Technical Theatre Audition Guidelines & Tips

For college technical auditions, students will upload portfolio samples, provide an accompanying video to further illustrate their skills and work details, and upload a headshot and resume. Students may also provide an optional written response.

Helpful Tips

Presenting Your Online Portfolio

• Choose three strong samples that are representative of your work and chosen major. 
• Each of your samples should be clear and of good quality – good production or process photos, or easily readable documents.
• Since you're unable to share your whole portfolio, you need to be especially thoughtful about which pieces you pick.
  • Try to include samples that are recent, so representatives can see your current capabilities.
  • Choose samples that are relevant to the work you hope to be doing in your chosen major at college. 
  • Choose samples that are well-photographed or clearly readable. Though you will be able to expand in the written response, the sample should be able to speak for itself to a certain extent.
• Types of samples might include:
  • drafting
  • sketches
  • works in progress
  • renderings (fully completed/colored)
  • production photos
  • light plots
  • pages from journals, promptbooks, or marketing materials

Filming Tips

• The video should be 3-5 minutes of you speaking about your work. Remember to introduce yourself at the start of your video. 
• The goal is to provide additional context around the work samples you have submitted and who you are as a technician/designer.
• You may consider including additional images or close-ups of work if that adds value to the conversation.
• Consider addressing some of the following: 
  • Your work processes, challenges, and takeaways from the productions featured above. 
  • Additional details around the work you did that may not be communicated by images alone.
  • Your working relationship with the production team and your philosophy on how to effectively serve in your particular role.
• Find an effective filming location
  • The area should be quiet so you can be clearly heard.
  • Film in front of a non-distracting background. If possible, choose a solid-color wall or consider hanging a sheet behind you.
  • Make sure you are lit well enough to be clearly visible. Consider using natural light, if possible. Stand facing a window with the camera pointed at you.
• Dress neatly, and in a contrasting color from your background.
• Shoot your video horizontally, not vertically.
• Try multiple takes and submit your strongest.

Uploading Your Video

• Watch your video both before and after uploading to ensure it's what you want to share.
• Give your file a clear name. Consider something like FirstNameLastName_ITF Technical Audition.
• Check that the link will allow for open access to all representatives. Try playing the video in an incognito window to test privacy settings. 

Answering the Optional Written Response Question

• Provide further context to the attached samples, including more about your work, processes, challenges, and takeaways from the featured productions.
• Elaborate more about your work generally, your work philosophy, why you're interested in your particular major, etc.
• Include a link to your website or additional production photos if desired.