Character acting?

Question

I don't do the lead role, I do the crazy, hard to act person in plays. My job is to make people laugh so hard they flip a lung. I'm good at my job and at the end of the day, people always say, "Oh that was the play that Paige played the crazy lady right? Who was the lead anyway?"
I'm pretty proud, but now I'm going to a new high school and I realize that I'm going to have to be better then ever if I want to get the parts I want, because I don't have any "experience" that school. Do you have any suggestions on how I can show them my talent at the auditions so I don't get the dumpy part with two lines?

Answer 1

Wouldn't it impress them if you turned in a resume and headshot with your tryout form? Then when you learn what play they are going to do, get a copy and read it and learn about each character. When you read, just give it your best shot. Oh, yeah, sign up for crew work on the tryout form, it always impresses the director the wrong way if the people auditioning do not want to do anything but act.

Answer 2

There are no small roles....only small actors.

You are moving to a new school, which, I am sure, has students with experience. You may have to start out with the two-liners until you have time to prove yourself. If acting is important to you, you'll remember the very first line in this response.

Answer 3

Keep in mind that character actors might not get the high paying roles but they do work regularly. Look at Wallace Shawn.