D knows several kids who have worked at Bigfork for a couple summers. They loved their experiences there and had nothing but good things to say. We are in Whitefish, MT frequently and Bigfork has a good reputation in the area.
Thanks @vvnstar. @actormommy, D had the exact same experience at the Bigfork callback. The season does look amazing, but they do all of those shows in rep. It looks like a crazy schedule and it is all summer. However, that part of the country looks like a postcard! BEAUTIFUL. We are really hoping that Crane River results in a contract because it’s closer to home and it isn’t so taxing. On another note @vvnstar, my D is pretty much determined that she is going to apply for OCU Grad MT during the fall of her senior year, which is not too far away. Her logic is that if she doesn’t get a truly meaningful gig right away after post bfa mt, she will at least have begun graduate work, where she can continue to audition and leave and come back to at a later date to finish.
@actormommy Congratulations to your S on his Okoboji callback! It sounds like he had a good experience at MWTA. Is your S a freshman this year? My D has done ITAs for the last 2 years, but she is skipping it this year to audition for a regional theater this weekend. She’s had a good experience at ITAs, and she got her Summer 2016 job through those auditions. She says there are a lot of year-round theaters at ITAs and theaters looking for local Chicago actors. I think she’s going to go again next year when she will be available for year-round work. Keep us posted!
@janne006 my S is a sophomore. Good to know about ITA. Thank you! @TNMTDAD my S said Crane River will let them know on Tues. Is that what your D was told? Is your D doing any more auditions? My S is grateful for these opportunities so far but would like to hold out until after ITA and Strawhat to see what happens. Is this something the theatres will understand?
@actormommy My D is doing SETC which is the first weekend in March, and then she is doing Twin Cities which is March 18. I understand wanting to wait until after Strawhat’s to accept a contract, since there are so many good companies coming to Strawhat – and it’s strictly summer work, from what I understand. But I’m not a good one to ask about asking a theatre to wait if the theatre has extended an offer – that’s really up to the individual. As wonderful and talented as my D is (aren’t they all?!), she has not had the luxury of sorting through multiple offers – I think she would/will seriously look at the first good offer she gets, regardless of whether she has completed all her auditions. She has done 2 seasons of summer stock, so I think she can evaluate if a job offer would be a good one for her. And, after getting sick at SETC last year, she knows how it feels to be at the end of audition season without an offer. . Right now, I would love for my daughter to get a good offer from MWTA or SETC, and then we could save the money and not send her to Twin Cities. By the way, I looked up Crane River, and they really look great! It looks like they have attended multiple auditions already and MWTA was their last stop.
My daughter received a call back for Bigfork Summer Playhouse and Hope Reperatory Theatre, MI at MWTA this weekend. Any first hand information on these theatres would be much appreciated! She already has an offer for another theatre where she can acquire points toward her EMC( which she has already started) . Not sure if Bigfork or Hope theatre offers EMC ?
@Christyflower Bigfork does not, and if it is Hope Summer Rep in Holland, MI, then they do.
@actormommy, D was told the exact same thing about Crane River. We really have our fingers crossed for that one, and if that one comes through, she will probably pass on her last audition for the season this year, which is TCUTA. As far as waiting to make a decision on an offer in order to finish more auditions, I’m not sure. We are still waiting on the first one. [-O< I don’t think Bigfork will make offers until after SETC, which I think is their last stop.
@TNMTDAD Can you tell me anything about TCUTA? My D is registered for TCUTA, but I have been looking up the companies that attended last year, and I see almost no summer opportunities. Missoula was there – but they were also at MWTA. Valleyfair hires for summer. . . but that’s about all I can determine from the 29 companies that are listed. Do you or does your D have any insight?
@jan006, I have taken the list of theaters that have attended TCUTA in the past and done the same thing. There are some opportunities at TCUTA, but no where near as many as at MWTA or bigger unified auditions for summer stock. Having said that, many of my D’s peers have gotten summer work at TCUTA. This audition process for summer stock is a learning experience. For example, we have learned first-hand that OTA is not worth your time or money. We went this year and there were about 10 to 15 theaters there. They refused to publish the list of theaters in attendance in advance. And, 1/2 of the the theaters that did attend were year-round employment only. So, we will pass on that one in the future. My D is registered for TCUTA. But, if Crane River makes an offer, we will probably cancel for TCUTA. But, if they don’t, she will probably attend. At least that way we will have some first-hand experience and be able to decide whether or not to include it in the future. We are probably going to shoot for Strawhat next year. D is only a sophomore so we still have some time.
This is an interesting discussion. It does sound like there’s a lot of action at MWTA.
I have ZERO experience with MWTA - but just wanted to throw in there it is interesting what is considered “midwest” (I am in Ohio and do NOT consider Montana part of the midwest!!)
@TNMTDAD Thanks for the info! I’m glad to hear that some of your D’s peers have gotten work through TCUTA. You’re right, it really is a learning process. My D has gone to ITAs twice, and her opinion is about what you say about OTAs. She didn’t apply for ITAs this year, but I just checked out the companies listed, in case she wants to to be a “walk-in.” But it looks like the only true Summer Stock Company going to ITAs is Timber Lake, who were also at MWTA. Keep us posted! It is so helpful to hear all the audition experiences!
@toowonderful - These auditions aren’t as regional as the name indicates. Many of these unified non-eq calls started as a way to generate money for organizations to hold their annual conferences. 2/3 of SETC’s crowd are auditioning/interviewing for college, professional theatre or participating in the HS Festival…
That being said - as far as unifieds:
UPTA (the best) and SETC (the next best) are still the strongest (barely)
@TheaterHiringCo - isn’t UPTA only for year round work?
@toowonderful, that is what we were thinking about Montana. But, looks like Bigfork goes to SETC, which geographically doesn’t work in any way.
UPTA is for only year-round work. We’ll give that one a shot senior year, if we pass the pre-screen. They have changed their application criteria. But, it is in Memphis so at least there won’t be a hotel fee if we get lucky.
@TheaterHiringCo I’m glad to see your comment on this thread. I have been reading your comments on other MT audition threads and found your comments to be very helpful. I have passed on your advice regarding video audition submissions to my D, and I’m hoping she will follow through! Thanks for all your helpful advice!
There is some summer only work at UPTA, but you need to be available for year round work to apply.
@KatMT I’m glad to see you on this thread! I have been reading your posts on other MT threads, and they are so helpful. I appreciate so much the professionals who take the time to come on here and help us navigate this MT journey!