a leg!*
*Divine Comedy is not responsible for broken legs
