Professional Adult Actor Auditions
A note from First Stage and our Belonging, Equity, Access and Diversity (BEAD) Committee
At First Stage we recognize that our audiences connect more deeply with our work when they see themselves on stage. To that end, we will list race/ethnicity/ability when specific to the character and/or story but are otherwise seeking all races, ethnicities and abilities. Additionally, while most characters we currently encounter in scripts are written with binary pronouns (he/him or she/her), our casting seeks to be as inclusive as possible. We invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, and non-binary actors to submit for the roles in which most interest them. (adopted from language originally created by Kevin Kantor and Emily Trarquin of Actors Theatre of Louisville)
We are currently finalizing our casting and any needed callbacks for the 2023/24 season. We will continue to take video audition submissions to have on file for future considerations. If you wish to submit a video audition, please send your video with either two contrasting monologues, a monologue and a song, and a dance reel (if interested in consideration for a musical) with your headshot and resume to auditions@firststage.org.
Understudy Opportunities
A First Stage understudy usually covers one to two tracks. Understudies are expected to attend rehearsals 2-3 times a week during the rehearsal process as well as attending the show once a week while in performance. Must be local to Milwaukee.
Understudy tracks pay $150/week with added pay per performance should you have to go on. Contact Artistic Director Jeff Frank at jfrank@firststage.org if you are interested in being considered for an Understudy role.
Other actor opportunities
We are always looking for teaching artists for our Theater in Education programs during the school year, and our Theater Academy during the school year and in the summer.
For Academy teaching artist opportunities, please send your interest and resume to Academy Director J.T. Backes at jtbackes@firststage.org.
For opportunities with our in-school or after school education programs, please contact Education Director, Coltyn Giltner, at cgiltner@firststage.org with your interest and resume.
About First Stage
FIRST STAGE is proud to employ between 24-32 professional actors every season, and there are opportunities for Internships, Understudies, and Teaching Artist Fellows. FIRST STAGE employs Actor’s Equity Association Actors and Non-Equity actors under a Theatre For Young Audience (TYA) Contract.
First Stage is one of the nation’s largest professional theatre for young audiences. We are an Equity theatre that also hires non-equity actors and understudies for all shows. Contracts run in length from six to nine weeks. We do age-appropriate casting for our young roles, and cast anywhere from five to 25 young performers per show. We also are interested in actors who have experience or potential as teaching artists either in our Theater in Education department or our nationally acclaimed Theater Academy.
To contact for more information about auditions:
Jeff Frank, Artistic Director, at jfrank@firststage.org or (414) 267-2981
Michelle LoRicco, Associate Artistic Director, at mloricco@firststage.org
Or email auditions@firststage.org
When possible, please submit your headshot and resume electronically ahead of time.