Sagesse Kosche, Reporter
The theater department at NCHS is a large focal point for a close-knit community of performers. To become involved, students must complete an audition. Depending on the show, this can be both a singing and dance audition, or even a monologue. But, because there isn’t much information specific to these auditions, it can leave many students unsure of what to expect when joining the program.
Senior Frankie Limone explained how she chooses her audition songs. “It really comes down to understanding the kind of character I’m going for and then finding material that matches both the style of the time period and the personality of the role,” she said.
Frankie has been auditioning since freshman year, but even with her experience she still gets nervous like most people do. She has changed her approach towards handling her nerves pre-audition. “What’s changed most is how I handle the nerves. Instead of letting them hold me back, I’ve learned to channel them into energy and passion.”
Freshman Cate Panagrossi also shared her perspective. “I think the high school auditions are more professional than at Saxe,” she said. “At Saxe, everyone seems to view it more as a hobby, whereas here they take it as the real deal.”
Cate went into some detail about what her preparation looked like this year for her audition. “I probably prepared my song for a week, and then I had to learn how to jump rope from scratch for the dance audition,” she said. “I was doing that for two weeks.”
An important aspect of auditioning is knowing what you’re auditioning for and whether it complies with your current schedule. “When you commit to a show, you’re committing to rehearsals from 3pm-6pm five days a week, plus Saturday work sessions from 9am-3pm” Frankie said.
The theater department at NCHS is definitely a big commitment, but it’s something that many of the members really enjoy. “We’re all such close friends, so even the long hours feel like a chance to bond and have fun together while building something special,” Frankie said.
Frankie provided some comforting words for students planning to participate in the upcoming performances. “Auditioning may always be nerve-wracking, but it’s also where you grow the most and get the chance to try on so many different characters, even if just for a day or two,” she said.
