HOW TO CREATE YOUR HOW TO CREATE YOUR RRÉÉSUMSUMÉÉ

From “The Complete From “The Complete Professional Audition” by Professional Audition” by

Darren Cohen, Back Stage Darren Cohen, Back Stage Books, New York, 2005Books, New York, 2005

Your ‘calling card’ is your Your ‘calling card’ is your rréésumsuméé

Photo and rPhoto and résumé (stapled together at ésumé (stapled together at all 4 corners, back-to-back)all 4 corners, back-to-back)

The casting person’s first glimpse of The casting person’s first glimpse of youyou

Should be honest, professional and a Should be honest, professional and a current representation of yourselfcurrent representation of yourself

It lists for auditors your credits and It lists for auditors your credits and experience, and gives them a tangible experience, and gives them a tangible piece of you to keep on file.piece of you to keep on file.

LENGTHLENGTH

Should never be longer than 1 page!Should never be longer than 1 page!As you progress in your career/ As you progress in your career/

experience, move the smaller roles experience, move the smaller roles to the bottom until you can to the bottom until you can eventually leave them offeventually leave them off

(Only designers, directors, (Only designers, directors, choreographers, musical directors choreographers, musical directors can sometimes have more than one can sometimes have more than one page)page)

COLORCOLOR

RRésumés should be white!ésumés should be white!(Color makes the actor look (Color makes the actor look

desperate to be noticed)desperate to be noticed)(A well-prepared audition will get you (A well-prepared audition will get you

the job, not the colorful résuméthe job, not the colorful résumé

DIMENSIONSDIMENSIONS

Standard 8x11Standard 8x11Photos are 8x10, so you need to trim Photos are 8x10, so you need to trim

the paper to fit the photothe paper to fit the photo

NAMENAME

Should always be at the top centerShould always be at the top centerTypeset in boldfaceTypeset in boldface

HOME ADDRESSHOME ADDRESS

Not really needed or safe for certain Not really needed or safe for certain instances.instances.

For community theater, it’s fine, but For community theater, it’s fine, but for professional work there is no for professional work there is no reason to have it until you are hired reason to have it until you are hired

TELEPHONE NUMBERTELEPHONE NUMBER

You should list your cell phone You should list your cell phone number, not your house number (if number, not your house number (if you are on the road a great deal)you are on the road a great deal)

You don’t want to miss the callYou don’t want to miss the call

E-MAIL ADDRESSE-MAIL ADDRESS

Do use your e-mail address!Do use your e-mail address!You can be contacted for other jobs, You can be contacted for other jobs,

or to get other information, mailings, or to get other information, mailings, etc.etc.

UNION AFFILIATIONUNION AFFILIATION

You are expected to list your You are expected to list your affiliationaffiliation

Right below your nameRight below your name3 major affiliations are:3 major affiliations are:

Actors Equity Association (AEA)Actors Equity Association (AEA)Screen Actors Guild (SAG)Screen Actors Guild (SAG)American Federation of Television and American Federation of Television and

Radio Artists (AFTRA)Radio Artists (AFTRA)

REPRESENTATIONREPRESENTATION

If you have an agent/management If you have an agent/management company, you need to list its:company, you need to list its:NameNameAddressAddressContact numberContact number

(Very often agencies will give you a (Very often agencies will give you a sticker with all the information that you sticker with all the information that you can place at the top of your rcan place at the top of your résumé)ésumé)

AGEAGE

There is no need to include itThere is no need to include it It causes casting committees to be It causes casting committees to be

biasedbiasedAt an Equity audition they are not At an Equity audition they are not

allowed to ask your age by law.allowed to ask your age by law. If you are asked your age you can say, If you are asked your age you can say,

“Onstage I usually read between…..” or “Onstage I usually read between…..” or “I am as old or as young as you would “I am as old or as young as you would like me to be” (see p. 122)like me to be” (see p. 122)

HEIGHTHEIGHT

Do put your height on the rDo put your height on the résuméésumé It is helpful when the panel is trying It is helpful when the panel is trying

to pair up couples. to pair up couples. Be honestBe honest

HAIR COLORHAIR COLOR

Listing it is helpful, but not as Listing it is helpful, but not as important as stating your heightimportant as stating your height

(Wigs are often used, or they may (Wigs are often used, or they may ask you if you would dye it…)ask you if you would dye it…)

It can, however, help them It can, however, help them remember you. For example…”Oh, remember you. For example…”Oh, the guy with the long blonde hair and the guy with the long blonde hair and big bass voice…”big bass voice…”

EYE COLOREYE COLOR

Color of eyes can’t be seen by Color of eyes can’t be seen by audiencesaudiences

Really only matters in film and Really only matters in film and televisiontelevision

WEIGHTWEIGHT

Not necessary for theatre auditionsNot necessary for theatre auditionsAppropriate for film, commercial or Appropriate for film, commercial or

t.v.t.v.

