The AD Corner - Ask questions!

[natedern]

Hello all,

We wanted to try doing an "AD Corner" thread where students and performers could ask questions of Nate Dern, the UCBT NY artistic director, and John Frusciante, the UCBT NY artistic associate.

So, ask away! We will check back periodically to post answers.

-nate

ps - this is what we look like in case you want to say hi around the training center or at the theatre:
Nate: http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/talent/view/11463
John: http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/talent/view/448

[natedern]

One question that comes up a lot is advice on auditioning for a Harold/Lloyd team.

I give an answer to that question in this blog post: http://ucbdifference.tumblr.com/post/19003392050/harold-auditions-interview-with-nate-dern-artistic

I'll replicate what I said there here for convenience:

Advice: try to relax, have fun, make your scene partner look good. Make choices that you think are fun, don’t try to do what you imagine the people in the room think the “correct” move is. Anyone reading this has heard this before, and it sounds cliche, but of course there is no secret advice I can give that you haven’t heard before. I could write even less and say this: do your best, that is all you can do. Be realistic - there are hundreds of people auditioning and only a handful will get on. Statistically speaking, the odds are you won’t get on.

And here is some advice from former artistic director Anthony King:

http://theanthonyking.com/post/18958200344/harold-auditions

[AlexAlex]

One thing I've seen mentioned in the Harold audition talk is that work done outside of the audition can factor into who gets put on a team. Examples I've heard are things like performances in class, jams and indie shows. I'm wondering if the same is true of who gets put on a Maude team? specifically writing, since that's what I'm interested in. Is that decision just based on the quality of our packet? or can things like work we've done in class and/or sketch shows we've written for outside of the theater and/or things we've written that have had some success online also be a factor in deciding who gets put on a team?

EDIT: this question was asked under the assumption that what I heard about Harold auditions is true. It could very well not be. I don't mean to spread misinformation about those auditions. My question is just in case what I heard is true.

[natedern]

Question from AlexAlex:

One thing I've seen mentioned in the Harold audition talk is that work done outside of the audition can factor into who gets put on a team. Examples I've heard are things like performances in class, jams and indie shows. I'm wondering if the same is true of who gets put on a Maude team? Specifically writing, since that's what I'm interested in. Is that decision just based on the quality of our packet? Or can things like work we've done in class and/or sketch shows we've written for outside of the theater and/or things we've written that have had some success online also be a factor in deciding who gets put on a team?

Good question! As AD, I have conducted one Maude audition and am about to do my second Harold Audition, so I can only speak for how I've done it and how I plan to do it in the future.

The most important thing is this: the audition (in the case of Harold or actor on Maude) or the packet (for a writer on Maude). That trumps everything. Having an indisputably excellent audition or packet will get you on a team.

For the large pool of actors/writers who have a step below superb packets/auditions (let's call them "very good"), then yes, external things come into play to help break the tie. I looked through the teacher notes for all 300 writers who submitted and for upcoming Harold auditions I have already looked through the teacher notes for all 400+ people auditioning. I also ask teachers/coaches/directors for recommendations. All of this is factored in. A strong recommendation from a teacher isn't enough, but if you have a solid packet plus I've seen a great video you uploaded to UCBcomedy plus your teacher gave you great notes plus on your resume I see that you started a sketch comedy group in college, then that could be enough to edge you ahead of someone else who also had a solid packet.

Short answer: the packet/audition trumps all, but external factors are considered to break ties for the solid/very good packets/auditions. If you have a mediocre audition/packet though, even the best recommendations and external work wouldn't be enough to fix that. So you still need to do excellent work in the audition/packet.

Let me know if I can explain further.

[donut]

A few months ago, a lot of shows were filmed at both theatres for 'UCB Live.' When will this footage see the light of day?

[john_frusciante]

A few months ago, a lot of shows were filmed at both theatres for 'UCB Live.' When will this footage see the light of day?

Hello Donut,

Hours and hours of footage were filmed by our UCBComedy team and they have since then been combing through the footage and editing it down. The amount of footage captured along with other projects that UCBComedy has been working on means it will still take some time for these clips to see the light of day, but hopefully they will be out in the next few months.

Thanks,

John

[om2193]

Hi Nate and John,

How could one get booked for stand-up or variety shows at UCBeast?

Thanks!

[john_frusciante]

Hi Nate and John,

How could one get booked for stand-up or variety shows at UCBeast?

Thanks!

Hello. Oh boy am I tired. That wasn't your question. You get a free piece of information. Now onto your question.

In general the stand-up shows at our theatres are booked by the people who run them. So the best way to go about it is to go to the shows and approach the hosts afterwards, introduce yourself, and ask about how to get booked. For School Night, you can go to http://ucbschoolnight.com/ and click on the contact button on the bottom of the page.

For Stand-Up Smackdown, you can email me with your name, email address, brief bio and a link to a clip if you have one and I'll put you in consideration for the show.

I hope that helps.

John

[RenMcD]

Wanted to ask how it's determined who replaces Maude actors when people move to LA, get jobs, quit, etc. Is it based on the previous Maude auditions? Are there invitation-only private Maude auditions? Thanks so much. Ren

[john_frusciante]

Wanted to ask how it's determined who replaces Maude actors when people move to LA, get jobs, quit, etc. Is it based on the previous Maude auditions? Are there invitation-only private Maude auditions? Thanks so much. Ren

Hello Ren,

It can be based on who we saw at previous Maude auditions. Also, sometimes a performer will leave their Maude team because they got some work in LA, and then they will come back to NY when the work is done. If that person expresses a desire to return to Maude, we might put them into a slot when one opens up if they are the right fit. We have had invitation-only Maude and Harold auditions in the past but they are not as frequent.

Thanks,

John