One of the best things about the combined auditions held all over the country every spring, is that they offer a portal into a tremendous range of different experiences for a performer. Representatives from theatres of all kinds and all sizes, indoors and out, repertory and stock, touring, classical, children's, historical, plus theme parks and training programs hire hundreds of actors from these auditions.
As you read through this article and think about which one (or several) of the annual combined auditions you want to attend, notice the variety of opportunities available. Your choice may depend on which auditions offer the most opportunities in your area of greatest skill, or, alternatively, you might pick one because attending it is likely to result in a totally new experience for you this summer. Whichever the case, read the accompanying sidebar in this issue, for valuable insight into just what the casting people from these various types of companies are looking for when they attend the "Spring Marathon" of combined auditions.
Many of the combined auditions which pre-screen candidates offer those who are screened out-or who apply too late to get an audition slot-the opportunity to have their picture-resume or application form made available to producers anyway. In past years, several actors have inquired as to how effective this practice is in reality. Back Stage spoke to a summer theatre producer (who asked to remain unnamed), who replied, "Frankly, at the end of one of these marathon weekends, I am so overwhelmed with the numbers of people that I have seen audition, that I'm not about to spend any more time looking through pictures and resumes of people I haven't seen. The only exception would be in the case of a minority performer, perhaps, or a much older non-Equity performer, or one with unique talents. If I were casting "Once on This Island,' for example, and hadn't seen enough African-American singers at the auditions, I might take the trouble to skim through the additional material to see if there was anyone in there I might want to take a look at. But otherwise...frankly, I rarely even take those applications back to my office."
As always, we feature five of the eastern auditions, as some of those most accessible to our readers: the New England Theatre Conference, held in the Boston area as usual; Southeastern Theatre Conference, held in Norfolk, VA this year; the Institute of Outdoor Drama auditions, held in Chapel Hill, NC; StrawHat auditions, held in New York City; and the Unified Professional Theatre Auditions, held down in Memphis. Other auditions in the Mid- and far West are listed at the end of the article.
New England Theatre Conference
The NETC auditions bring together more than 70 producers from New England and outside the region for three days of non-Equity auditions and staff and technical interviews. Year 2000 auditions will be held March 25, 26, and 27, again this year at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Natick, just west of Boston. As always, NETC will operate two separate performing areas to accommodate double auditions running concurrently: one for actors, and the other for actor-singer-dancers. In spite of the "organized chaos" inherent in the sheer numbers of producers and auditionees, NETC always runs like clockwork, thanks to organizer Joe Juliano and his accommodating and experienced crew.
Time slots for 750 hopefuls are available for non-Equity actors and Equity Membership Candidates, but are not open to members of Equity. Applicants may be college students or adults, but must be at least 18 years old. Minority performers are strongly encouraged to apply. A college student must have his instructor or department chair verify the information on his resume, and then have a director or teacher recommend him by making comments and signing off on the application.
To receive an application, mail a #10 business-size SASE to NETC c/o Northeastern University Dept. of Theatre, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115. The form must be filled out and mailed to the audition headquarters in Connecticut, postmarked by Tues., Feb. 1, 2000-although earlier application is advisable-to be considered for an audition slot. E-mail requests for applications are not acceptable; however, you may download an application form from the NETC website at www.netheatreconference.org.
Whether you download your application or use an old-fashioned typewriter, it's important to follow instructions to the letter, as incorrect applications will automatically be screened out. The applicant must return the completed form to NETC with a small photo (not an 8x10), another #10 SASE, and the appropriate fee (by money order, not personal check). NETC members pay only the $30 audition fee; non-members pay $45 for students and $50 for non-students, both fees including NETC membership through August. For an extra $5, one may apply as both an actor and technician; these candidates need to fill out two separate application forms and return them with two photos and SASEs.
Performer applications are screened by a panel of theatre professionals; generally about 70% of applicants receive either an audition time or a "stand-by" position. Applicants request either an "acting-singing" or "acting only" audition time. Those requesting acting-singing should have substantial musical credits on their resumes. Although the selection is based largely on training and experience, students without professional credits should not be concerned that they will necessarily be screened out, as many of the companies attending are seeking performers for apprenticeships, internships, and chorus work. Applicants should also consider that last year, fewer people applied for "acting only" than for "acting-singing" slots; thus a candidate with weak musical credits would have a better chance in the non-singing pool. Those applicants who are not selected for an audition will have their resumes distributed to the theatres attending the auditions; however, the application fee is non-refundable, whether or not the performer receives an audition time.
Those performers who are selected will be notified of their time slots (via the SASE) about three weeks before the auditions. A limited number of applicants who don't get time slots are designated "stand-bys" and are seen in place of auditionees who don't show for their appointed times. Stand-bys check in and sign up at an appointed audition session, and are accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis as slots open up during that session. All stand-bys who check in will be seen during the course of the weekend.
Performers have a total of two minutes' audition time. Singers are instructed to prepare one song and one brief monologue, or two musical numbers; non-singers should prepare two brief contrasting monologues. An accompanist is provided in the musical audition room, and singers must bring their own sheet music, in the correct key. Those who wish, may provide their own accompanists; however, NETC strongly advises candidates against singing without accompaniment or auditioning with a tape. Callback lists are posted every hour, and Dance Call is held at the end of each audition day. Callbacks or interviews are held at the discretion of the producer, either at designated tables in a large hall or in smaller callback rooms. Alternatively, producers may ask applicants to attend a later callback elsewhere, or may contact them at a later date.
Producers will also be auditioning musical directors, and interviewing applicants for technical and staff positions and internships, on Monday afternoon, March 27. Staff and tech applicants are rarely "screened out" and along with notification of their acceptance, they will receive a list of attending theatres and openings available. For the interviews, applicants should bring portfolios, pictures, recommendations, or other appropriate support material, along with a good number of resumes, since the application has space for only a minimal listing of credits. It has been often noted that technical and staff positions greatly outnumber appropriate applicants at these auditions. Anyone seeking such a position would be wise to apply, as this one afternoon of interviews is likely to result in a number of offers to a well-qualified person.
