Actors seek out new stages for their talent
by Crissy Mullen

In the span of one week the biting truth about auditioning for professional theater can rear its ugly head.

Jason Stiles, a ‘97 alumnus and Brian Monahan, a ‘98 intended graduate took to the road this past February with scripts memorized and audition dates scheduled, ready for unknown destinies.

Their first destination was New York City and auditions for the University/Regional Theater Association, a conglomerate of regional theaters and universities that offer Master of Fine Arts degrees.

In the basement of a theater on 42nd street, Monahan and Stiles waited anxiously to be called for their opportunity to audition.

“You have four minutes to show everything you can do,” Monahan said. “Years of training and experience are summed up in an adrenaline-rush of time. The second you walk in, you’re being judged.”

Then the real waiting began. Stiles was called back. At 8:30 a.m. the following morning, Stiles saw “how few had actually gotten through the initial process.”

“There were about 30 people present for orientation,” he said.

Stiles did not actually audition until noon.

“The first day I was nervous,” he said. “The second day I wasn’t as nervous, but nervous energy helps you focus.”

From that second day, Stiles sparked the interest of the Blue Man Group and Ohio University.

On the road again, leaving Long Island at 2 a.m., Stiles and Monahan were bound for New Haven, Conn., for a 9:15 a.m. audition Monahan had scheduled with Yale.

“We arrived at four or so in the morning,” said Monahan. “We had five hours to kill and no place to sleep, so we pretty much wandered around New Haven.”

Eventually, Monahan sat on the steps waiting for the building in which auditions were to be held to open, while Stiles caught a quick nap in the bed of his truck. The building opened at 9 a.m. and, after Monahan had his four minutes, they were on their way, this time to Boston, Mass.

That audition was not until the next Monday, so after their Saturday arrival in Boston, Monahan and Stiles had a welcome day of rest.

In Boston, they auditioned for the American Repertory Theatre’s Institute for Advanced Theatre Training (ART). Stiles was the first to audition, Monahan the fourth.

After their final auditions, the two stayed up all night at a friend’s house watching movies.

Exhausted from their escapades, Monahan and Stiles drove back to Norfolk, to wait for any news. They checked their mailboxes daily.

Two weeks passed, and both Monahan and Stiles have received their “no” from ART. On April 1st, the rejection from Yale arrived. Stiles is still waiting to hear more from Ohio University.

Concerning the letters of rejection, Monahan’s outlook is optimistic.

It’s not the end of the world,” he said, “You’ve got to keep looking ahead. That’s what this business is all about.”