Auditions
Audition Information
DUI holds auditions during the beginning of each Fall semester. To audition, sign up for a thirty-minute time slot on one of those days by visiting us at the Freshmen Orientation Show, the East Campus Student Activities Fair, or by e-mailing us at DUI@duke.edu with the day and time slot.
Callbacks will be invited to an improv workshop followed by the actual callback auditions.
What is DUI?
DUI is Duke University Improv, Duke's preeminent improv comedy troupe. We perform weekly in dorms and at larger venues across campus as well as throughout the country.
I've never done improv before. Can I still audition?
Of course! No experience other than life experience is necessary when improvising. Some of our finest members had zero improv or theater experience when they auditioned. If you have done improv before, that's cool too.
I'm not a theater student. Can I still audition?
Of course! Believe it or not, DUI has very few theater majors. Some of us are political science, public policy, or economics majors and even, dare we say it, Pratt students.
I'm not a freshman. Can I still audition?
Of course! Some of our finest members did not make the group until they were older. We welcome everyone to audition.
I've auditioned before and didn't make the group? Can I still audition?
Of course! Some of our finest members actually tried out, didn't make the group the first or even second time, but eventually joined the ranks of DUI.
What kind of time commitment would I need to make if I joined DUI?
DUI spends a lot of time together. We're like a family.
We perform, on average, once to twice a week as well as practice for two hours twice a week. For everyone in DUI, the group has become our top priority at Duke besides school. Expect for DUI to become a top priority for you too if you join. Expect that, and an amazing life-changing experience to your Duke years.
Do I need to have anything prepared for auditions?
Nope. We're an improv group aren't we? For those reaching callbacks, there will be one prepared piece but you'll learn about that later.
How does the audition process work?
You'll sign up for a thirty-minute time slot along with three or four other people for one of those days. The auditions are completely informal and a lot of fun! If you're even slightly thinking about it, we highly recommend you audition.
On the day of your audition, you'll come in fifteen minutes early for your time slot and fill out a short information sheet. We'll give you some quick pointers for doing well at improv. Then we'll all warm up together and play some improv games that we'll teach you.
After the first round of auditions, we'll post a list of callbacks at the Information Desk in the Bryan Center Lobby.
Callbacks will be invited to a non-evaluative workshop where we'll get to know you and teach you more about improv.
Sometime that week after callbacks, we'll make our decision and invite the new members into DUI. Then the real fun begins.
Where are the auditions?
Auditions will be held in Brody Theater, which is conveniently located on East Campus, behind Pegram dormitory. The first building behind Pegram is Biddle Music Hall. Keep on walking, past Biddle, and you should see Brody Theater on your right.
If you're still not sure, have a look at the campus map on page 13 of the Freshmen Orientation pamphlet.
How many people will DUI take?
We've always been emphatic that we don't pick who makes the group, you do! We will gladly take every deserving person we see at the auditions.
Yeah, yeah, yeah... But how many people will DUI really take?
Historically, DUI has taken between 1-4 people at auditions.
Why are there no girls in DUI?
Coincidence. We're not an all male group. Lots of girls audition every year and the callbacks group almost always includes girls. For some reason, the girls haven't been the best ones at the auditions in recent years. We have had girls join the group in the past and would like to have more in the future. Frankly, we're all tired of dressing in drag. As we've said before, you pick who makes the group and we gladly take every deserving person we see at the auditions. So audition for DUI no matter what letter chromosome you have?
I still have questions!
Great! E-mail us at DUI@duke.edu so we can answer them.
