Hello, My daughter is an actor at CMU and also dances with the MTs. She considers her strength straight acting/Shakespeare, and though she’s in her junior year, has not yet auditioned for summer stock, so this is the year to make it happen. I’m trying to help her do some research because she’s so busy in her program. Can people help point me to some of the best summer acting gigs that are not musical theater? I know about Strawhat, Santa Cruz Shakes and Texas Shakes. We are not looking for a tuition-based internship or training program, but somewhere she will be cast in a show, hopefully in a theater with a good reputation. I don’t quite understand the conferences, like NETC and Midwest; there doesn’t seem to be a list of participating theaters, and I’m trying to determine whether or not it’s worth it to book plane flights to send her to some of those auditions. Thanks for any guidance!
Pacific Conservatory Theatre
I personally don’t think NETC is worth it for straight actors. I’m starting to see summer auditions on backstage – Montana Shakespeare, AK Shakespeare, Texas (you mentioned this), Cincinnati Playhouse. My son is also strongest at Shakespeare. There are definitely opportunities, but not, as far as I can tell, at the big combined auditions. (He kind of washed out last summer as far the big auditions, for the first time, but spent the summer in Chicago working and auditioning and ending up booking two student films, a play showcase and an understudy gig for the fall. So, don’t think that just because none of the big names happen that you’re out of the game.
Thanks so much, you two! Yes, last summer (after travel paid for by her YoungArts prize), she and some friends mounted their own devised show. It was a great learning experience, but I think her goal is to get work with an established theater, if possible. Jkellynh, how did you learn NETC wasn’t worth it for straight actors? Based on info you found - shows and theaters that typically audition, or your son’s experience auditioning with them?
My son did it two years ago, and many of the straight (non-musical) theaters advertised were not there. It was the last of the big combined auditions that year, and I think some of them had filled their rosters, but I also think that even at the best of times, it is more for MT than acting. We spent IDK $600 on air and hotel and he got zero callbacks. We know of another kid who majored in MT but got an acting slot who also got zero CBs. Serious dancers do very well at these things.
He’s also in a city with lots of auditions, so if he’s going to get no cb, I’d rather it was a $2 el ride than $600.
Thanks. I think she will also dance audition, since she dances with the Mts, but still trying to figure out what is worth it. It looks like Montana only auditions in Chicago. It’s such a confusing process. This makes college auditions look so straight-forward!
A lot of them accept video auditions. If they don’t say, flat out, no videos, it’s always worth an email.
There were an awful lot of pay-to-plays at NETC, too, IMHO.
Yeah, it looked that way when I scanned the list.
The Conservatory at the Chatauqua Theatre Company is a wonderful experience, probably one of the best in the country. It’s not a pay to play, it’s free but students do not get paid. Room and board are covered. It is very competitive to get in, though, as they only take 14 actors. The experience of being at Chatauqua itself, and getting the opportunity to work with esteemed professionals from across the country is worth it, in my opinion, given that so many summer stock positions pay little to nothing, and require kids to sell ice cream, perform cleaning chores, etc. The application deadline is usually the first week of December, with the auditions in NYC a week or so later. I know that a couple of CC kids have spent a summer there but I don’t remember who, or if they still participate here.
Utah Shakespeare is another good one, but mostly for reference next year. (Deadline is past for 2017.)
Thanks alwaysamom and JKellyn. Yeah, bummer Utah’s deadline is so early.
Texas Shakespeare definitely, they usually pull a couple kids from CMU each year. Also look at Theater at Monmouth. Saratoga Shakes is a pay to play, I did that last summer you do get EMC but the housing is very expensive. Look at VA Shakespeare, Door Shakespeare, and Illinois Shakespeare Festival!
Thanks Josh!
These are all good suggestions, but you yourself can find all the information with a google search. It’s a bit time consuming but worth it – google for all the Shakespeare summer repertoires. This will yield those listed above, plus many more. Then look at each one and see which ones fit your D’s requirements, and submit to each. By the way, if she plays an instrument on top of dancing, I would definitely put that on her resume as many straight theatre productions seem to be looking for that lately.
Just as a side note-- I’m uncomfortable with the term “pay to play” for most of the programs that do charge. Many theaters are not exactly well off, even successful ones. You may be paying for housing and food. Or you may be paying for credits. “Pay to play” implies something unseemly, that is, the theatre is charging you unethically for you to gain access. I mean, it’s great to be able to go to a program and be paid or not pay, don’t get me wrong, but I just don’t think most of the programs that do charge are “pay to play” in the way the term is usually used.
Just audition for summer work. Internships, particularly paid, are hard to come by. They also seem to mostly for college grads. Regional theatre is great for EMC points and getting paid!
I’ll politely disagree on both counts. Telling somebody to google stuff pretty much goes against the whole point of this forum, and I think there is a distinct difference between places that expect you to pay in order to audition, and those that do not.
That said, one place to start is a list like this: http://www.cengage.com/resource_uploads/static_resources/0495898074/24674/summer_theatre_companies.html
Many summer stock companies will be primarily musicals, others will have a mix. Knowing a bit more about New England than other regions, for example, the Ogunquit playhouse stages only musicals, while the New London Barn puts on 6-7 shows, 2 of which are plays and the rest musicals or revues. Lakewood Theatre in Maine likewise has a mix of plays and musicals. Some of these have auditions at NETC, while others (e.g. Lakewood) run their own auditions.
And that’s just about 3 of a dozen or more places in my region. You would probably to well to participate in the large common auditions like NETC and Straw Hat, and then focus on a particular region (e.g. New England) or genre (e.g. Shakespeare) to look for opportunities outside those. Otherwise it will be hard to get a handle on the process.
Thank you Delegator!