CL - Texas Educational Theatre Association

What are the TETA Auditions? 
The Texas Educational Theatre Association, Inc. offers Texas theatre students an opportunity to audition for Colleges and Universities from across the nation.

Students perform a two-minute acting audition or a five-minute technical portfolio presentation for up to 50 different college/university programs. Auditions are held at TETA's TheatreFest each year. During call-back interviews, college & university representatives visit with selected students.

When are the TETA Auditions? 
TETA Convention theatre students may audition in the following categories:

Friday:

• General Design/Tech Auditions
• Founders' Scholarship for Design/Tech: High School Level
• Founders' Scholarship for Design/Tech: College/University Level

Saturday:

• JUNIOR acting Auditions
• General Acting Auditions
• General Acting/Singing Auditions
• Founders' Scholarship for Acting: High School Level
• Founders' Scholarship for Acting: College/University Level

Who can participate in the TETA Auditions?
All Texas students, who are graduating high school seniors or a transferring college/university theatre student intent on majoring in theatre are eligible to submit an application to participate.

Each school may submit one (1) student in Acting & one (1) student in Design/Technical Theatre and those students must have the recommendation of their theatre instructor. In addition, ALL schools may submit one (1) Junior Actor and one (1) Junior Technician. Note: Juniors are not eligible to audition for the Founders' Scholarship. 

Institutional Member (I.M.) schools, which are in good standing, are eligible to submit up to three (3) total Acting candidates (Senior or Transfer) and up to three (3) total Design/Technical Theatre candidates (Senior or Transfer). This number includes the Founders' Applicant. 

TETA I.M. schools may submit one (1) acting and one (1) tech candidate for the $2000 Founders' Scholarship in Acting and the $2000 Founders' Scholarship in Design/Tech respectively. Note: Each I.M. school is allotted a total of three (3) Acting students (Senior or Transfer) and three (3) Design/Technical Theatre students (Senior or Transfer). Example: if an I.M. school submits one candidate for the Founders' Scholarship in Acting and none for the Founders' Scholarship in Design/Tech, it can still only submit two additional candidates for the General Acting and three candidates for the General Design/Technical Theatre. High schools may also include one (1) Junior Acting candidate and one (1) Junior Design/Technical Theatre candidate.

*Information on how a school can become a Texas Educational Theatre Association Institutional Member can be found on the TETA website. Institutional Membership cannot be achieved prior to this TheatreFest. Applications should be made now for implementation for next year.

How can teachers/sponsors help their students participate in the TETA Auditions?
Teachers or administrators must recommend the student. Teachers can also help students select and prepare material, advise them on clothing choices, and time student’s pieces. See Texas Theatre Notes articles on audition advice.

Audition for High School Junior Students:
ACTING: High School Juniors (one per school) may perform one 60 second monologue OR one 60 second segment of a song (student must provide own accompaniment on a CD). Performers will be stopped by a timekeeper at the end of ONE MINUTE.

JUNIOR TECH AUDITION: High Schools may sponsor ONE Tech student to participate in Tech auditions.

Audition Orientation Workshop:
ALL Juniors and Seniors planning to participate in auditions are invited to an AUDITION ORIENTATION at the convention site. The time and date will be e-mailed to the student and the workshop will be listed in the Convention Program.

What do I need to Submit to be Eligible?
A student wishing to participate in the TETA Auditions must submit the following:

• Once you are a member of TETA and registered for the convention, the audition fee (payable by credit card through Acceptd) is $50.
• A completed application form through Acceptd
• Important: Students wishing to register for the ENTIRE convention may do so by completing the TheatreFest Early Registration form (found here) and sending the form along with the additional fee via check directly to TETA in Austin, Texas. 
• All students MUST be recommended by their theatre director to submit an application for auditions.
• Founders' applicants, in addition to all of the above, must submit 1) an Official Transcript and 2) a Letter of Recommendation from their teacher.

When is the deadline for application for the TETA Auditions?
The deadline for all applications/payment is December 1. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Upon completing your Acceptd application, you should receive a confirmation message. It is the responsibility of the students to follow up with their sponsors & guidance counselors to ensure that they submit all required materials before the deadline. 

What happens after the deadline?
The Audition Coordinator will fill the audition slots based on properly completed applications submitted from Institutional Member schools in the order in which applications are received. I.M. schools receive priority in scheduling of all audition slots. Once those slots are filled the remaining slots will be filled based on complete forms submitted earliest.

Prior to the audition, each applicant will be sent E-MAIL notification as to whether he/she has received an audition slot. Note: No substitution can be permitted for a student who has received an audition slot, but is unable to attend the TETA Auditions.

Neither membership nor the application fee is refundable.

Who is the contact for the auditions?
Jacob Davis, Audition Coordinator (jacobdavisteta@gmail.com)

TETA AUDITIONS Include:

• 100 Senior Actors
• 30 Junior Actors 
• 40 Senior Technicians
• 20 Junior Technicians 
• Up to 100 College and University Reps from up to 50 Colleges and Universities. 

