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Posts tagged as auditions

No Pressure

Getting the Call: Inside iO's 'SNL' Auditions

by | March 22nd, 2013

The website called Monday night’s show at iO — a Chicago improv institution — a “special solo showcase,” but word-of-mouth said it was really an SNL audition.

On a wall leading into iO’s downstairs Cabaret Theater, there are pictures of famous people who either took classes or performed at iO during some point in time. I wanted to make a mental note of whose faces were outlined by the gold picture frames, but the energy in the theater was buzzing and the only picture I can remember is of Mike Myers and iO’s cofounder Charna Halpern.

In the Chicago improv scene, Charna Halpern is the Oracle. As the iO [...]

Videolists

10 Great Comedy Film Audition Tapes

by | March 21st, 2012

Watching an actor or actress’ screen test or audition tape feels very voyeuristic, like you’re seeing something that’s not supposed to be seen. They’re reading back scenes that, more often than not, will make it into the movie, but they haven’t mastered the role yet — they’re just auditioning, and God knows I wouldn’t want my first draft of, well, anything to be looked at by thousands, if not millions.

But we’re not here to debate the morality of all that: let’s instead take a look at the audition tapes for 10 comedians, from Steve Carell to Emma Stone, for 10 different roles, all of which they eventually [...]

Casting Notices

Adam Scott, Alan Tudyk, and Matt Besser All Auditioned for 'The Office'

by | March 18th, 2013

Rainn Wilson posted this sign-in sheet for auditions for The Office on Facebook today featuring a bunch of people who tried out for the roles of Michael, Dwight, Jim, and Pam. These are the first 14 actors to audition for the show in the fall of 2003, including UCB founder Matt Besser for Dwight, Melissa McCarthy's husband and writing partner Ben Falcone for Michael, and Mr. Show and 24 star Mary Lynn Rajskub for Pam. Rainn Wilson and Jenna Fischer are the only ones on here who booked the job, but plenty of talented people still populate this list. It's hard to imagine anyone else in these [...]

Exclusive

SNL Is Looking to Add New Castmembers, Held Auditions This Week in NYC

by | February 15th, 2012

It looks like SNL is looking to add a couple new castmembers to the lineup for the first time in two seasons, as they've started holding auditions in New York for potential performers. Earlier this week at The PIT, about a dozen people auditioned for Lorne Michaels, Seth Meyers, and other producers of the show. The lineup included local performers from major NYC theaters such as UCB as well as folks flown in from Chicago and LA.

The timing makes sense: SNL just passed this season's halfway mark, when contracts are up to be renewed (which is why Paul Brittain left when he did). And with at least [...]

Videolists

Watch the 'Freaks and Geeks' Cast's Audition Tapes

by | November 2nd, 2012

"I was looking for kids who seemed authentic," says Judd Apatow about the casting process for his and Paul Feig's cult hit late 90s high school series Freaks and Geeks. Apatow and Feig certainly found an eclectic bunch of real teen actresses and actors, all of whom seemed like actual high school students and not just performers trying to fit into the usual stock teen movie clichés. Feig recalls in a recent A.V. Club interview, “We can’t just cast this with a bunch of beautiful kids and put glasses on them and mess up their hair and say, 'Oh, they’re nerds.’ We’ve got to have real casting.' [...]

webisodes

Hazel Wassername is the Entertainment Industry's Next It Girl

by | February 13th, 2012

Given that this webisode has maybe 90% of everyone's favorite things (30 Rock, Kristen Schaal, standup comedy, interpretive dance, dachshunds), it's safe to say that everyone will know Hazel Wassername's name within the year. "Who's that girl?" those unfortunate enough to be out of the loop will ask. "And what is she doing to my cardboard cutout of Phil Collins?" they'll continue. "Someone stop her! She's getting away!"

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