- This is an opportunity for the auditors to get a sense of your personality and to learn the pronunciation of your name.
- There is no need to slate your individual performance videos & pieces. Instead, clearly label each video with your name and the title of the piece you are performing (see more details below).
Label each video file with the piece you are performing, the show or playwright, and your first & last name.
- Title of Play – Playwright – Your First & Last Name
- Examples:
- Much Ado About Nothing – William Shakespeare – Luke Skywalker
Framing for Monologues
Camera framing is simply the placement and position of the actor in the shot. We recommend a waist up frame so we can see your face and hear you clearly.
2. MONOLOGUES
Monologue Guidelines
- 2 contemporary monologues (written after 1900)
- Each monologue file should be 60-90 seconds in length (this time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds)
- Be creative: We love writing from all mediums and look forward to your creative choices. Our actor training embraces all media platforms - YouTube, television, film, theatre, podcasts, etc. We give you permission to bring all your personal creativity to this audition. Our program reflects this philosophy.
If possible, for this audition, we request that you do not perform pieces by: Gabriel Davis, Don Zolidis, Kellie Powell, or Wade Bradford, and that you avoid any monologue that is not a piece of a larger whole, such as a play, a screenplay, a novel, or a TV script. Beyond that, we encourage you to make bold choices and bring what speaks to you the most.
Monologue Tips
Monologue Tips:
- It is recommended to choose monologues that are age-appropriate (generally within 5-10 years of your actual age) and that feel authentic to your culture, background, and lived experience.
- Active monologues are often better for auditions; an active monologue takes place in real time and focuses on what you want and puts you in direct communication with an imaginary scene partner. This is often more successful in an audition situation than pieces that are a story or remembrance. Additionally, it can be helpful to avoid monologues that rely on extreme emotions as it can be hard to believably justify those responses in a short piece.
- Don’t watch yourself while you audition, and don’t practice your monologue in a mirror.
- If you have to rush your monologue in order to get it under the time limit, then you haven’t cut it enough. Avoid rushing and performing on autopilot; breath and rhythm are your friends.
- If you’re not having fun, it’s not a strong audition! Make sure you choose pieces you love and that you enjoy diving into.
5. WILD CARD (REQUIRED)
- Singing a pop song
- Singing or playing an original composition/song/poem or choreographed dance.
- Performing your own Saturday Night Live-styled skit where you create a comedic character
- Sharing a hobby or activity that means something to you
- Performing in a language other than English in which you are fluent
- Playing an instrument
- Making a “how-to” video on something you are good at, baking, calligraphy, gymnastics.
- If you are a dancer and want to show us a different style you excel in: Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Ballet, etc.
6. PERSONAL INTRODUCTION
- Your name must appear in the upper right corner of every page
- Line spacing must be double-spaced
- Margins need to be the “normal” setting of one inch (1”) at the top, bottom, left, and right
- Indent the first line of each paragraph
- All pages must be numbered
- Essay length is 1,000 words or less
- Font: Times New Roman, size 14
- File submitted must be a PDF
Questions to Answer
- What do you feel is special and unique about you?
- What do you feel your strengths and weaknesses are as a person and as an artist?
- What are your other interests and hobbies not related to theatre?
- What are your artistic interests outside of performing on stage? (Writing, directing, composing music, film, TV, etc.)
Helpful Hints:
- Be honest.
- Don't feel you need to impress us or, conversely, be overly humble.
- Don't waste time trying to figure out what you think we want to hear.
- We are looking for 14 to 16 unique artists for the BFA Acting Program who know themselves and will benefit the most from what our program has to offer.
7. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
You are required to provide two letters of recommendation. Your recommenders may send this material directly to the Department of Theatre and Dance at the following email address: theatreletters@txstate.edu. Your first and last name must be included in the subject line of the email. Please do not send physical letters or transcripts. Please DO NOT send recommendation letters to theatre@txstate.edu
Callback or rejection notifications will be made before December 31, 2024.
You are required to apply to the university in addition to the program you are interested in (Musical Theatre or Acting). Both applications should be submitted at the same time. Before you can schedule and attend a callback your university application must be submitted.
When applying to the university please declare your major as Pre-Theatre. This should be your declared major if applying to any of the undergraduate degree programs within the Department of Theatre and Dance. A specific designation of Acting or Musical Theatre is automatically applied after offers are made and accepted.