The following theatre companies and training programs attended NETC auditions in 1999 and are likely to return in 2000. (Some of the companies listed here and in other lists are Equity theatres, which generally attend these auditions to find performers for their apprentice, intern, or second stage companies.)
Acadia Repertory, ME; The Actors' Center, NY; Actors Theatre of Louisville, KY; Allan Albert Productions/Hersheypark, NY/PA; American Stage Festival, NH; Artpark & Company, NY; Arundel Barn Playhouse, ME; The Barnstormers, NH; Barrington Stage Company, MA; Beechwood Theatre Company, RI; Berkshire Theatre Festival, MA; Booth Theatre, ME; Boston Casting, MA; Capital Repertory Co., NY; Chamber Theatre Productions, MA; Chatauqua Conservatory Theatre Company, NY; Circle In The Square Theatre School, NY; Connecticut Repertory, CT; Cortland Repertory Theatre, NY; Cumberland County Playhouse, TN; Diamond Circle Theatre, CO; Dorset Theatre Festival, VT; Fiddlehead Theatre Company, MA; For A Good Time Theatre, MI; Foothills Theatre, MA; Forestburgh Playhouse, NY; Fredericksburg Theatre Company, VA; GATE (Gregory Abels Training Ensemble, NY); George Street Playhouse, NJ; Green Mountain Guild, VT; Hackmatack Playhouse, ME; Hampstead Players, NH; Hampton Playhouse, NH; Hangar Theatre, NY; Hartford Stage Company, CT; Horse Cave Theatre, KY; Lakes Region Summer Theatre, NH; Lost Nation Theater, VT; Maine Shakespeare Festival, ME; Maine State Music Theatre, ME; Maritime Productions, ME; Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, NY; Millbrook Playhouse, PA; Missoula Children's Theatre, MT; Mount Washington Theatre Company, NH; The National Players, MD; National Shakespeare Summer Conservatory, NY; National Theatre of the Deaf, CT; New Bedford Festival Theatre, MA; New Century Theatre, MA; New Hampshire Shakespeare Festival, NH; New London Barn Playhouse, NH; North Country Center for the Arts, NH; North Shore Music Theatre, MA; Northern Lights Playhouse, WI; Northern Stage, VT; Participatory Enterprises Corp., MA; Peterborough Players, NH; Playhouse On The Square, TN; Porthouse Theatre Company, OH; Prescott Park Arts Festival, NH; Publick Theatre, MA; Riverside Theme Park, MA; Sagamore Historic Adirondack Great Camp, NY; Saxtons River Playhouse, VT; Seacoast Repertory Theatre, RI; Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, VA; Spiral Stage, Inc., MA; Summer Theatre at Mt. Holyoke, MA; Talent Management Associates, ME; Theatre at Monmouth, ME; Trinity Repertory Company, RI; Walnut Hill School, MA; Walt Disney World, FL; Weathervane Theatre, NH; Williamstown Theatre Festival, MA.
Strawhat Auditions
For the 21st consecutive year, StrawHat Theatrical Services will once again be sponsoring its New York City StrawHat Auditions, from Sat., March 18, through Tues., March 21-held earlier than usual this year, to avoid conflicts with other auditions. As was done last year, a single day (Tuesday) is set aside for non-singers' auditions and staff/tech interviews. All auditions on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday will include singing. Although StrawHats, like NETCs, are for non-Equity performers, a number of Equity theatres seeking Membership Candidates, interns, and second-company performers attend these auditions also.
Anyone who has attended StrawHats in the past should already have received an application form for this year. Newcomers can write for an application by sending a business-size (#10) SASE to StrawHat Auditions, 1771 Post Road East, #315, Westport, CT 06880. Please mark on your envelope either "Auditions" or "Staff/Tech" to receive the correct application. The deadline for returning applications is Feb. 12 (Feb. 28 for tech), but early application is strongly suggested, since slots generally fill before the deadline. Fees are $48 for performers, $25 for design/tech/staff.
Anyone with Internet access can download information and an application from the StrawHat website, http://www.strawhat-auditions.com. The website actually serves as the main job contact service for tech and staff positions. Tech/staff applicant resumes are available online-as are online portfolio examples, from those production candidates who wish to provide them-for perusal by participating theatres, who will be given password access to these pages. Likewise, staff/tech/design applicants will have access via the website to the positions open at each theatre. Presumably, most of the contacts will be made in this way, although there will be still be a time set aside on March 21 for face-to-face interviews.
Performer applicants submit their 8x10 picture-resumes which are reproduced in a spiral bound book and distributed to producers at auditions. Some screening is done, based on training and experience, and the application form asks about a performer's interest in apprentice or intern programs. Stand-by slots are offered this year to a limited number of applicants who don't get audition slots. Those who are selected as stand-bys are guaranteed an audition, but must be available for the entire day; they will step in at short notice to take the place of a cancellation or "no show." However, there are still no walk-ins accepted at the audition site. Stand-bys are prearranged, and actors should indicate on their application forms if they wish to be considered for stand-by positions. Applicants who are screened out will have their application fee returned, but they still may choose, for a $15 fee, to have their picture-resumes printed in a Resource Directory, which is distributed to all producers who attend the auditions.
Performers have 90 seconds to present two pieces; singers are asked to present a musical selection first (a professional accompanist is provided), followed by a monologue. As to whether or not one should apply for a singing slot, StrawHat instructions suggest, "If you are not a singer-that is, if you are not regularly cast in musicals, and you honestly do not sing to a performance standard, it is our experience that you can only harm your chances by trying to bluff your way through a musical audition, and you should apply for a Non-Singing audition consisting of two monologues." While not as many companies attend the non-singing audition day (only 15 out of the 41 companies at StrawHats in 1999), those which do are looking for actors primarily, so a performer with weaker singing abilities has a much better chance of being called back on the non-singing day than he or she would on the musical audition days. Callbacks are posted hourly, and are held at the end of each session, in individual classrooms.
