Auditions at PYT

No. We welcome first-time auditioners alongside returning performers. Come as you are.

Use the Register or Audition button for the show you're interested in. It will take you to our sign-up page where you can pick a slot.

Actors arrive at PYT studios 15-30 minutes before their scheduled audition time. They check in with their paperwork complete, are given a number, and are measured for their costume(s). For most auditions, actors are taken into the audition room in groups of about ten actors. The group goes into our studio and take turns performing their chosen monologue and song. They then learn a short dance routine with the choreographer. Plan on spending 1 – 1.5 hours at the studio for your audition. This can go longer if we start running behind – check with the producers when you arrive to get an accurate sense of when you will be finished for the day.

It varies by the type of show. Each show's audition sign-up page lists exactly what to prepare. Usually you will memorize a 1 minute monologue, and for musicals, 1 minute of a song, both to perform at the audition. You'll also need to bring the section of music that accompanies your song - PYT won't have a piano or an accompanist in the room. You can bring the music file on a phone or tablet, or a usb drive. Make sure you know your song and monologue so well that you won’t forget it, even if you’re nervous. Being nervous is a totally normal part of auditioning, and the best way to ease those nerves is to feel 100% prepared! Practice your audition full-out, with a loud, clear voice. Practice your opening introduction each time you rehearse your monologue. Always begin your audition with, “Hello, my name is __________ and I will be performing _________.” This is part of the audition! On the day of your audition, try to be well rested and fed, and don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Dress appropriately for your audition. Wear comfortable clothing you can move freely in, and closed toe shoes (eg tennis shoes) or dance shoes. Bring some water!

Choose a monologue from a play. Television and movie monologues are usually associated with a celebrity performer, and the directors can’t help but compare you to the original artist. Do not choose a monologue from the play you’re auditioning for. Make sure your monologue is no longer than 1 minute in length when performed. Choose an age appropriate monologue. Choose a monologue that is active, and contains a beginning, middle, and end. Avoid dialects, exaggerated characterizations, cartoon or two-dimensional characters and/or use of props. There are many lists of overdone monologues available (search “overdone monologues” online). Check a couple of them, and make sure your monologue isn’t on one of those lists. Choose a monologue with appropriate content. Monologues with strong language, mature themes or innuendo are not appropriate. PYT has a binder full of monologues at PYT Studios and at the Mountain View Library. If you’re having trouble finding a good monologue feel free to stop by during office hours and take a look at the binder.

Choose a song from a musical that is close in style to the musical you’re auditioning for. Pop songs don’t give the directors as much information about your vocal or acting abilities as songs that were written for musical theatre. Choose a song that sits comfortably in your range but shows as much of your range as possible. Choose a song for which you can find recorded music in the right key for your voice. The music should be instrumental (no voices). Make sure you’re prepared to sing only a minute of the song. You can either prepare to stop singing at the minute mark or use software to cut the recording down to the section that best shows off your voice. Choose a song that allows you to make specific acting choices while singing. Choose a song that provides a contrast to your monologue selection. If your monologue was broad and comedic, try a song that will demonstrate your ability to make more natural acting choices.

When you do the dance portion of the audition, you'll be taught a dance combination by the choreographer and then asked to perform it in small groups. You will not have to prepare anything in advance. Make sure you are dressed to dance in comfortable clothes and shoes you can move in. Uggs, sandals, and flip-flops are not recommended for either dance or acting/vocal auditions. If you don’t have a ton of dance experience, don’t worry! Energy, enthusiasm, and a great big smile will get you noticed. Remember that in an audition it’s better to be big and wrong than little and sort-of-right. Commit to your movement, put all your energy into it, and don’t worry if you turn the wrong way or start on the wrong foot.

Callbacks are the directors way of gathering more information from actors, or seeing how they interact with other performers. Having a callback is not a guarantee of a role. Not receiving one doesn’t mean you won’t be cast in a great role - it means the director gathered enough information during your initial audition to cast you without seeing you again. Callback time is limited so directors may call you back for one role and use your callback as a way to evaluate you for a variety of roles.

At the end of your audition, you will be given a sheet that tells you if you need to come to callbacks, and when. Not everyone will be called back, and there are no make-up callback times if you have a conflict during callbacks.

Other actors also called back, along with the director, the choreographer, the vocal director.

