auditionner

Auditioner is a noun used in English to refer to a person who participates in an audition, typically within the performing arts such as theatre, film, television, music, or dance. An auditioner performs material requested by a casting director or producer in order to be considered for a role, contract, or place in a company or ensemble.

In practice, auditioners may present monologues, songs, scenes, dances, or other prepared material and may also be asked to perform cold readings, respond to direction, or demonstrate specific skills. The audition process serves as a selection method in casting and talent scouting, and auditioners are usually expected to bring materials such as résumés, headshots, or a portfolio.

Usage and related terms: The agent noun derived from audition is auditioner. Variants include auditionee for the person being auditioned and, in some contexts, simply the actor or performer auditioning. The term auditioner is widely understood in English-language casting contexts, though some writers prefer phrasing that avoids the term and describes the individual more explicitly (for example, “the actor who auditioned”). The word is most common in North American theatre and media circles and may be less familiar in everyday speech.

Etymology and cross-language note: Auditioner derives from audition plus the agent suffix -er. In French, auditionner is a verb meaning to audition (someone) or to undergo an audition; English usage retains a distinct term such as auditioner rather than borrowing directly from the French verb form.

See also: audition, auditioning, auditionee, casting, casting call.