hold an audition

Meaning

This means to organize and conduct a trial performance where actors, singers, dancers, or musicians are evaluated to see if they are suitable for a specific role or position in a production.

Examples

• The theater company plans to hold an audition next Saturday for the winter play.

  The theater company plans to hold an audition next Saturday for the winter play.

• They had to hold an audition to find a new lead guitarist for the band.

  They had to hold an audition to find a new lead guitarist for the band.

• The casting directors will hold an audition in Chicago before moving to New York.

  The casting directors will hold an audition in Chicago before moving to New York.

• It is difficult to hold an audition online, but many directors had to do it during the pandemic.

  It is difficult to hold an audition online, but many directors had to do it during the pandemic.

• They decided to hold an audition specifically for young actors with no professional experience.

  They decided to hold an audition specifically for young actors with no professional experience.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The director made an audition to find the main actor.

  ✓ The director held an audition to find the main actor.

  We use the verb 'hold' (or 'conduct') for organizing auditions, not 'make'.

• ✗ They took an audition for the dancers yesterday.

  ✓ They held an audition for the dancers yesterday.

  The organizers 'hold' the audition, whereas the performers 'audition' or 'do/have an audition'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The school's drama club will ___ next week to select the cast for the musical.

  💡 To organize a trial performance for actors.

  Show answer

  hold an audition

• Why did they decide to ___ in such a small studio?

  💡 Use the verb that means to host or conduct.

  Show answer

  hold an audition