Acting Audition PERFORMANCE INFO:
Each SENIOR student is allotted two minutes in which he/she presents:

• Two contrasting monologues from published play scripts (OR)
• One monologue and 16 bars from a musical selection (JUNIOR Students are allotted ONE MINUTE to perform one monologue or one song).

Time begins following the introduction. The introduction should not exceed 12 seconds and should include your first and last name, your number (which will be assigned to you with your confirmation) and the titles of the plays. The introduction is not timed. Time will begin on the first moment of your first monologue or song. After two minutes the presenter will be asked to stop by the timekeeper.

An accompanist will be available for Senior and Transfer students who audition with a musical selection. Individuals may not accompany themselves nor can they sing acapella. Junior Students must provide their own recorded accompaniment. The accompaniment must be instrumental and the excerpt of the track must be the only track recorded on the CD. The sound technician will NOT cue the music; the track should begin when the sound technician presses play. You will not be allowed to cue your own music or run your own sound for your audition. Each Senior singing candidate requiring accompaniment must provide legible sheet music written in the correct key for the accompanist to play. The beginning and end should be clearly marked.

A chair shall be provided for the acting auditions. No other props are allowed. Each student must provide the titles of the pieces they will provide within the audition form. Performances should be thoroughly rehearsed.

General Design/Technical Theatre Auditions PRESENTATION INFO:
Description: Design/Technical Auditions are Portfolio Based individual presentations by student designers/technicians for college/university representatives.

Each student will be assigned a six foot table where they can display their portfolio, models, and renderings. All items must fit on the 6 foot table. The student should have a four or five minute prepared presentation. They should be prepared to answer questions from the college and university representatives.

Presentations will be in "Round Robin" style. College/University Reps will rotate from student to student. Students should be prepared to do their presentation up to 20 times for various C/U reps who are rotating through. A bottle of water is permitted at the presentation table.

About Electricity:
If you need electricity for your audition you should bring an extension cord and a surge protector. Please note that your table will be assigned based on your number which corresponds to the order of the pages in the book; switching tables will not be possible because they are set in that order, therefore it will benefit you to bring an extension cord if you need electricity. If you are using a laptop please have it fully charged. 

About Design Fest
Technicians are STRONGLY encouraged to enter Design Fest. This assists University Reps in spending more time with your work beyond your five minute audition. If you are entered in TETA DesignFest you will be allowed to remove your display items at 5pm to bring to your technical theatre audition; you must return them by 10pm Friday night. Therefore if there are items you will have on display at DesignFest that are challenging to move back and forth quickly, it is recommended that you take high quality photos or make high quality color copies of those items to include in your portfolio for your Technical Theatre Audition. Also be sure to invite the University reps to visit Design Fest to view your original items on display.  

Once you have submitted your online form and payment you can plan to receive CONFIRMING E-MAILS, an initial confirmation e-mail & a final confirmation e-mail. It is important to check your e-mail AND your Acceptd account frequently through this process!

Call-Backs for Acting and Technical Theatre Students: 
Following the completion of the acting auditions on Saturday, an interview call-back session will be held for both actors and technicians. During this period, only candidates who are called back may talk directly to representatives of colleges and universities. Called-back individuals may bring a supply of resumes and headshots to the call-back session. Parents and directors are NOT allowed in the call-back room.

FOUNDERS' AWARDS
TETA Founders' Scholarship Auditions: These $2000 scholarships are only available to students from schools which are Institutional Members of the Texas Educational Theatre Association.

Acting, High School Level: This $2000 scholarship shall be awarded to the high school acting student who is selected by the TETA Institutional Member (I.M.) colleges and universities that are present during the Founders' Scholarship Acting Auditions.

Eligibility Requirements: Each high school, which is an Institutional Member (I.M.) of the Texas Educational Theatre Association, is eligible to submit one of its graduating high school seniors for audition consideration for the Founders' Scholarship for Acting, High School Level. A candidate must be intent on making theatre his/her major at a TETA Institutional Member college or university. Student must have a GPA of 3.0.

Application Procedures: To submit a student for consideration for this scholarship, please include the following within the Acceptd application. 

• An official copy of the student's high school transcript
• Student Code of Conduct Form (download here)
• Recommendation from teacher

Selection Process: A Founders' Scholarship Selection Committee shall review all completed applications and, basing its decision on the student's academic record, and theatre activities, select the finalists to audition at the regular convention auditions. Note: Students not selected as a finalist for the Founders' Scholarship or whose application is incomplete may be given a slot in the General Acting Auditions. The finalists shall appear in the same time slot on Saturday, at TETA's TheatreFest during the acting auditions. The Founders' Scholarship Committee shall tabulate the ballots submitted by the I.M. representatives. The Committee shall also tabulate the runners-up in case the winner chooses not to accept the award.

