Overcoming Audition Nerves: A Broadway Performer’s Guide to Staying Calm and Confident
Written by: Colt Prattes
🧠 Being Nervous Is Actually a Good Sign
We always tell our students: feeling nervous before an audition isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s often a great sign. It means you care — about the work, the story, the opportunity, and the audience. That kind of care is a gift.
Nerves mean your heart is in it. But when nerves start hijacking your performance — when your hands shake in a dance call or your voice closes up in a vocal audition — that’s when they become a problem.
That’s where mindset work comes in.
Even after 20+ years on Broadway, we still get nervous. Especially when the show or role means something personal.
When I (Colt) went in for West Side Story on Broadway, I was terrified — it was the first show I ever dreamed of doing. When Angelina had her Aladdin callback in 2017, she had to fight through shaky legs because she loved the choreography so much and wanted to work with Casey Nicholaw again.
What helped us both book those jobs? We knew how to keep our nerves in check. We had the tools to stay grounded.
"Angelina and I have each been in the business for 20+ years, and we still feel that rush of nerves when it really matters. The difference now? We know how to prepare so the nerves don’t take the wheel."
🔧 Control What You Can — KNOW Your Stuff
You can’t control the casting table. Or who else shows up. Or the vibe of the room. But there is so much you can control — and that’s where your power lies.
Colt tells every student: You can’t really know your material until you’ve done it at least 100 times. Yes, 100. He means it.
Every audition he books, he’s put in 100 reps of the scene, song, or choreography — minimum. That’s what allows you to:
Take direction in real time
Pivot confidently
Show you’re directable (which casting loves)
This mindset comes from none other than Anthony Hopkins, who reportedly reads every script 250 times before day one of rehearsal. Mastery takes reps.
When your nerves hit, you want to know in your bones that you’re prepared. That you can trust your body, your voice, your story.
Practice the whole experience:
What you’ll say when you enter
How you’ll give tempo to your accompanist
Your opening line, your posture, your smile
These are the things that help you lead the room.
🎨 Visualize the Whole Day Before It Happens
We’re both huge fans of visualization.
Here are a few ways we mentally prep:
Picture the crowded holding room
Imagine the noise and nerves and people stretching everywhere
Think about not having a great place to warm up (we’ve got a blog coming on that!)
Visualize your name being called
Picture walking into the room and seeing the creative team — maybe engaged, maybe mid-donut — and staying grounded either way
Then ask yourself:
How will I protect my energy? How will I tell my story? How will I stay in my light, no matter what?
One thing we know: there will be curveballs.
But if you’ve already gone to those nerve-wracking places mentally, you’ll be ready. You’ll be rooted. You’ll walk into that room with a focused, powerful calm.
And that is what books work.
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If this helped you, send it to another performer who might need to hear it.
And if you want more mindset strategies, audition prep, and real talk from working Broadway professionals — we’re here for you.
