Oak Park High School began preparing for its fall play by holding auditions on Sept. 3 and Sept. 4 after school in the Pavillion. For this audition, students were asked to prepare more pieces than usual. 

“Prior to the audition, us students are provided with a packet of many different monologues to choose from,” junior Persy Ferry wrote to the Talon. “Usually they are directly from the script of the show we are auditioning for. It’s a little bit different for every audition. For ‘Puffs’ [this year’s play], in addition to a character monologue of our choice, we were also required to prepare a monologue of our choosing from any outside media. This included books, movies, TV shows or a different play.”

Once they picked their piece or pieces, students were given a few weeks to run through the material. 

“I prepped for the audition by practicing and memorizing my lines, rehearsing with my family and friends and watching clips from the show we are doing,” sophomore Skylar Gray wrote to the Talon.

It’s normal to be a little anxious for auditions, even when you feel fully prepared. 

“Auditions can be really stressful at times, especially if there’s competition between multiple people for the same part,” Ferry wrote. “It’s always the best feeling when they are over though. I tend to get good rest that night. The buildup to the actual audition day is always really nerve-wracking.”

Students needed to bring a printed copy of their sides and headshot with them to the audition. Following the audition, select people may be asked for a callback. 

“When callbacks have concluded, we wait eagerly by our computers waiting for the email that tells us what part we got,” Ferry wrote.

This year, “Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic” was selected for the fall play. The cast rehearses around three times a week to get ready for their performances on Oct. 24, 25 and 26.

“For the fall play, the audience can anticipate fun and a whole lot of laughs,” Ferry wrote.