Design/Technical Theatre, High School Level: This $2000 scholarship shall be awarded to the high school design/technical theatre student who is selected by the TETA Institutional Member (I.M.) colleges and universities that are present during the Founders' Scholarship Design/Technical Theatre Auditions.

Eligibility Requirements: Each high school, which is an Institutional Member (I.M.) of the Texas Educational Theatre Association, is eligible to submit one of its graduating high school seniors for audition consideration for the Founders' Scholarship for Design/Tech: High School Level. A candidate must be intent on making theatre his/her major at a TETA Institutional Member college or university. Must have a GPA of 3.0. 

Application Procedures: To submit a student for consideration for this scholarship, please include the following within the Acceptd application. 

• An official copy of the student's high school transcript
• Student Code of Conduct Form
• Recommendation from teacher

Selection Process: A Founders' Scholarship Selection Committee shall review all completed applications and, basing its decision on the student's academic record and theatre activities, select the finalists to audition at the regular convention auditions. Note: Students not selected as a finalist for the Founders' Scholarship or whose application is incomplete may be given a slot in the General Design/Technical Theatre Auditions. The ten finalists shall appear at TETA's TheatreFest during the design/tech auditions. The Founders' Scholarship Committee shall tabulate the ballots submitted by the I.M. representatives. The Committee shall also tabulate the runners-up in case the winner chooses not to accept the award.

Presentation: Each student will be given a six foot table where they can display their portfolio, models, and renderings. The student should have a five minute presentation prepared and they should be prepared to answer questions from the college and university representatives.

Acting, College/University Level: Description: This $2000 scholarship shall be awarded to the college/university acting student who is selected by the TETA Institutional Member (I.M.) colleges and universities that are present during the Founders' Scholarship Acting Auditions.

Eligibility Requirements: Each college/university, which is an Institutional Member (I.M.) of the Texas Educational Theatre Association, is eligible to submit up to three of its transferring students for audition consideration for the Founders' Scholarship for Acting: College/University Level. (If an I.M. school is submitting more than one candidate for the Founders' Scholarship in Acting, then the theatre director/chair must designate which of the candidates is the school's first, second and, if necessary, third choice for the Scholarship.) A candidate must be intent on making theatre his/her major at a TETA Institutional Member college or university, must have a 3.0 overall GPA and have completed 12 or more semester credit hours.

Application Procedures: To submit a student for consideration for this scholarship, please also include an offiical copy of the student's college transcript(s) along with the online application and payment. 

Selection Process: A Founders' Scholarship Selection Committee shall review all completed applications and, basing its decision on the student's academic record and theatre activities, select ten finalists to audition at the regular convention auditions. If more than ten candidates have valid packets, then the Scholarship Committee will select the finalists by using all of the first choices from all of the participating I.M. schools, then the second choices (in order of date received) and then the third choices, if necessary (in order of date received).

Students not selected as a finalist for the Founders' Scholarship or whose application is incomplete may be given a slot in the General Acting Auditions.

The finalists shall appear in the same time slot on Saturday, at TETA's TheatreFest during the acting auditions. The Founders' Scholarship Committee shall tabulate the ballots submitted by the I.M. representatives. The Committee shall also tabulate the runners-up in case the winner chooses not to accept the award.

Presentation: Each finalist is allotted two minutes in which he/she presents two contrasting monologues or one monologue and 16 bars from a musical selection. After two minutes the presenter shall be asked to stop. An accompanist shall be available for students who audition with a musical selection. Individuals may not accompany themselves nor can they audition with pre-recorded music. Each singing auditionee must provide sheet music written in the correct key for the accompanist to play. A chair shall be provided for the acting auditions. No other props are allowed. Each student should be thoroughly rehearsed on their presentation. 

Design/Technical Theatre, College/University Level: This $2000 scholarship shall be awarded to the college/university design/technical theatre student who is selected by the TETA Institutional Member (I.M.) colleges and universities that are present during the Founders' Scholarship Design/Tech Auditions.

Eligibility Requirements: Each college/university, which is an Institutional Member (I.M.) of the Texas Educational Theatre Association, is eligible to submit up to three of its transferring students for audition consideration for the Founders' Scholarship for Design/Tech: Col/University Level. (If an I.M. school is submitting more than one candidate for the Founders' Scholarship in Acting, then the theatre director/chair must designate which of the candidates is the school's first, second and, if necessary, third choice for the Scholarship.) A candidate must be intent on making theatre his/her major at a TETA Institutional Member college or university, must have a 3.0 overall GPA and have completed 12 or more semester credit hours.

GENERAL ADVICE:

• Please be on time or early for your check in time the day of the audition. Promptness is very important. 
• Once you check in do not leave the audition lobby.  
• Please plan to stay at the audition for approximately one hour, possibly longer depending on the schedule. You will audition in a group and you will watch everyone in your group. 
• Please remember that the people working the audition are all volunteers taking their personal time to make this experience possible for you; please be gracious and courteous to all of the volunteers!