Irene Ryan Acting
Scholarship Auditions
The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships provide recognition, honor, and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education. The Irene Ryan Foundation awards sixteen regional and two national scholarships annually. One nominee and partner from every region will be invited to the national festival and the nominee will receive a $500 scholarship. The runner-up in each region will receive a $500 scholarship, but will not attend the national festival to audition for the national scholarship.
Students and coaches are encouraged to consult their regional chair or regional Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions Coordinator for information on other regional awards. The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships are, indeed, scholarships; so the Foundation disburses the award through a school designated by the winner, to pay tuition and fees for further education, not necessarily limited to theatre arts.
Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.
Rules
The National Committee of KCACTF has revised the criteria for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships for the 2024 Festival Year, which includes regional scholarship processes in January and February 2024, and the national scholarship process in Washington, D.C. in April 2024.
The goal of these changes for 2024 is to encourage student actors across the nation to audition for the acting scholarship while eliminating as many barriers to access as possible. You will note that students who elect to support a peer as a partner will also be eligible to prepare their own audition to be considered for this scholarship.
The complete audition process for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship for the 2024 Festival season will be student preparation of a total of 6 minutes of work, consisting of two monologues and a scene with a partner, constructed as follows:
Criteria
Student artists participating in the Irene Ryan auditions are encouraged to make materials and artistic choices with consideration of the following criteria:
• Choosing material suited for the actor that reflects self-awareness, expressive emotional range, wide vocal range, and physical connectedness.
• Engaging in active objectives and tactics to affect how they are speaking to their real or imagined scene partner. (Acting is action: why is your objective? What/who is your obstacle?)
• Living truthfully in the moment of their given circumstances. (Who, what, where, when, why, and how?)
• Expressing a compelling story with a clear arc from beginning to middle to end.
• Demonstrating a connection with a real or imagined scene partner (i.e. who you are speaking to?), projected imagery, and specific fourth wall focal points.
• Making a Body/Voice Connection. (Are you filling the space vocally, energetically, and in connection with your body? Can we understand you?)
The Preliminary Round Audition
Students will record themselves performing two contrasting monologues (time limit of three minutes, total) and submit via a private YouTube link or Vimeo.
Students (auditionee and partner) must have a paid registration to participate. The deadline for preliminary round entries will be Sunday, February 11, 2024 at midnight.
Please slate your two pieces (title & playwright). This will not count against your time…..”Hi my name is ____, and I will be performing _____by ____ and ____ by ______. Thank you” That is all you need.
Your time starts with you first word or action of the monologue.
Please don’t mention your school, or have anything in your frame (posters, etc) that would identify where you go to school
Students (auditionee and partner) must have a paid registration to participate.
Deadline for prelims will be before the regional festival - set by each region. Region 6 Deadline is Friday, February 9th by midnight.
Selectors will review the preliminary round submissions and make their selections before the festival.
Preliminary Round responses with regional faculty respondents will happen the first day of the festival IN PERSON. Scheduling will be run by regional Irene Ryan coordinators, an email will be sent out prior to festival with location and time for the feedback.
In addition to the auditions, the festival will feature workshops on auditioning/acting etc. Please check the schedule once it announced for those workshops. Students who do not advance to the semi-finals and are interested can participate with NPP in the Ten Minute Play Festival, an Open Mic Night, and a featured workshop track will be highlighted at the festival for these students.
The Semi-Final Round Audition
Semi-finalists (thirty-two students advancing) will be announced at the in-person Regional Festival. Semi-finalists will perform live at the Regional Festival, with one monologue (from the prelim round, student's choice) and one scene (time limit of five minutes, total). Semi-finalists will receive feedback from the Semi-Final Round Selectors.
Performed LIVE at Festival: 1 monologue (from prelims, student’s choice) and one scene, time limit of 5 minutes total.
Students will have the use of 2 chairs and a table.
Minimal hand props are allowed but must be brought on and off by the actors easliy.
Students will receive feedback from the Semi-Final Round Selectors.
Finalist (sixteen students) will be announced at the Regional Festival.
The Final Round Audition
Finalists (sixteen students) will be announced at the Regional Festival, and perform their two contrasting monologues (from the preliminary round) as well as their scene live. The time limit is six minutes, total.
Finalists will receive feedback from the Final Round selectors.
Performed Live at Festival: 2 contrasting monologues from Prelims and one scene from Semi Finals, time limit of 6 minutes total.
Students will have the use of 2 chairs and a table.
Minimal hand props are allowed but must be brought on and off by the actors easliy.
Students will receive feedback from the Final Round Selectors.
Recommendations for Recordings:
Prelim submissions will be recorded with one camera and/or phone.
Please record with a source of light directly in front of you.
These articles and this video intended for film/television work, but also serve as excellent guidance for a virtual audition:
The quality of the recording will not be considered when evaluating submissions.
Timing of the audition will begin with the first action or word in character following the setup and introduction and will not stop from that point onward.
Other Items
Irene Ryan Nominees can serve as a partner for another Irene Ryan Nominees. Each student cannot be in more than two scenes.
Singing will not be allowed, it is recommended that those interested in singing explore the Musical Theatre Intensive.
For more information regarding: Selecting Materials, Rehearsing the Material, The Audition Itself, Time Management, Royalties and Permissions can be found on at the button below.
The National Scholarship format will be the same as the Regional Final Round. If public health circumstances dictate, the national format may be revised.
Be sure to check the Tips and Suggestions for information about obtaining performance rights with button below.
REMINDER, CONCORD THEATRICALS is SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
How to Participate and Partner
Schools receive two nominations for an Associate Production and three nominations for a Participating Productions.
Self-nominations in each Region will be allowed and encouraged.
Check your Region's website for application details as well as for specifics on logistics, technical provisions, casting, and organization.
Eligibility
Only those performers who are bona fide students during the festival year are eligible. For the purpose of these awards, a bona fide student is:
An undergraduate student* registered for at least six semester or equivalent quarter hours;
A graduate student* registered for at least three semester or equivalent quarter hours;
Or a continuing part-time student* enrolled in a regular degree or certificate program.
*Undergraduate, graduate, and continuing part-time students must be matriculating and pursuing a degree at the time of the KCACTF official response. The chair of the theatre department (or their delegate) must verify the candidate and partner's bona fide student status.
All scene partners must have been a bona fide student at the time of the initial KCACTF response or during the term in which the regional festival occurs (confirmed in writing as outlined above). Nominees and their partners need not be students at the same institution.