Production staff and designers' resumes are only screened out if there are no requests by producers for a particular position. StrawHat organizers make a particular attempt to attract talented staff applicants, and emphasize that a young performer who has a production skill to peddle might do well to apply in both areas. Many of the non-Equity companies have provisions for technical people who also act, to perform at least one role over the course of the season, and working in a technical capacity may give the young performer a way to become known to the company as a potential actor for future seasons.
At last year's StrawHats, over 500 performing positions were open to participants, with the following companies: 1891 Fredonia Opera House, NY; Allenberry Playhouse, PA; American Stage Festival, NH; Arundel Barn Playhouse, ME; Blatt's Dinner Theatre; Blue Man Group: Tubes, NY; Bristol Valley Theatre, PA; Cain Park Theatre, OH; Cedar Point Live Entertainment, OH; Connecticut Repertory Theatre; Creede Repertory Theatre, CO; Depot Theatre, NY: Dorney Park, PA; Dorset Theatre Festival, VT; Forestburgh Playhouse, NY; Fort Salem Theatre, NY; Fredericksburg Theatre Company, VA; George Street Playhouse, NJ; Goodspeed Opera House, CT; Great American Melodrama, CA; Greenwoods Theatre, CT; Hampton Playhouse, NH; Jekyll Island Musical Theatre, GA; Lincoln Amphitheatre, IN; Long Lake Camp for the Arts; Main Street Theatre, PA; Maine State Music Theatre, ME; Mt. Washington Valley Theatre Company, NH; New Harmony Theatre, IN; New London Barn Playhouse, NH; New York Renaissance Faire, NY; Riverside Stage Company, CT; Shadowbox Cabaret; Shawnee Playhouse, PA; Showplace; Surflight Theatre, NJ; Timbers Dinner Theatre, PA; Utah Music Theatre, UT; Weathervane Theatre, OH; Weston Playhouse, VT.
Southeastern Theatre Conference
One of the country's largest combined auditions will be sponsored by SETC, as a part of its 51st annual convention, this year held in Norfolk, VA, March 1-5. In conjunction with the Spring Auditions, the convention hosts a Job Contact Service, for jobs in college theatre departments as well as theatres. But there is much more to the convention, which this year boasts three keynote speakers: Academy Award-winner Olympia Dukakis; "Children of a Lesser God" 's Mary Vreeland; and Dr. Howard Stein, former associate dean of the Yale School of Drama. Filling out the convention days are the annual regional festivals for community, children's, and secondary school theatre; college entrance and scholarship auditions for high school students; a staged reading of the annual New Play Award winner; the annual design competition and commercial exhibits, plus various workshops and seminars. SETC's executive director, Elizabeth Baun, told Back Stage, "It is our hope that every participant leaves Convention 2000 absolutely exhilarated and exhausted! We believe that the scope of the conference offers theatre opportunities for all and provides a platform where the wide diversity of interests and focus can come together."
On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Convention 2000, nearly 95 companies, both summer and year-round, from the southern, midwest, and mid-Atlantic states, gather to audition 780 actors. SETC estimates that in 1999 the attending producers were looking to hire approximately 2,550 professional performers, 240 interns, and 240 apprentices. At the same time, approximately 1,000 jobs were posted at the Job Contact Service, for designers, technicians, and management people, as well as for academic jobs.
While SETC is the largest of the combined auditions, with the greatest number of producers attending, it is also the priciest, since one cannot audition without becoming a member and registering for the convention. Fees for professionals are: $50 membership in SETC, $50 Convention registration and $15 audition fee, for a total of $115. Students get a little better break, at $55: $20 membership, $20 registration and $15 audition fee. Of course, the fees entitle you to attend not only the auditions but all other convention events in Norfolk.
College students must have passed their state screening process, which takes place in the fall at state theatre meetings of the 10 states within the SETC region. Non-Equity and Equity professionals should write for an application form (include SASE) to: SETC Central Office, P.O. Box 9868, Greensboro, NC 27429-0868. Telephone: (336) 272-3645; Fax: (336) 272-8810; E-mail setc@mindspring.com. Application forms must be completed and returned to SETC by Feb. 1. SETC has a website, http://www.spyder.net/setc which has complete information about the convention and auditions, although it is not possible to apply online.
Auditions are held on March 2, 3, 4, with one and one-half minute allotments for acting and singing, and one minute for acting only or singing only. Dance auditions on Thursday evening and following Friday and Saturday auditions. Callbacks are held on the evening of the same day, and there is a briefing for auditionees at 9 am on the day of the audition.
The SETC offers a job contact service for staff and technical positions. Companies send information on job openings, which is posted at the convention, with the room where interviews will take place. Staff/tech can sign up for specific interview times with companies that advertise an opening in the applicant's area of expertise. Membership in SETC also includes a monthly job bulletin for teaching, staff, and technical positions (not auditions).
Companies which generally attend SETC include:
Actors' Theatre of Louisville, KY; Allan Albert Productions/Hersheypark, PA; American Stage Festival, NH; Americus Theatre & Cultural Center, GA; Appalachian Educational & Historical Society, NC; Arkansas Rep, AR; The B Street Theatre; Barter Theatre, Bearcreek Farms; VA; Bigfork Summer Playhouse, MT; Birmingham Children's Theatre, AL; Blowing Rock Stage Company, NC; Blue Jacket Outdoor Drama, NC; Blue Man Group, NY; Bravvo! Productions, TX; Busch Gardens, FL & VA.