VOICE RANGEVOICE RANGE

List your voice type: (Common ones:)List your voice type: (Common ones:)Soprano/beltSoprano/beltAlto/beltAlto/beltBari/tenorBari/tenor

Know the range of your belt and head voicesKnow the range of your belt and head voicesKnow the range of your highest/lowest notes Know the range of your highest/lowest notes

that you can perform at any time of the day that you can perform at any time of the day and under any level of stress. Don’t lie!and under any level of stress. Don’t lie!

COMMERCIALSCOMMERCIALS

If you include this category, instead If you include this category, instead of listing each product, you should of listing each product, you should simply write: “Conflicts available simply write: “Conflicts available upon request”upon request”

If you filmed for Pepsi, the producer If you filmed for Pepsi, the producer of a Coke commercial probably won’t of a Coke commercial probably won’t hire you. Even if your contract is hire you. Even if your contract is done, they may not want to use an done, they may not want to use an actor from their competitoractor from their competitor

RESUME FORMATTINGRESUME FORMATTING

Most common is the 3 column formatMost common is the 3 column formatDon’t get too fancyDon’t get too fancyHeading needs to be very clear and Heading needs to be very clear and

easy to followeasy to followAt a busy audition, assume that the At a busy audition, assume that the

panel will only have time to glance at panel will only have time to glance at the top third of your rthe top third of your résumé.ésumé.

List all important credits first, including List all important credits first, including leading roles and noteworthy theatres.leading roles and noteworthy theatres.

SOME HEADINGS:SOME HEADINGS:

BroadwayBroadwayNational ToursNational ToursEuropean ToursEuropean ToursOff-BroadwayOff-BroadwayRegional TheaterRegional TheaterSummer StockSummer Stock

Dinner TheaterDinner Theater Community TheaterCommunity Theater Educational Theater (High School, College)Educational Theater (High School, College) Revues/Theme Parks/Cruise ShipsRevues/Theme Parks/Cruise Ships TelevisionTelevision FilmFilm CommercialsCommercials Vocal Experience (All-State Choir, a Vocal Experience (All-State Choir, a

cappella singing group)cappella singing group) Education, TrainingEducation, Training DialectsDialects Special SkillsSpecial Skills

LISTING CREDITSLISTING CREDITS

It is common to list in order of It is common to list in order of importance, rather than chronoligically.importance, rather than chronoligically.

(A leading role from a year ago holds (A leading role from a year ago holds more clout than a chorus part you just more clout than a chorus part you just did)did)

NYC casting directors want to see stage NYC casting directors want to see stage credits firstcredits first

L.A. directors want to see film and tv L.A. directors want to see film and tv firstfirst

NAME DROPPINGNAME DROPPING

Listing directors’ name next to each Listing directors’ name next to each show is not necessary, unless a given show is not necessary, unless a given director is very well known director is very well known throughout the industry.throughout the industry.

(Most likely your local dance teacher (Most likely your local dance teacher will make no impression on anyone in will make no impression on anyone in the professional world!)the professional world!)

JOB LOCATIONJOB LOCATION

When listing a theatre you performed When listing a theatre you performed in, note its location by either state or in, note its location by either state or nearest large citynearest large cityThis validates the credit, and if someone This validates the credit, and if someone

on the panel happens to know the area, on the panel happens to know the area, it can start a conversation. Any it can start a conversation. Any conversation gives the panel a sense of conversation gives the panel a sense of your personalityyour personality

UNDERSTUDYINGUNDERSTUDYING

If you have understudied a role, you can If you have understudied a role, you can write it on your rwrite it on your résumé in two ways:ésumé in two ways:

Never performed role:Never performed role: ““name of role u/s”: Tony u/sname of role u/s”: Tony u/s

Performed role:Performed role: ““name of role u/s (performed)”: Tony u/s name of role u/s (performed)”: Tony u/s

(performed)(performed) If you were also in ensemble:If you were also in ensemble:

““Ensemble/name of role (u/s)”: Ensemble/Tony Ensemble/name of role (u/s)”: Ensemble/Tony (u/s) (acceptable for both performed and not (u/s) (acceptable for both performed and not performed)performed)

SCHOOL CREDITSSCHOOL CREDITS

It’s ok to use them when you’re first It’s ok to use them when you’re first starting out!starting out!

