Wisconsin Theatre Workshops and Auditions

Specific Information for Producers:

Thank you for your interest in participating in the 33rd Annual Theatre Auditions in Wisconsin. They will take place Saturday, February 14, 2009 in the Memorial Union on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

Auditions are non-union and open to all theatres; including year-round and summer companies, touring companies, theme parks and fairs. Last year, well over 250 people (actors and technicians) participated in the program.

Attractive incentives for producers

• Performers will audition in two rooms concurrently. One room is reserved for “acting only” performers, and the other for those whose audition will include singing. Theatre representatives seeking to fill technical & staff positions will also conduct interviews throughout the day. Callbacks begin late Saturday afternoon following the dance audition and will continue into the evening. Each company will be assigned a private callback room in the Union.
• The Memorial Union is easily accessible and conveniently located near State Street and other points of interest on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Reserved parking will be provided for theatre representatives who request it in the lot adjacent to the Union.
  
• On Friday afternoon, February 13, a variety of theatre workshops will be offered as part of the Auditions program. Our instructors are theatre professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences in the performing arts. Workshop sessions are open to the general public for a nominal registration fee.
  
• Madison is home to many distinctive shops and restaurants and provides visitors with unique opportunities for both entertainment and relaxation.
  

Producer registration

If you wish to participate in the 2008 Auditions program, please download the producer registration packet and return the enclosed forms as soon as you can. The deadline is December 17, 2008. Contact Miranda McClenaghan at 608-265-8041 or mmcclenaghan@dcs.wisc.edu with questions or for additional information. If you are unable to join us this year, we thank you for your consideration and hope you’ll include us in your plans for 2010.

What the producers fee provides you

• An opportunity to see potential employees in one location in one day.
  
• We register and schedule everyone; all you do is provide a representative(s).
  
• One parking permit for lot adjacent to Memorial Union.
  
• Use of an individual callback room at the end of the day.
  
• Nationwide promotion to hundreds of theatres, institutions and individuals.
  
• Packet of materials that includes the résumé and photo of each auditionee.

How the Wisconsin Theatre Auditions & Technical Interviews program operates

Scheduling of all potential actors/employees is handled centrally by Auditions staff at UW-Madison, Department of Liberal Studies and the Arts.

Producers provide representatives for both/either the ACTOR room (2 minute audition) and/or the SINGER/ACTOR room (2.5 minute audition, includes song). In fairness to all who audition during the day, two representatives are required to attend if you plan to see auditionees in both rooms. The SINGER/ACTOR room representative will also be able to view the DANCER auditions held at the conclusion of the SINGER/ACTOR audition sessions (late afternoon).

At the beginning of each hour-long audition session, producers will receive a sheet that lists all names/audition numbers for auditionees scheduled in that time-block. Producers indicate on the sheet which auditionees should be scheduled for a callback at the end of the day. Prior to audition day, producers will be asked to indicate the type of callback appointments they require. After each hour, the Auditions staff will collect the sheets and schedule callbacks per producer requests. Producers may also choose to have an auditionee just leave credentials (headshot and complete resume). Callbacks begin at 5:00 p.m. and must conclude no later than 9:30 p.m.

Simultaneously throughout the day, theatres that offer opportunities for non-performers will conduct ten-minute interviews. UW-Madison Auditions staff schedules all interviews.

A note about callbacks

If you request to see an actor or interview a technician, you must be at the appointment at the scheduled time. Please be professional and do not leave a note apologizing but requesting a phone call. A few actors/technicians who traveled great distances and rearranged schedules were very disappointed in being “stood up” for their callback appointment last year.

 

 

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