Let’s not waste time: “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” the Broadway mega-smash which won best play at the 2018 Tony Awards, is casting.
The production will hold Equity Principal Auditions for several lead and supporting roles on Feb. 6 in New York City (see all the details for the call right here on Backstage). Naturally, countless talented performers will be going in for it, so before you walk into the room, give yourself the gift of truly magical audition advice, from someone who knows of what she speaks.
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“Know that my version is my version,” says Noma Dumezweni, who was Tony-nominated and Olivier-winning for her role as Hermione Granger in the two-part play. “Preparing for an audition, just do the work. And [when] you walk into a room, be present before you open the door to that room. Go to the loo and literally punch your arms up into the air, finding your space and just grounding yourself. It’s literally as simple as that.”
Dumezweni, who is preparing to depart the production in March, also shared advice for reconciling a tough day and an audition day, and believes the former can be channeled into the latter. “There are times when you’re feeling like shit, and you’ve got to go for this audition,” she explains. “Maybe that’s your point of entry into the part that day. Maybe that’s gonna give you the extra edge. Don’t try and negate that feeling, but be present in that feeling. Wherever you’re at, be present in that feeling.”
If those words of wisdom aren’t enough to levitate you, nothing is. And for even more spell-binding advice, read Dumezweni’s full Backstage cover story right here.
Additional reporting by Benjamin Lindsay.
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