Audition Tips, Part III: What Do I Wear?!
What you wear is very important. Your clothing and general hygiene say a lot about you, the respect you have for yourself and others, and the respect you have for your surroundings. What you wear as a guest at a wedding is different from what you'd wear to school, which is different from what you'd wear to prom, which is different from what you'd wear to a ocean-side vacation. At least, one would hope.
Different types of auditions require slightly different clothing and footwear, but in general, what you wear to an audition should look professional AND fashionable.
Women:
Musical Theater
Wear a dress! Pants are a no-no. So are skirts and tops. It must be a dress.
The dress should be an appropriate length (i.e., no more than three inches above the knee) and have a neckline that you would be comfortable sporting during Sunday dinner at Grandma's.
Bright, solid colors are best. Avoid crazy prints and patterns, as they can be visually distracting.
Do accessorize your dress with jewelry, but avoid anything too flashy or anything that makes noise when it moves.
Do wear make up, but don't go overboard. Remember, you want to look like YOU!
Wear your hair down or half-up, and make sure it is out of your face.
Character shoes are always a safe bet, but you can wear any plain heel that you can move comfortably in. Nice flats are also okay.
Theater
Don’t wear a dress. You will look out of place.
Jeans with a dressy top or sweater dresses/tunics with leggings and boots are all great choices. Look trendy, confident, and be comfortable.
See above regarding patterns, colors, makeup, hair, and jewelry.
Dance
If you have appropriate dancewear, wear it.
Choreographers prefer clothing that is tight fitting and shows off the body - leotards with tights, tight fitted tank tops, leggings, tight shorts, fitted black pants.
Colored tops are great, but avoid overly flashy colors or patterns.
Footwear: jazz shoes, character shoes, ballet shoes, etc.
Men:
Musical Theater
You should look neat and put together, but the dress code is fairly relaxed. Jeans or khakis, dress shoes, and a collared polo or button down shirt are all good choices. Do not wear a suit and tie, or sneakers and a t-shirt. You will look out of place.
Do NOT wear ripped clothing. Make sure your shirt is ironed. Yes, ironed.
Theater
Same as musical theater. Guys have it easy.
Dance
If you have appropriate dancewear, wear it.
Choreographers prefer clothing that is tight fitting and shows off the body and the lines it creates - a tight fitting t-shirt and gym shorts or gym pants that are not overly baggy (i.e., not basketball shorts).
Footwear: jazz shoes, character shoes, ballet shoes, etc.
Above all, you should feel comfortable in what you wear. This means physically comfortable, of course; but it also means that you should feel confident that you look good! Wear colors that you like and that you look good in. Choose dresses/other clothing that flatter your body type. Looking professional and modest does not have to mean looking frumpy!
Here is one of our students, Alice, who is dressed perfectly for a musical theater audition:
(And she performed fabulously too!)
