Audition Sides 101

Audition Sides 101: Don’t Just Learn Your Lines — Audition Prep Tips

Many actors focus only on their lines when prepping audition sides. While memorizing dialogue is important, taking the time to read everything on the page—including the action, crossed-out notes, and lines before “Start”—is what truly deepens your understanding and strengthens your choices.

Audition sides are like a window into the story and your character’s world. Every word, pause, and direction is an opportunity to make informed, nuanced choices that elevate your performance. By approaching sides as a detective would a case, you can uncover subtleties that others might miss.

1. Read Every Word

Every line, note, and direction contributes to the character and scene. Pay careful attention to:

  • Words before “Start,” which often provide essential context or emotional setup

  • Crossed-out lines or notes, which can suggest changes in tone, intention, or pacing

  • Stage directions and scene descriptions, which inform the character’s physicality, energy, and movement

Taking the time to read thoroughly multiple times allows you to understand not just what your character says, but why they say it and how they move through the scene.

2. Understand Relationships

Your character’s relationships define their choices, priorities, and reactions. Even on a short side, understanding the dynamics with other characters is key. Ask yourself:

  • Who am I to the other character in this scene?

  • How does this interaction reflect our history and emotional connection?

  • What do I want from this other character, and how might they respond?

Exploring these questions gives your performance depth and ensures your choices are rooted in the story’s context.

3. Discover the Stakes

Every line carries stakes, even in seemingly minor moments. Consider:

  • What your character hopes to gain in this moment

  • What could be lost if they fail to achieve their objective

  • How the stakes tie into the larger story or scene arc

Understanding the stakes helps you deliver choices that feel purposeful and alive, showing casting that you grasp the scene’s underlying tension and significance.

4. Use the Side as a Map

Treat the side as a roadmap for your performance:

  • Highlight pre-“Start” context to grasp emotional setup

  • Note crossed-out or emphasized lines to understand shifts in tone

  • Identify emotional beats, turning points, and key objectives

  • Consider physical and environmental cues described in the text

Breaking down sides in this way ensures that your choices are informed, intentional, and cohesive with the story.

5. The Benefits of Taking Your Time

not just waiting til the last minute allows you to:

  • Make nuanced and intentional choices rather than surface-level interpretations

  • allows time for coaching if you want or if your agent/manger recommends it

  • Approach every audition with confidence, knowing your performance is fully grounded in the script

Regular classwork and audition coaching reinforce these skills, helping you develop the ability to analyze sides thoroughly, efficiently, and with insight.

Build confidence, master your sides, and perform with depth. Learn more about our Kids/Teens and Adults classes.

Actorsite Team