OTHER CREDITS YOU CAN OTHER CREDITS YOU CAN INCLUDEINCLUDE

When first starting out you can include:When first starting out you can include: Choral festivals and awards: (These tell the Choral festivals and awards: (These tell the

musical director that you have experience musical director that you have experience singing in harmony)singing in harmony)

PageantsPageants A cappella singing groups (suggest you have a A cappella singing groups (suggest you have a

good musical ear)good musical ear) Scholarships to schools, performing arts camps Scholarships to schools, performing arts camps

or festivalsor festivals Master classes with notable artistsMaster classes with notable artists Cruise ship and theme parksCruise ship and theme parks High School Band and Orchestra (These tell the High School Band and Orchestra (These tell the

musical director that you have skill reading musical director that you have skill reading music)music)

SPECIAL SKILLSSPECIAL SKILLS

Gives the auditors more insight to who you Gives the auditors more insight to who you areare

Technical skills, painting, sewing etc. are Technical skills, painting, sewing etc. are valuable and summer stock theatre require valuable and summer stock theatre require actors to be able to do themactors to be able to do them

Sometimes directors will add your skills to the Sometimes directors will add your skills to the character to make him/her more interestingcharacter to make him/her more interesting

Be able to follow through if asked to Be able to follow through if asked to demonstrate!demonstrate!

Don’t list skills you can barely pull off.Don’t list skills you can barely pull off.

REFERENCESREFERENCES

When you list the names of people you’ve When you list the names of people you’ve trained with, it’s often assumed that they can trained with, it’s often assumed that they can be used as references.be used as references.

If you studied with someone who possibly If you studied with someone who possibly won’t remember you, it’s best not to list won’t remember you, it’s best not to list them.them.

Write at bottom of rWrite at bottom of résumé: “References Upon ésumé: “References Upon Request” and keep a separate list with Request” and keep a separate list with names/phone numbersnames/phone numbers

Make sure your references know you are Make sure your references know you are using them; refresh their memory as to who using them; refresh their memory as to who you are!you are!

FABRICATED CREDITSFABRICATED CREDITS

Don’t make up credits!Don’t make up credits!Everyone knows everyone else: you’ll Everyone knows everyone else: you’ll

get caught! (p. 129)get caught! (p. 129)

JOHN SMITHJOHN SMITH333-444-5555333-444-5555

Height: 6’0”Height: 6’0” Hair: BrownHair: Brown Voice:TenorVoice:Tenor

Community TheaterCommunity TheaterFiddler on the RoofFiddler on the Roof PerchikPerchik Long Island PlayersLong Island PlayersGreaseGrease DannyDanny Plainview Dinner TheatrePlainview Dinner TheatreDamn YankeesDamn Yankees EnsembleEnsemble Bradford Road Theatre Co.Bradford Road Theatre Co.Arsenic and Old LaceArsenic and Old Lace Mr. GibbsMr. Gibbs Rembrandt PlayhouseRembrandt Playhouse

Vocal ExperienceVocal ExperienceAll-State ChorusAll-State Chorus TenorTenor New York StateNew York StateMadrigal SingersMadrigal Singers TenorTenor JFK High SchoolJFK High SchoolShow ChoirShow Choir SoloistSoloist JFK High SchoolJFK High School

Educational TheaterEducational TheaterOklahomaOklahoma CurleyCurley NYUNYUAnything GoesAnything Goes EnsembleEnsemble NYUNYU

TrainingTrainingNYU Theater MajorNYU Theater MajorJFK High SchoolJFK High SchoolVoice: P.C. EpsteinVoice: P.C. EpsteinActing: Ryan DrewActing: Ryan DrewDance: Allie NicoleDance: Allie Nicole

Special SkillsSpecial SkillsSouthern accent, gymnastics, jazz singing, juggling, piano (8 years)Southern accent, gymnastics, jazz singing, juggling, piano (8 years)

JOE SMITHJOE SMITH

AEA - SAGAEA - SAG

111-222-3333111-222-3333

BroadwayBroadway

WickedWicked EnsembleEnsemble Gershwin TheatreGershwin Theatre

A Chorus LineA Chorus Line PaulPaul Shubert TheatreShubert Theatre

4242ndnd Street Street BillyBilly Majestic TheatreMajestic Theatre

Me and My GirlMe and My Girl EnsembleEnsemble Marquis TheatreMarquis Theatre

Off-BroadwayOff-Broadway

Little Shop of HorrorsLittle Shop of Horrors SeymourSeymour Orpheum TheatreOrpheum Theatre

The FantasticksThe Fantasticks MattMatt Sullivan St. PlayhouseSullivan St. Playhouse

RegionalRegional

FootlooseFootloose RenRen Sacramento Music CircusSacramento Music Circus

ZorbaZorba DancerDancer North Shore Music TheatreNorth Shore Music Theatre

TelevisionTelevision

Law & OrderLaw & Order LawyerLawyer NBCNBC

Third WatchThird Watch FiremanFireman NBCNBC

CommercialsCommercials

Conflicts available upon requestConflicts available upon request

DialectsDialects

Standard British, German, French, Southeaster United StatesStandard British, German, French, Southeaster United States

Special SkillsSpecial Skills

Jazz scatting, gymnastics, martial arts, hip-hop dancingJazz scatting, gymnastics, martial arts, hip-hop dancing