More than a dozen theaters, three seasons of “The Bachelor,” and one of the highest-grossing films of 2025 (“Captain America: Brave New World”) cannot tell a lie: Washington, D.C., is a fantastic place for actors. Ready to win over the District’s acting scene? Consider this your legislative guide, from where to train to how to lobby for gigs.
1. Canvass and get to know the city’s acting scene.
Actors in Washington have access to a plethora of live and filmed opportunities within the capital itself—and since Virginia and Maryland are just a short drive away, that means triple the opportunities (without relocating!).
Theater: Acting in D.C. is particularly fruitful for theatrical performers. Its many performance venues include the world-famous Kennedy Center, Broadway-staging National Theatre, historically significant Ford’s Theatre, and prominent Warner Theatre; and while performing at one of these playhouses is certainly aspirational, earlier-career actors can filibust-a-move at the city’s many smaller theaters, such as the Arena Stage, Studio Theatre, Synetic Theater’s Theater J, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.
Unsurprisingly, there’s also a robust historical performance circuit with theater companies and nonprofits like the DC History Center and We Happy Few. Actors can also find work at dinner theaters; Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Sax Dinner Theater and Lounge, and the Hamilton are just a few gathering places combining dining and live theater in the nation’s capital.
Film and TV: If you’re aiming for the screen rather than the stage, D.C. still has much to offer. Production studios like Macintosh Films, Metamer Studios, and Metramedia Broadcasting and Studios (D.C. branch) produce more than political ads (although they certainly do that!)—they’re also behind cooking shows, children’s animated films, national car and restaurant commercials, and livestream broadcasts.
Ads and industry: While film, TV, and theater opportunities abound, your best bet might be D.C.’s numerous political ads, advocacy campaigns, and industrial videos, which need actors year-round.
Find out more about the city’s onscreen opportunities at the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME)
2. Refine your skill set.
Sign up for acting classes to build your platform of skills at one of D.C.’s top acting programs:
- The Theatre Lab
- Studio Acting Conservatory
- Shakespeare Theatre Company
- The National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts
- Washington Improv Theater
- Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts
3. Draft your campaign materials.
Your headshot, acting résumé, and demo reel will help you secure votes from SAG-AFTRA casting directors from the Washington-Mid-Atlantic area:
- 4 Star Casting
- Arvold Casting
- Betsy Royall Casting
- Bill Marinella Casting North
- Carlyn Davis Casting
- Central Casting
- Chad Darnell Casting
- Feldstein/Paris Casting
- Fincannon & Associates
- Kendall Cooper Casting
- Pat Moran Casting
- Thea Washington Casting
How to Become an Actor4. Form your caucus with fellow actors.
Just like in politics, D.C.’s acting community thrives on alliances, so it’s important to form (bipartisan) connections with other performers by attending events and groups like these:
- D.C. Shorts International Film Festival
- Mother Tongue Film Festival
- TIVA-DC
- DC/MD/VA - Actors, Extras, and Film Makers
- DMV Theatre & Film Community
- Women in Film and Video DC
5. Announce your candidacy for roles.
Search and apply to our acting opportunities in D.C. using our comprehensive casting call database.
6. Secure your representative body.
Finally, to get your career to presidential heights, seek representation at the top talent agencies in and around D.C.:
- Agency Connects
- Hutson Talent Agency
- Impressive Talent Casting Agency
- Liton Agency
- T•H•E Artist Agency
These agencies will have the insider knowledge to help you navigate the D.C. market, where politics and performance uniquely intersect.