CalRep Pennsylvania, PA; Central Piedmont Summer Theatre, NC; Cherokee Historical Association, NC; Children's Theatre of Charlotte, NC; Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, OH; Cumberland County Playhouse, TN; Dollywood Entertainment Productions, TN; ECA Mr. Wizard Shows; Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, OH; Entertainment Theatre Group/American Music Theatre, PA; Fiesta Texas, TX; Flat Rock Playhouse, NC; Fort Salem Theatre, NY;
Galveston Island Outdoor Musicals, TX; Georgia Shakespeare Festival, GA; Granbury Opera House, TX; The Hampstead Players, NH; Heritage Repertory Theatre, VA; Hippodrome State Theatre, FL; Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, MI; Horn in the West, NC; Jekyll Island Musical Theatre, GA; Jenny Wiley Theatre, KY; Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre; Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, KY; KEY Players; Lakes Region Summer Theatre, ME; Lexington Children's Theatre, KY; The Lincoln Amphitheatre, IN; The Lost Colony, NC; Mac-Haydn Theatre, NY; Main Street Theatre; Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, NY; The Missoula Children's Theatre, MT; Music Theatre Louisville, KY.
Nebraska Theatre Caravan, NE; New Harmony Theatre, IN; New Stage Theatre, MS; North Country Center for the Arts, NH; Northern Lights Playhouse, WI; North Carolina Stage Ensemble, NC; Ohio Outdoor Historical Drama Assn., OH; Paramount Show Services International, NC; Patchwork Playhouse; Peter Grey Terhune Presents; Phoenix Theatre Circle, OH; Playhouse on the Square, TN; Poetry Alive! NC; Repertory Theatre of America; Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, CO; Ryman Auditorium; Seaside Music Theatre, FL; Shadowbox Cabaret; Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, VA; Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre, VA; Smoky Mountain Shakespeare, TN; Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre, NC; Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre, NC; Sterling Renaissance Festival, NY; Theatre IV, VA; Theatre West, CA; Theatre West Virginia, WV; Troupe America/Stage West, MN; Universal Studios Escape, FL; University of Findlay Summer Stock, OH; Valleyfair Family Amusement parks; Virginia Shakespeare Festival, VA; Virginia Stage Company, VA; The Warehouse Theatre, SC; Wayside Theatre, VA; West Texas Productions, TX; World Communities.
2000 National Outdoor Drama Auditions
Stage combat, horseback riding, singing, dancing, strong voice training-these are all skills that will help a performer win a position in outdoor drama this summer. From the west coast to the eastern seaboard, these productions can offer some of the nation's most exciting summer theatre opportunities.
On March 18, 15 outdoor theatres from across the country will hold auditions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for summer jobs as performers and technicians. The auditions, sponsored by the Institute of Outdoor Drama, are open to anyone 18 or older with previous theatre experience. Most theatres require a nine- to 12-week commitment, including two weeks of rehearsal. Although most jobs are non-union, some companies will hire union actors and offer contracts through the Equity Membership Candidacy (EMC) program.
Outdoor historical drama is rich in opportunities for performers and technicians to hone their skills. The productions need the expertise of stunt or combat professionals, pyrotechnicians, horseback riders, historians, and others. Staff skilled in design, installation and maintenance of equipment for sound, voice reinforcement, special effects, and lighting are also in demand.
Outdoor theatre offers an unconventional environment for actors and technicians to expand their skills while gaining invaluable experience in a large-cast, long-run production. The production is mounted in two or three weeks in June, and the settles in for a summer-long run, unlike the typical summer stock theatre, which will produce a different show every one to three weeks. At some outdoor companies, this means extended free time for the performers once the show opens; other companies provide classes, or alternative production venues, for employees.
Actors auditioning on March 18 will present a one-minute prepared monologue and may offer another at callback interviews. Singers should prepare a one-minute song and provide sheet music for the accompanist. Dancers are led through warm-ups, combinations, and routines featuring a variety of choreography, from ballet to jazz to folk dances.
Application forms will be available in late January. Completed applications must be received no later than March 13, 2000. To request an application, send a self-addressed, stamped business envelope to: Auditions Coordinator, Institute of Outdoor Drama, CB# 3240, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3240; or access the Institute's home page at http://www.unc.edu/depts/outdoor.
The following companies plan to attend the 2000 Auditions in Chapel Hill. (Additional companies may register, and the final roster is subject to change):
BLACK RIVER TRADERS
Farmington, NM. Mark R. Sumner, playwright; Bob Hudson, producer; Chris Parsons, director. Set on a Navajo reservation in the early 1900s, when reservation trading posts provided the main links between Indians and Anglos, "Traders" tells of the struggle for survival by the Indians and white traders as the two cultures work to understand each other. Rehearsals: May 22-June 20 (4 weeks); performances: June 21-Aug. 12 (7.5 weeks, Wednesday through Saturday).
Hiring 34 actors. $175-$250/week. Housing.
BLUE JACKET
Xenia, OH. W.L. Mundell, playwright; Michael Rasbury, composer; Jan Abel, executive producer; Mark Guinn, director. "Blue Jacket" is the stunning and inspiring struggle for freedom among the Shawnee Indians, Ohio settlers and African slaves. Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution, "Blue Jacket"'s thundering horses, roaring cannons, and flaming arrows provide a first-hand look at the humanity behind this tumultuous time. Rehearsals: May 24-June 8 (2.5 weeks); performances: June 9Sept. 3 (12 weeks).
Hiring 50 actors and four technicians. Four Equity positions. $145-Equity scale/week. Housing, workers' comp, college credit.
HORN IN THE WEST
Boone, NC. Kermit Hunter, playwright; Peter MacBeth, composer; Curtis Smalling, general manager; Bud Mayes, director. Set in the southern Appalachian mountain region of North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War, the drama follows frontiersman Daniel Boone and his band of settlers. Rehearsals: June 2-14 (2 weeks); performances: June 16-Aug. 12 (8 weeks, Tuesday through Sunday).
Hiring 10 actors, 10 singers, 10 dancers, 10 technicians. $130-$230/week. Assistance in locating housing, workers' comp, apprentice program, reciprocal admission, community discounts.
THE LEGEND OF DANIEL BOONE
Harrodsburg, KY. Jan Hartman, playwright; Maureen Daly, general manager; Michael Friedman, director. Covering more than 30 years, excitement and danger explode upon the stage as Daniel Boone leads an expedition of dynamic men and women to build a new life in the wilderness known as the "Kanta-ke" territory. Rehearsals: May 27-June 14 (2.5 weeks); performances: June 15-Aug. 26 (10.5 weeks, Tuesday through Sunday).
Hiring 12 actor/techs. $175-$225/week. Housing, workers' comp, college credit, professional workshops.
JENNY WILEY THEATRE
Prestonsburg, KY. Patrik Baldauff, executive producer; Bob Bogdaroff, director. "The Legend of Jenny Wiley" adaptation by Patrik Baldauff; Scott Bradley, music; Peyton Dixon, lyrics is a musical drama based on the true story of a Kentucky pioneer woman who was abducted by Indians in the late 1780s and whose heroic escape has become a legend. Also "A Walk in the Sky" Dale Wasserman, playwright and lyricist; Allen Jay Friedman, composer is a musical play concerning the adventures of mountain men, missionaries, Indians, and a lost boy. In addition, Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The King and I" and "South Pacific." All plays run in repertory. Rehearsals: June 2-July 17 (6 weeks); performances: June 16-Aug. 19 (9 weeks, Tuesday through Sunday).
Hiring 16 actor-singers who can dance, two dancers, six technicians. $200-$225/week company; $100/week
intern; $50/week apprentice. Housing, one meal per day during rehearsals, workers' comp.
THE LOST COLONY
Roanoke Island, NC. Paul Green, playwright; Roanoke Island Historical Association, producer; Patricia B. Salgado, CEO; Drew Scott Harris, director. America's first and longest running "symphonic drama" will this year celebrate its 63rd anniversary. The play recounts the mysterious disappearance of the first English colony to settle in America soon after its arrival on Roanoke Island in 1584. Rehearsals: May 14-June 1 (2.5 weeks); performances: June 2-Aug. 25 (12 weeks, Monday through Saturday).
Hiring 45 actors, 20 dancers, 22 techs, possible Equity positions TBA. $165-$500/week. Housing, workers' comp, internship.
ROANOKE ISLAND FESTIVAL PARK
Manteo, NC. Deloris Harrell, executive director; Horace Whitfield, captain of Elizabeth II and director of education and interpretation. Actors portray English soldiers, mariners, and gentlemen as they interpret life aboard the Elizabeth II, a 16th-century sailing vessel, and in settlements of 1585. All site activities celebrate history, education, and the arts as they relate to the birthplace of English-speaking America.
Hiring 12 actors. Training/rehearsals: May 28June 9 (2 weeks, flexible); performances: approximately June 10-August 12 (10 weeks). Site is open seven days per week. $6.50/hour with performance evaluation raises. Housing, workers' comp.
SNOW CAMP HISTORICAL OUTDOOR THEATRE
Snow Camp, NC. James Wilson, general manager. "The Sword of Peace," by William Hardy, directed by Ed Whitehead, dramatizes, through the lives of Simon and Elizabeth Dixon, the conflict faced by the Cane Creek Society of Friends during the Revolutionary War when, as peaceful Quakers, the congregation is forced to defend its basic tenet of nonviolence. "Pathway to Freedom," by Mark Sumner, directed by John Harris, addresses racial conflicts and slavery in the South prior to the Civil War. Plays run in repertory. Rehearsals: June 4-20 (3 weeks); performances: June 21-Aug. 26 (10 weeks, Wednesday through Saturday).
Hiring eight actors, five technicians. $150-$175/week. Housing, workers' comp, children's theatre.
TECUMSEH!
Chillicothe, OH. Allan W. Eckert, playwright; Carl T. Fischer and Frankie Lane, composers; Mr. Marion N. Waggoner, producer; Brent Gibbs, director. "Tecumseh!" tells the story of the great Shawnee Indian leader's lifelong effort to protect his homeland, the Scioto River Valley of southern Ohio, from the invasion of white settlers, ending with the warrior's self-prophesied death at the battle of Thames in the War of 1812. Also, three performances of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare. Laura Wolf, director. Rehearsals: May 22-June 8 (3 weeks); performances: June 9-Sept. 2 (12 weeks, Monday through Saturday).
Hiring 20 actors; seven technicians. $170/week-Equity scale. Free housing, workers' comp, one meal per day during rehearsals, laundry facilities, studio shows, Equity Membership Candidacy possible.
TEXAS
Canyon, TX. Paul Green, playwright; Blaine Bertrand, president; Neil Hess, director. In this colorful historical drama set in the American West of the 1880s, Paul Green employed the full symphonic palette of music, dance, drama, and spectacle to bring Texas history to life. A classic love story is set against a backdrop of violence pitting cattleman against farmer on the vast Texas grasslands. Rehearsals: May 14-June 7 (3.5 weeks); performances June 7-Aug. 19 (10 weeks, Monday through Saturday).
Hiring 14 actors, 34 singers (six instrumentalists), 26 dancers, 17 technicians. Salaries range from $2,300 to $4,800 for the season. Workers' comp, college credit, transportation; will pay half tuition on theatre, dance, and music courses at West Texas A&M University during summer; internship; eight comp tickets. Scholarships.
THEATER AT LIME KILN
Lexington, VA. Jennifer D. Anderson, executive director; Brian Desmond, artistic director. The musical, "Stonewall Country," which will run from June 15 to July 5, recreates the life and time of General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson, a long-time Lexington, VA. resident and one of the country's most colorful Civil War figures. "The Voice of the Prairie" and "Mountain Memory" will run in repertory May 31-July 1. "Voice," written by John Olive, is a comic drama about a radio celebrity who tells tall tales about life on the prairie, and has some adventures of his own. "Mountain Memory," by Romulus Linney, tells of a family of settlers in the Appalachian Mountains which struggles to hold onto its land and dignity in the face of rugged wilderness, evil, and temptation. Shakespeare's "Macbeth" will run Aug. 10-26. Rehearsals: May 15-Aug. 9 (6 weeks); performances: May 31-Aug. 26 (13 weeks). Rehearsals: May 28-June 10 (2 weeks); performances: June 11-July 3 (3 weeks). Hiring 15 actors who can sing, four technicians, four Equity positions. $150-$325/week non-Equity; LOA Equity. Housing, workers' comp.
THEATRE WEST VIRGINIA
Beckley, WV. Gayle Bowling, general manager; Marina Dolinger, artistic director. The musical drama "Hatfields & McCoys," by Billy Edd Wheeler, dramatizes the fierce mountain pride that fueled the world-famous conflict between the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky. Also, "Honey in the Rock," by Kermit Hunter. "Honey," a musical-drama, tells how West Virginia was born out of the anguish of the Civil War and dramatizes what the Indians encountered when they first settled in the land and discovered its natural gas wells, which they called "honey in the rock." "The Wizard of Oz," by L. Frank Baum, will be produced in repertory from mid-July through August. Rehearsals: May 22-July 18 (8 weeks); performances: June 13-Aug. 27 (6 weeks, Tuesday through Sunday).
Hiring seven actors, three singers, one dancer, three technicians. $150-250/week. Workers' comp, second season, white water rafting trips, dance classes.
TRUMPET IN THE LAND
New Philadelphia, OH. Paul Green, playwright; Frank Lewin, composer; Margaret Bonamico, general manager. Set in Ohio's historic Tuscarawas Valley during the Revolutionary War, this is the compelling story of David Zeisberger, a Moravian missionary who, with a small group of Delaware Indians, established Ohio's first settlement, Schoenbrunn ("beautiful spring"), in 1772. "White Savage," written by Mark Durbin and Joseph Bonamico, tells the story of the villain of "Trumpet," Simon Girty. Also, five performances of "Jesus Christ Superstar" in rep during last five weeks of the season. Rehearsals: May 29-June 8 (2 weeks); performances: June 9-Aug. 26 (11.5 weeks, Monday through Saturday).
Hiring 20 actors who can sing and dance. Accepting resumes for tech positions. $125-$300/week. Assistance locating housing, workers' comp, one meal/day ($2 charge) during rehearsal period, workshops.
UNTO THESE HILLS
Cherokee, NC. Kermit Hunter, playwright; Jack Kilpatrick and McCray Hardy, composers. Barry Hipps, general manager; Peter Hardy, production director. From the arrival in the Appalachians of Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto in 1540 to the removal of the Cherokee Indians to Oklahoma along the tragic Trail of Tears, this drama paints a vivid portrait of the Eastern Band of Cherokee and their brave leaders, Junaluska, Tsali, and Sequoyah, who fought for survival. Rehearsals: May 26-June 13 (3 weeks); performances: June 14-Aug. 26 (11 weeks, Monday through Saturday).
Hiring one actor, six actor-techs, five dancers, two costume crew, two assistant stage managers. $165-400/week. Room and board for $39 per week (dining hall on premises), workers' comp, college credit, swimming pool, second season. A limited number of positions are available under the Actors' Equity Association Outdoor Drama Agreement.
Unified Professional Theatre Auditions
The Unified Professional Theatre Auditions, this year taking place Feb. 5-7, claims it strives to create "the most diverse combined audition in the United States." Held at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, TN, it is expected to attract more than 70 theatres from around the country, and over 300 performers. In its six years of existence, UPTA has grown from 25 participating theatres in 1995 to 73 in 1999, and expects to increase the numbers again this year.
The "UPTAs" have more stringent eligibility requirements than many others in the field. This year a new level has been added in the Pre-Professional Auditions held on Saturday. These are for performers who will have an undergraduate degree by Aug. 1 "00, and are available for year-round work. Each of these performers must have his registration signed by the head of his theatre department. To be eligible for the regular auditions on Sunday and Monday, an auditionee must be available for employment throughout the year and must meet at least one of the following criteria: have attended previous UPTA; have a post-graduate degree in theatre (MA, MFA, PhD, etc.) by August 2000; be a member of Equity or an EMC; or have his registration signed by a TCG member theatre or by a registered 1999 or 2000 UPTA theatre. Tech and administrative candidates must be available for employment throughout the year and have completed their undergraduate degree in technical or administrative theatre by August 2000, or have a professional recommendation that meets specific UPTA requirements. Equity stage managers are also eligible.
Each theatre attending the audition must offer paid year-round employment, paid job-in employment, or paid internships. The auditions are for acting and singing only, with no separate dance calls (although actors who wish to do so may dance in their auditions). Technical interviews are held on all three days, with auditions on Sunday and Monday, Feb. 6 and 7.
The auditions will be held onstage at the Playhouse on the Square, with callback locations at the adjacent French Quarter Inn. Actors have one and one-half minutes to present a monologue or a monologue and a song; an accompanist is provided. Registration information is available from Michael Detroit, Audition Coordinator, UPTA, 51 S. Cooper St., Memphis, TN, 38104. Telephone: (901) 725-0776; Fax: (901) 272-7530. Actor registration fees are $30, and each auditionee must send copies of his photo-resume with registration (60 copies for pre-professional, 100 copies for regular auditions), to be distributed to the attending producers.
Among the more than 70 companies expected in 2000 are:
African American Drama Company, CA; American Family Theater; Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre, AR; Arkansas Repertory Theatre Company, AR; ArtPark, NY; Barter Theatre, VA; Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, IN; Birmingham Children's Theatre, AL; Bravvo Productions, TX; Bridgework Theater, IN; Busch Gardens, FL, VA; Carousel Dinner Theatre, OH; Chaffiin's Barn Dinner Theatre, TN; Charlotte Repertory Theatre, NC; The Children's Theatre Company, MN; Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, OH; Cleveland Signstage Theatre, OH; CLIMB Theatre, MN; Commonweal Theatre Company, MN; Cortland Repertory Theatre, NY; Cumberland County Playhouse, TN; Derby Dinner Playhouse, IN; Dollywood Entertainment productions, TN; Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, PA; Eckerd Theatre Company; For A Good Time Theatre, MI; Georgia Shakespeare Festival, GA; Great American Melodrama, CA; Greenbrier Valley Theatre, WV.
Hersheypark Entertainment; Horse Cave Theatre, KY; Jenny Wiley Theatre, KY; Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre; Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, KY; Lexington Children's Theatre, KY; Lincoln Amphitheatre, IN; Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre; Melodrama Musical Theatre, CA; Memphis Black Repertory Theatre, TN; Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, NY; Metro Theatre Company, MO; Missoula Children's Theatre, MT; Molly Brown Dinner Theater, MO; National Theatre for Children, MN; Nebraska Theatre Caravan; New Stage Theatre, MS; Northern Lights Playhouse, WI; Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival, OK; Phoenix Theatre Circle, OH; Players Guild, OH; Playhouse on the Square, TN; Poetry Alive! Inc., NC; Pritchard Productions, MI; Raleigh Little Theatre, NC; Red Barn Playhouse, MI; Round Barn Theatre at Amish Acres, IN; Ryman Auditorium; Sandstone Productions, NM; Seaside Music Theatre, FL; Shakespeare in the Park-Fort Worth, TX; Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, VA; Show Palace Dinner Theatre, FL; Smoky Mt. Shakespeare, TN; Southeastern Theatrical Productions; Stage Centre Company, AL; Tecumseh!, OH; Texas Shakespeare Festival, TX; Theatre IV & ArtReach, VA; Theatre Memphis ShoWagon, TN; Tibbits Summer Theatre, MI; Troupe America, MN; Wagon Wheel Theatre, IN; Walt Disney World Co., FL.
Other Combined Auditions
CALIFORNIA EDUCATIONAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION will hold preliminary auditions Jan. 22, in Orange, CA; Jan. 29, in San Jose, CA; and Feb. 10, in Las Vegas, NV, with final auditions on Feb. 12, at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV. The region includes CA, NV, AZ, UT, HI, and Guam, and companies attend from these and other states. The application must be postmarked Jan. 10. Application fee is $25; performers must be current college students or within one year of having left a program. Recruiters from graduate schools or theatre companies may attend all levels of auditions if they wish. Format: four minutes for two monologues or a monologue and a song; accompanist is provided for finals only. Callbacks each day; actors must bring 50 picture-resumes. Directors, designers, stage managers, and tech have five-minute portfolio presentations, and should bring 25 copies of their resumes. For application: Tamiko Washington, Director, CETA Auditions & Interviews. Telephone: (714) 628-7219; fax: (714) 744-7015; E-mail: washingt@chapman.edu, or download from the website: www.cetaweb.org/aandi/ .
EAST CENTRAL THEATRE CONFERENCE (ECTC) is the regional organization of professional, educational, and community theatres serving NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, and the District of Columbia. Auditions will be held Sat. and Sun., Feb. 5 and 6, at Wyndham Garden Hotel in Wilmington, DE, as part of the ECTC convention. The application must be postmarked Jan. 12. Fees are $50 for professionals, $30 for students. This fee also includes membership in ECTC and attendance at the convention. Over 350 Equity and non-Equity actors are expected to audition; actors have two minutes for one or two monologues, or for one monologue plus a song. There are no interviews for staff positions. For applications, send SASE to: ECTC Auditions 2000, W.S. MacConnell, Dept. of Theatre & Dance, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043. Telephone: (973) 720-2661, fax: (973) 694-6574.
ILLINOIS THEATRE ASSOCIATION will hold auditions at the Theatre Building in Chicago, March 11 and 12. Fee is $30, or $25 for ITA members. Three-minute audition without a song, or four-minute audition with a song (accompanist provided). No tech/staff interviews, except stage managers. For information, write or call: Mr. Wallace Smith, Executive Director, Illinois Theatre Association, 1225 West Belmont, Chicago, IL 60657. Telephone: (773) 929-7288, ext. 18 or 19; fax: (773) 327-1404; E-mail: iltheasssoc@aol.com .
INDIANA THEATRE ASSOCIATION has yet to announce its audition dates, but last year they were held on Feb. 28, with a mid-January deadline. The audition fee is $20. To be eligible, one must be a member of a professional union, or have a recommendation from a professional director. Auditions may be singing or non-singing, two-minute limit, separate dance auditions. Interviews for tech/design/management. For application write Ron Dye, Indiana Theatre Assn., Clowes Memorial Hall, 4600 Sunset Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46208-3443, or see the website at www.intheatre.org which, presumably, should be updated at some point.
MID-AMERICA THEATRE CONFERENCE AUDITIONS in the past included companies from IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD, WI. They will not be held in 2000. For information on 2001, contact Tad Currie. Telephone: (309) 438-5859; fax: (309) 438-5806.
MIDWEST THEATRE AUDITIONS, sponsored by the Conservatory of Theatre Arts, Webster University, hosts 50 companies. Auditions this year are Feb. 25-27, at the Loretto-Hilton Center, Webster Univ., St. Louis, MO. (Unfortunately for Back Stage readers, applications were to be postmarked by Dec. 10, so this is one to put on your calendar for next fall, if you wish to attend in '01.) Fee is $25. Equity or non-Equity actors have one and one-half minutes for one or two pieces; one must be non-musical, but musical pieces are encouraged, and an accompanist is provided. Dance calls are held each day after general auditions, and tech/design interviews at 10 am on Feb. 26. Actors bring at least 20 copies of picture-resumes for callbacks; design/tech folks present their portfolios at their interviews. For future reference, and to get an application for next year, write to Peter Sargent, Coordinator, Midwest Theatre Auditions, Webster University, 470 E. Lockwood, St. Louis, MO 63119-3194; E-mail: mwta@webster.edu.
NATIONAL DINNER THEATRE ASSOCIATION will hold auditions for Equity and non-Equity companies on Sat., March 13, in Chicago, IL. Application deadline is March 3. The fee is $25; $30 after March 3 if there is space left, and $35 on the day of audition, again, if there is room. The format for these auditions consists of a one-minute monologue, with 16 bars of a song optional. Technicians can send their resumes to be made available to producers. Applications are screened. Write for application (enclose SASE) to: NDTA Auditions, c/o David Pritchard, P.O. Box 726, Marshall, MI 49068. Telephone: (616) 781-7859.
NEW JERSEY THEATRE GROUP is the association of the state's 20 professional (AEA) theatre companies. NJTG holds a Job Fair, for interns and entry level technical and management staff, in April, plus Equity and non-Equity auditions in mid-February and late August. For more information, write Dee Billia, Director of Information Services, NJTG, 17 Cook Ave., Madison, NJ 07940. Telephone: (973) 593-0189; E-mail: njtg@nj.com; website: www.njtheatregroup.org.
NORTHWEST DRAMA CONFERENCE will hold auditions Feb. 20, for entry into professional actor training programs in the northwestern and western U.S., and for regional summer theatres; also interviews for tech and management. This year the location is Boise State University, Boise, ID. A limited number of slots are available, and pre-registration deadline is Jan. 30; any slots left after the deadline may be filled for an additional $10 late fee. Otherwise, fees are $45 for students and $75 for non-students, plus $10 registration. Performers have four minutes, to include two monologues, or five minutes for two monologues and a song; accompanist is not available. Five-minute technical interviews. For information write: Northwest Drama Conference Auditions, attn: Gordon Reinhart, Theatre Arts Dept., Boise State University, 19190 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725. Telephone: (208) 426-3957.
OHIO THEATRE ALLIANCE holds auditions attended by 40-50 companies on Sat., Jan. 29, in Columbus. The application deadline is Dec. 10, with a late fee after that date. Auditions are primarily non-Equity, and you must be an OTA member and must be pre-registered. The audition fee is $35, with a $5/person discount for groups, or $45 to attend both actor/tech, with the same discount for groups. Add $5 to any fee postmarked after Dec. 10, and pay by money order or check. Each applicant has one and one-half minutes, and must bring a taped accompaniment with tape player, if singing. Callbacks are scheduled the same day, and there are interviews and a short portfolio review for tech and management. For application, contact OTA Auditions, c/o Shawn Dougherty, Franciscan University of Steubenville, English Dept./Theatre Division, 1235 University Blvd., Steubenville, OH 43952. Telephone: (740) 283-6467; e-mail: ota@netset.com; website: http:\\muskingum.edu\--drao\ota.html .
ROCKY MOUNTAIN THEATRE ASSOCIATION SUMMER THEATRE AUDITIONS includes companies from ID, MT, WY, CO, UT, and other states, and is held as part of the RMTA's "Festivention" held Fri., Feb. 4, this year, at Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT. The application deadline is Jan. 15, and the fee is $65 ($55 for a student) registration for Festivention, plus $25 membership ($20 student). The audition fee is an additional $5. The format is a total of two minutes for two contrasting monologues; or two and one-half minutes, including 16 bars of song (tape deck provided); technical/design/staff consist of self-introduction and show portfolio during a two and one-half minutes' time slot. For application write Festivention 2000 Summer Theatre Auditions, Southern Utah University, Dept. of Theatre Arts & Dance, 351 W. Center, Cedar City, UT 84720. Or see the website: www.rmta.net.
SOUTHWEST THEATRE ASSOCIATION includes companies from AR, LA, NM, OK, TX, and auditions will be held on Sat., Feb. 26, at the Holiday Inn in Tyler, TX. Applications must be postmarked by Feb. 11. Fees: $20 for SWTA members, $60 for non-members, $35 for student non-members. Equity and non-Equity actors have one and one-half minutes plus 16 bars or 30 seconds of a song (optional, with taped accompaniment). Tech/staff should bring portfolio for interview (three minutes). For application send SASE to SWTA Professional Auditions, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73107. Telephone: (405) 946-9380.
THEATRE AUDITIONS IN WISCONSIN for approximately 30 companies will be held on Sat., Feb. 5, at Memorial Union in Madison, WI; pre-registration is recommended by Jan. 28. Fee is $28. Auditions are for non-Equity only. The format is two minutes for acting only; actor/singers get two and one-half minutes; tech/design/administrative interviews also will be held. For application, write Theatre Auditions in Wisconsin, Liberal Studies and the Arts, Room 721, Lowell Hall, 610 Langdon St., Madison, WI 53703-1195. Telephone: (608) 263-6736; fax: (608) 265-2475. Contact Richard Klemm: rlk@mail.dcs.wisc.edu .
THEATRE BAY AREA GENERAL AUDITIONS, attended by 60-70 San Francisco and Bay Area companies, will take place Fri.-Sun., Feb. 25-27, but application deadline was Dec. 20. For future reference: All necessary registration information is published in November and December issues of the TBA newsletter, Call Board. For TBA membership information write to Theatre Bay Area, 657 Mission St., Suite 402, San Francisco, CA 94105. fax: (415) 957-1556; or check www.theatrebayarea.org .
VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF THEATRES AND THEATRE ARTISTS will hold statewide auditions for about 20 companies in Vermont and Upstate New York early in March (usually the first Saturday), at St. Michael's College, Winooski, VT. The deadline is one week earlier. Audition fees are $20; $10 for students or design/tech/staff. Applicants may be Equity or non-Equity, but must be a Vermont resident, or student at a Vermont college. If space is available, applicants will be accepted from bordering areas of NY, NH, and MA. Performers have three minutes to present two contrasting pieces or one monologue and a song; bring taped accompaniment, tape deck is provided. tech/design/staff interviews at the end of the day. Send an SASE to VATTA Auditions, c/o Champlain Arts Theatre Company, P.O. Box 1091, Burlington, VT 05602-1091.
Jill Charles is the editor of the Summer Theatre Directory and a regular feature writer for Back Stage.