Background

In July, 2007, a group of teachers from Montreal-area high schools and CEGEPS met at Dawson College to discuss the development of a website that would focus on the technique of classical auditioning. The proposal received an enthusiastic response from all the participants, with the following recommendations:

1) The focus of the website should be kept to Shakespeare performance given that  (a) Shakespeare, when understood and performed well, is an excellent pedagogical medium for students to explore all aspects of the audition process and (b) Students are typically more intimidated by the obligatory classical audition than by the contemporary one.

2) The website should demystify both Shakespeare and the audition process: (a) Students should come away with a clear understanding of the pieces presented due to in-depth analysis of each monologue (b) Students should know what to anticipate in an audition context.