Where To See Us
The most reliable way to see us is to submit a prescreen via our audition platform--you will still be required to submit regardless if we see you elsewhere. We may add additional locations as dates become available.
TXST Acting attends:
- Moonifieds (College Audition Coach) in Dallas, Texas
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Seniors graduate with a voice reel instead of performing in a Senior Showcase?
In an industry that is constantly changing, especially post-pandemic, we aim to adapt and prepare our students for long-term success. In studying consistencies in casting and industry standards, we have noticed a considerable movement towards remote, virtual audition processes, rendering in-person, one-time opportunities such as showcases negligible when calculating their propensity to further one’s career. However, our students see great success in the promotion of their voice reels, graduating not only with a tangible representation of their skills that can be sent to industry professionals time and time again, but also with the knowledge of how to continue following and updating their practices to keep current with what is expected of actors in this field. Graduated students have secured agents, casting opportunities, managers, and professional relationships through the quality and nature of their voice reels, and for this reason we aim to continue equipping our seniors with the tools they need to succeed as reflected by the current state of the industry.
What opportunities are there for performance outside of Texas State?
Situated between two prolific artistic cities, Austin and San Antonio, Texas State students have limitless opportunities to perform beyond the boundaries of campus. Many students graduate either with a membership to or points toward joining the Actors’ Equity Association, as well as significant professional credits that span a variety of mediums. As a school with a reputation for excellence across artistic disciplines, we strive to facilitate relationships beyond the opportunities students incur for themselves, such as our partnership with the Penfold Theatre in Austin, where students are frequently cast and employed in technical positions.
What is Actors’ Lab?
Actors’ Lab is the bi-monthly meeting of the entire BFA Acting Company and its faculty. During this time, not only are relationships made and our familial culture cemented, but students are given the opportunity to learn in an extended environment, watching those in different classes work, or hearing different perspectives on new information. Actors’ Lab traditionally consists of scenework performed by students of different classes and critiqued by faculty members, guest speakers (including but not limited to Devere Rogers, Monica Raymund, Colbie Minifie, and Nick Ortiz) masterclasses and workshops (previous Actors’ Labs have covered commercial auditioning, script analysis, improvisation, and more), and mock auditions.
How many students are accepted?
In an effort to ensure you are being trained in a manner that best fits your strengths and weaknesses, we keep our classes small, accepting roughly 14 students every year. We have found smaller class sizes creates the atmosphere of community and unwavering support among Company members of which we are proud, and allows our faculty to interact with students on a more personal basis.
How can I prepare for my callback?
Please read all instructions listed here. If you like, you MAY perform the same pieces as you did in your prescreen, but you are not required to do so. Please note that you may be asked to perform additional pieces, or you may be asked to adjust your monologue in a new (perhaps absurd) way, such as delivering the piece as if you were a character from your favorite comedy show. It is also possible that the faculty will not wish to see you change anything, and that is ok! If you are using material from a play or film, please ensure you have read the scripts that your pieces are from, and have a concept of the character you are playing and what they are going through. Above all, be ready to play and have fun! We are excited to see the work you are excited to perform.
How does casting work?
In the fall semester of their freshman BFA Acting freshmen are NOT eligible for casting in the Texas State season. However, they MAY audition for student projects, such as short films, student-directed plays, and class projects. First-semester freshmen are also eligible for casting in the Black and Latino Playwrights Celebration. Beginning the spring semester of their freshman year and extending through the rest of their time at Texas State, students may be cast in any show in the Texas State season. Acting students may audition for musicals, and vice versa.
What study abroad opportunities do you offer?
The summer before their junior year, students travel to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for two weeks. While this is not technically a trip “abroad”, we are proud of our long-lasting connections to this prolific festival, affording our students the unique chance to see many shows during our time there, take classes, and meet with the professionals involved in the festival. The summer before their senior year, students travel to England for three weeks, studying Shakespeare with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon before traveling to London, where students take additional masterclasses, perform on the Globe stage, and see much theatre on the West End.
Can I double major/minor as a BFA Acting student?
Yes, students may double major and/or minor in additional disciplines as BFA Acting students. Although adding areas of study may be difficult on account of the rigorous nature of BFA Acting coursework, we encourage our students to broaden their horizons and experience the learning that interests them. Therefore, yes, for the committed student, additional majors and minors are more than possible.
- Examples: