Advanced Theater Training
First Stage Young Company, the Theater Academy’s award-winning training program for advanced high school actors is open to students who want to take their work to the next level. Accepted students will complete college- and graduate-level training in Acting, Voice, Movement, and Shakespeare as well as electives such as Auditioning, Stage Combat, and Dialects.
Young Company members gain unparalleled professional exposure through master classes with renowned guest artists from across the country, a fully produced season of plays, and special excursions to the Utah Shakespeare Festival and American Players Theatre.
For questions, please contact Director of Young Company, Michelle LoRicco, at mloricco@firststage.org.
2026-2027
YOUNG COMPANY AUDITIONS
Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
325 W. Walnut Street
August 6, 2026 | 5–8 PM
August 7, 2026 | 4:30–8 PM
August 8, 2026 | 10 AM–2 PM
August 13, 2026 | 4:30-8 PM
August 14, 2026 | 4:30-8 PM
August 15, 2026 | 10-2 PM
Auditions are by individual appointment.
Please sign up for your audition slot here.
If you are unable to audition in person or are unavailable for any of the in-person dates, you may submit a video audition. Please send an email to Michelle LoRicco at mloricco@firststage.org for more information.
Video submissions will be due by Saturday, August 15 by 2pm.
what is young company?
For rising students in grades 8-12 who want to take their work to the next level, First Stage offers the Young Company, the nationally renowned training program for high school age
actors. Meeting throughout the year, the Young Company is the college and graduate-level actor training program at First Stage Theater Academy. Accepted students will complete course work in
Advanced Acting, Voice, Movement, Viewpoints, Shakespeare and electives ranging
from Auditioning to Stage Combat to Dialects. In addition, the Young Company hosts
master classes with guest artists from across the nation, travels annually to compete at the Utah Shakespeare Festival High School Acting Competition and hosts an overnight training program at American Players Theatre in Spring Green. The
Young Company also produces two to three performance projects each season. YC Terms for 2026-2027 will run from September 19 - May 29, 2027.
WHO IS IT FOR?
For actors entering 8-12 grade who wish to take their actor training to the next level.
HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED EACH YEAR?
We generally accept 20-25 new students each year.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO FOR THE AUDITION?
Each auditioner will schedule a 15-minute time slot via the YC Bookings Page. Please prepare two contrasting memorized monologues, one classical (preferably Shakespeare), and one contemporary, not to exceed 4 minutes, total. After performing their pieces, auditioners will stay for the interview portion of the audition. Plan to arrive a few minutes prior to your scheduled audition time.
In addition to signing up for a time slot, please complete the YC Audition Form, and email a current headshot/picture and performance resume
to mloricco@firststage.org.
If you have any questions, please contact Michelle LoRicco, Director of the Young Company, at mloricco@firststage.org.
Young Company Performance Projects
Young Company Performance Projects are actor-driven presentations using elemental production values. By stripping down to a nearly bare stage, the connection of actor to audience is enhanced, and the words of the play come alive in exciting ways, allowing our award-winning students to showcase their graduate level skills with full length material, from Shakespeare to American classics to pieces commissioned specially for them.
Young Company is supported in part by the Anthony J. Petullo Endowment for Advanced Theater Students