This page provides information about auditions for acting classes and interviews for select theater classes. For information about production and workshop auditions, please visit the Callboard.
Acting Classes
- Theater 10 — Fundamentals of Acting I
- Theater 109 — Fundamentals of Acting II
- Theater 110A — Intermediate Acting: Scene Study & Style
- Theater 110B — Intermediate Acting: The Power of Language
- Theater 111 — Advanced Acting Studio
- Theater 115 — Advanced Acting Company
How to Audition
- Students will not be able to enroll in these acting classes before the beginning of the semester. Instead, starting two weeks before classes begin, students must sign up via the TDPS Callboard for auditions which will be held at the beginning of the semester. Auditions are held during the regularly scheduled class time on the first day of instruction for each class. Visit classes.berkeley.edu to view class schedules.
- Theater 10 does not require prior experience. Theater 109 requires at least one semester of college-level acting training (or equivalent experience) and each subsequent course in the series requires an additional semester of college-level training or experience. If you don’t know which acting level is appropriate, you may sign up for more than one audition.
- For Theater 10: Prepare a one-minute speech from a play, film script, or a selection of prose. Memorization of the piece is strongly encouraged.
- For Theater 109, 110A, 110B, 111, and 115: Prepare a one-minute monologue from a play. Memorization of the piece is required for these courses.
- After auditions, class lists will be posted on the TDPS Callboard. If you are accepted into a class, the instructor will give you the Permission Number needed for enrollment and you must then add the class. No one will be considered for these classes without an audition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Theater 10 & 109 Auditions
How long should my monologue be?
One minute maximum. Be sure to time your piece—if you go over during the audition, you will be asked to stop.
Does it need to be memorized?
You have a much better chance of getting into a Theater 10 class if you memorize the selection. Memorization is required for Theater 109 and beyond.
Any tips for selecting my monologue?
- Look for a speech from a play. Passages from other forms of literature, including poems, are not as strong.
- It is probably best for beginners to stick to contemporary pieces—generally pieces written after 1940.
- Avoid accents.
- Choose something you can relate to—probably in your general age range.
What are your tips for performing the monologue?
- Remember to breathe.
- Speak loudly and clearly enough for us to hear you.
- Imagine whomever you are speaking to is standing or sitting in front of you and speak to that imaginary person.
How early should I arrive to my audition appointment?
If possible, please come 10 minutes before your appointed time in case we are running early. It will also give you a moment to fill out the audition form where we ask about your previous training (if any), previous experience (if any), major/minor status, number of semesters of college-level acting training, and preferences for which sections of your level of acting you are available for. You are welcome to bring a resume or CV of your previous experience and training if you have one.
If I have not yet taken Theater 10, can I audition for Theater 109 instead?
If you are trying to skip 10 and go into 109, you should have at least one semester of college-level acting training or equivalent acting experience. Your monologue will have to reveal that training and experience to help you gain access to the class. It is recommended that you do the entire acting sequence in order once you arrive at UC Berkeley.
Theater 110A/B & 111 Auditions
When is each course taught?
110A is taught in fall. 110B is taught in spring.
What should I prepare for my 110A audition?
If you have taken 10 or 109, you may use your contemporary monologues from those classes. You need not use heightened language or classical monologues.
If you are trying to skip 10 or 109 and go into 110A in the fall, you should have at least two semesters of college-level acting training or equivalent acting experience. Your monologue will have to reveal that training and experience to help you gain access to the class.
What about requirements for 110B auditions?
If you are trying to skip 10 or 109 or 110A and go into 110B in the spring, you should have at least three semesters of college-level acting training and voice training or equivalent acting experience. Your monologue will have to reveal that training and experience to help you gain access to the class.
What if I am a transfer student?
Transfer students are encouraged to begin their training at the appropriate level based on their studies in community college. It is recommended that you do the entire acting sequence in order once you arrive at UC Berkeley, unless you've had two or more semesters of college-level acting training in community college or equivalent acting experience.
General Questions
What is the ratio of people who audition and people who are admitted?
It varies greatly from semester to semester. Often many more students audition than we have space for, so placing everyone is not guaranteed.
What if I don’t get in? Where do I go from there?
- Due to the large number of students who audition, it is not possible to get individual feedback from instructors holding the auditions. We strongly encourage you to try again the next semester.
- Don’t think of this as a wasted semester of training. Get involved in other TDPS classes that have a performance component. Audition for a TDPS workshop or production. Contact the film department for student film opportunities, or audition for an on-campus production sponsored by one of many student-run performance groups.
- If you would like to gain more experience off the UC Berkeley campus, organizations like Theatre Bay Area offer audition preparation workshops, and many schools around the Bay Area offer theater classes. For an extensive list, please see the undergraduate advisor in 15 Dwinelle Hall.
Dance Classes
Placement auditions are not currently required for dance technique classes. Students may enroll in the class that they feel is appropriate for their level of experience.
- Beginning-level technique (Theater 40/45) is for students with little or no dance experience, but those with dance experience are welcome to take the class.
- Intermediate-level technique (Theater 141) is designed for students with at least some dance experience. The class will review basic dance skills and is moderately paced.
- Advanced-level technique (Theater 142) is designed for students with significant dance experience. It is a fast-paced physical class.
Please contact the instructor listed on the Schedule of Classes if you have questions or concerns.
Theater Class Interviews
- Theater 105: Movement for Actors
- Theater 112: Voice & Speech
- Theater 162: Fundamentals of Stage Directing
- Theater 163: Stage Directing
Notes on Interviews
All interested students must attend the first class meeting to be interviewed by the instructor for admission into the courses listed above. For class schedules, visit classes.berkeley.edu
Be prepared to talk about your interest in the course and any relevant experience you have. Selected students will be given the Permission Numbers needed for enrollment.
Accommodation Policy
All UC Berkeley students are invited to audition or interview for TDPS classes. If a disability-related accommodation is needed for a class audition, please contact the Undergraduate Academic Advisor at least one week prior to the start of the semester.
For students in DSP, please contact your DSP specialist well in advance of the audition so there is time for the accommodation process and notify the department to make arrangements. Please ask DSP to also send disability accommodation notices for auditions to the Undergraduate Academic Advisor at least one week prior to the start of the semester.
Please note that some audition spaces are not readily accessible for those with mobility impairments. With advance notice, we are happy to make arrangements for an alternate venue.