LES MIS Tour Auditions

[Bumpette]

Hello, does anyone have any experience of Les Mis tour auditions? I have sent an email to Jo Hawes regarding my daughter but not heard anything back. Not sure if this is a bad thing! Or whether there isn't much notice given for the audition. I used to work within the profession so I know auditions can come with 24 hours notice however I am not sure whether this is the case here. Just wondered if anyone had any advice! Thank you.

DS has auditioned for Jo Hawes several times and was in the West End production of Les Mis. I wouldn't worry that she hasn't responded to your original email - she receives hundreds of emails a day so won't necessarily respond to individual submissions until she sends out audition information (and her emails are famously brief and to-the-point!). She doesn't normally give a huge amount of notice for auditions - anything from a week to 24 hours in my experience (might be worth another email to her if you haven't heard anything 2-3 days prior to the advertised audition date). The dates she is auditioning for each location are on her website, as are the role requirements and audition material.

Jo's auditions are efficient and no-nonsense, but the atmosphere is friendly and encouraging and most children find it a positive experience even if they don't get past the first round. Jo won't see anyone outside the height or age requirements for the role, and will turn children away on the day if they are too tall. The audition material for Little Cosette/Young Eponine is "Castle on A Cloud"; they won't be asked to sing anything else. I think the format for tour auditions is roughly the same as for the WE auditions. - girls are auditioned in groups of about a dozen, initially each group sings the song together to warm up, then each child takes turns to sing solo. Each group takes about 10-15 minutes, and Jo will then hand letters straight away to children who are through to recall.

Best of luck to your DD. It's a great show to be involved in.

I can also recommend taking a look at the notapushymum forum (discussion forum for parents of performing children) - there are some threads there about Les Mis auditions including tour.

Ah thank you Theatre Taxi! Yes, i did read that the criteria was very strict and have made sure to include all that was necessary in the email. Luckily my daughter does fit the height and distance etc. We don't live near enough to London to audition for West end - my daughter's dream! And I am reluctant for her to live away from home which she would have to do so she is desperate to audition. She does a lot of acting, singing and dancing so has had quite a bit of experience but not professionally. Thank you for the info on the audition procedure - that's really helpful. I was a professional actress for 15 years but I'm a bit out of touch now and whilst I have lots of audition experience I know nothing of children's auditions!! Really appreciate your help and fingers crossed we hear from her xx

Couple of extras on Les Mis - for the audition, Castle on a Cloud will include the verse beginning 'There is a room that's full of toys...' even if it is missing in the audition info email, so worth learning the whole thing as children can be thrown if they get that verse as a solo and they're not expecting it.

Also worth learning the whole song to 'la' - not needed unless you get to the final round, but you will need it at that point.

They put you out of your misery quite fast with this one - child will know if they are recalled to the next round or not at the end of each round, and if you get to the final few you will hear normally within 24 hours.

Jo tends to send emails very late at night, and audition info for Les Mis tends to have about a week's notice. Don't worry if you didn't hear back from your submission - that is normal.

Good luck to your DD - it's a fabulous role and show.

Oh, and it's way worse for the parent than the child... I detest the audition waiting room and feel sick. DD loves it.

Ah, thank you @elfonshelf! We have since heard back and she has an audition. Appreciate the extra info! Yes, i can well imagine it's far worse sitting in the waiting room. Have experienced that already simply with am dram parts she has gone for. She is very excited and nervous at the same time. We don't get these opportunities much where we are - back of beyond!

How was the audition Bumpette?