Summer Stock

<p>For all theater/musical theater people, how does one get work in summer stock? I know there are auditions through NETC and also Straw Hat auditions, but is there anything else? Auditions for those two are held in Feb/ March(?) I think and you can apply online right now. However, my d went to Strawhat last year and although she got a few callbacks, they wanted college age only (even though she was just out of high school) and it didn't seem like they paid much (maybe $200 per week plus meals/housing). I'm thinking she might be better off getting a better paying job close to home and just do community theater. At least she'd make more money and she'd still get to do theater. Just got the tuition bill for spring in the mail and hoping she makes LOTS of $ this summer, lol! Any thoughts on this?? Thx - Jill</p>

<p>There are the Midwest Theatre Auditions that are held at Webster University in St. Louis.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.webster.edu/depts/finearts/theatre/mwta/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.webster.edu/depts/finearts/theatre/mwta/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Jill - My D has had a few opportunities to participate in Summer Stock as a HS school student. No pay but great experience working with a professional theater. I would suggest looking at web sites for the summer stock compamnies in your area and checking out ther audtion dates. I live in Syracuse so there are several good summer stock theatres in the finger lakes area and they usually have auditions in February or March.</p>

<p>In my local area auditions for our local professional summer theater are in January.</p>

<p>Does anyone have information about the audtitions through NETC? Is there a website or a registration requirement. I think the deadline for registering for Midwest Theater was yesterday.</p>

<p>The website for NETC (New England Theatre Conference) is <a href="http://www.netconline.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.netconline.org&lt;/a>. I was just talking to one of my directors about this the other day. Auditions themselves are in March, but the slots fill very quickly. He said they could very well be full already, so if anyone is interested they should apply ASAP.</p>

<p>Have searched the MW Auditions Thread and cannot find an age limit, anyone know it? And YES, I realize the deadline is past, just interested for future reference.</p>

<p>to Rossj.
Don't count on summer stock wages to bring in the bacon over the summer.</p>

<p>xxxx,Mary Anna</p>

<p>bump....that time of year again. Daughter received an audition slot from StrawHat but have not heard nothing yet from NETC.</p>

<p>As far as applying for NETC and StrawHat... I believe the application date for NETC was 2/1... it is 2/18 for Strawhat.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, summer stock is not a money making venture... most pay in the $175 - $250 per week range... some paying more like $50 per week. Most do offer housing, and some also offer meals.</p>

<p>Theme Park is a better paying way to perform in the summer... because those companies are commercial they pay more... usually in the $300 - $400 per week range... however most do not offer housing or meals, although often will assist the performers in finding housing. </p>

<p>Some summer stock companies will use local talent in their productions. Often these opportunities will not pay, but they will work around outside work schedules. This can be a good option for HS students, or college students who need to make money at a "real" job (like performing isn't work :) !), but also would like to get some summer time, out of school performing experience.</p>

<p>So this might sound really dumb but can someone explain Summer Stock? I don't quite understand what it is...</p>

<p>Here's a link on summer stock:</p>

<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_stock_theatre%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_stock_theatre&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I would simply amplify what this article has to say by reiterating that summer stock theaters vary WIDELY in quality. Some are just awful. Some are pretty darn good. Some of the most respected theaters in the US started out as summer stock theaters, including the Oregon and Alabama Shakespeare Festivals.</p>

<p>Anyone looking for a high-paying summer stock-esque job, check out Quisisana Resort. It pays about $450 a week. As an employee, you perform in an abbreviated musical one night a week (Most Happy Fella this coming year) and perform cabarets and revues 2-3 other nights. Your afternoons are spent working at the resort, on the beach, etc. It's a good money job and you still get to do some musical theatre. Auditions are February 25th in NYC.</p>

<p>I'm trying to find summerstock I'm old enough to audition for. For strawhat you have to be 18 and I have a late birthday. Trying to find a good opportunity for the summer for the in between high school and college student.</p>

<p>You may be able to audition for some summer stock companies close to your home. NETC and StrawHat require you to be 18 becuase many of the companies that offer housing want the performers to be at least 18 to live in the housing. I do not know where you live, but if you are close to a city like NY, Chicago, or Boston you may be able to go in yourself to the open calls and audition for companies that are located outside of the city, but audition in the city.</p>