Try Outs for Elementary School Plays and Programs

So you want to have an elementary school play, but how do you choose who gets each part. Since elementary students are quite a bit different from middle and high school students here are some ideas that you might find helpful in choosing parts.

First the students need to want to do it enough to give up some of their time. So schedule tryouts during recess or lunch time. If the student is willing to give up their recess or lunch then they really want to do it.

I rarely give students a long wait to try out. I tell them on Monday that we will be having tryouts that week so be sure to listen and watch the bulletins. If a student really wants to participate then they will remember and keep watching for the tryouts. This gives you an idea of which students really want this experience because they will stop you in the hall and ask/

Second, the students must be willing to speak loud enough to be heard. The first try out I have them line up, then I stand at the back of the room. The student is then requested to say any nursery rhyme that they would like to repeat. This way you can see if you can hear them and if they speak clearly. Then I have them say the nursery rhyme again, but I see if they can act a little so I ask them to say the nursery rhyme as if they were “a little old lady” or “like a cheerleader” etc. If they are too shy to do a little acting then I put them on the list for short speaking parts. Those students that speak loudly, clearly and do a little acting I put on a short list to have read parts.

This try out also tells me whether a student will freeze or is one of those students that have to be talked into doing something. If I have to talk a student into doing something and they are unwilling to try something without a long explanation then I do not want them to be one of the major speakers because I do not have time to do this all the time. I need someone that is willing to listen to instructions and do it instead of having to be talked into doing it.

During the tryout I watch those students that are not speaking, also. Can they stand and listen and not have to be told to settle down. If they cannot control themselves then you will have trouble with discipline during rehearsals. If a student can be courteous and stand and listen and watch their fellow students respectfully then they we be good during rehearsals usually.

All students that tryout are given some kind of part. Some of them will want to try out for several things like speaking, solos, dancing, and anything else that is offered. These students are easy to place because there are many places to put them. There is also that student that does very poorly at tryouts but wants to be in the play really badly so you invent a part for them or make them the student director or maybe your gopher person.
I had students that did the lights, that turned pages for the pianist, students that took care of the microphones and tapes. There are many places that students can work and take the work load off of you.

So remember even if they are trying out for a speaking part and they do not get it make sure that you give them something to do. One line parts are great for students that want to be front and center for their minute of fame even though they are very quiet. So don’t overlook anyone give them all a chance.