The director, vocal director, and choreographer. These three staff members work together as a collaborative team. The team begins to discuss and evaluate the audition participants as soon as each group of ten participants completes the audition process. These staff members continue to email and talk with to one another during the entire casting process. The director makes the final decision, especially if the three staff members cannot agree on a casting choice. In extremely rare cases, PYT’s Executive Artistic Director or Managing Director may overturn a casting decision if it is not in line with PYT’s mission and values.

While talent does carry weight in casting, there are other considerations. Casting is something like putting a big jigsaw puzzle together except you won’t know what it actually looks like for another 6-8 weeks. Sometimes, there are things that influence casting that are completely outside of the actor’s control – things like height, who else is auditioning, and the casting team's vision for the role can all affect casting. Carpools and calendar conflicts can also affect choices. Finally, the creative team's experiences with actors can be a factor - behavior and attitude towards others and the work of a production make a difference, especially for major roles. Please see our casting philosophy for more information https://pyt-website.pages.dev/casting/

PYT looks for people who embody our values of Kindness, Preparedeness and Courage. A great actor, for PYT: has prepared their audition material well; has a good attitude, and dosen't make excuses; is generous to the other actors around them, and listens; demonstrates maturity and the ability to stay focused; recovers from mistakes quickly because they know everyone makes them!; gives 100% performance energy all of the time; is willing to accept any role; dresses appropriately for the audition, including clothes and shoes they can move well in.

This period gives the casting team time to check the cast list for errors and omissions. This is particularly important when casting a large cast.

No. Directors routinely cast first time PYT actors in major roles. What matters most is that you come in well prepared with good audition material and great acting choices. While past positive experience may weigh into a final casting decision, the team's main objective is to cast the best person for the role regardless of whether or not they’ve done a PYT production before.

We strongly advise you go into auditions with a positive attitude and an understanding that a show is only as good as its whole cast. Every member of the cast has a critical part to play in the success of the show. The best performers have spent time in the ensemble and take every opportunity to work on their theater skills – and it’s a lot of fun! If you will only accept particular parts, specify on your audition form which parts you will accept by name. If you say that you will only accept a particular part and do not get cast in that part, your name will not appear on the cast list and you will receive a pro-rated refund.

No. The director, choreographer, and vocal director make all casting decisions as a group.

How often you will be called to rehearsal depends on: the size of the show, the role you have, the cast you are in, the number of participants in the show. Generally hold rehearsals from 6:30pm – 9pm on weekday evenings and from 10am – 2pm on Saturday. On average, you can plan on being called at least 2-3 times per week for a Center Stage Musical, and twice a week for Stories on Stage. Actors with larger roles or significant stage time should plan to be at rehearsal more often. You will get a final rehearsal schedule at the first parent meeting, just after casting. We do our best to stick to the schedule once posted as closely as possible so you can plan your other commitments.

It's critical to the success of every production that we know when performers are available for rehearsal. The conflict calendar should be filled out completely prior to auditions. Be sure to consider school, family, work, travel and religious obligations. Please note: NO CONFLICTS ARE ALLOWED DURING TECH REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES. Remember also that you will not be called to every rehearsal. PYT makes a concerted effort to only call performers when they will be needed.

PYT reserves the right not to cast anyone who has more than the maximum allowable conflicts set for the production, as well as the right to cut anyone from the show who has unexcused absences, or anyone who adds conflicts to tech week or performances. Generally, the maximum number of conflicts and actor can have and still be guaranteed casting is equal to 1 per week of rehearsal (not including tech). Please verify each production’s audition details for more specific information. Any threshold applied to one actor in the restriction of casting due to conflicts must be applied to all actors of the given production. For example, if an actor is not cast due to excessive conflicts, no other actor may be cast with the same number of conflicts or more. Unexcused absences will be handled at the discretion of creative staff. No matter the reason for the absence, unexcused absences may require an actor be cut from scenes, songs, or the show as a whole depending upon the number of absences, the role, and the needs of the production. Actors should not come to rehearsal if they have a fever, are vomiting, have head lice, or any other condition that would be considered reasonable to hold the actor out of school. More than 3 missed rehearsals due to illness, however, may require follow up meeting with staff and could lead to removal from scenes, songs, or the show as a whole depending upon the number of absences, the role, and the needs of the production. Any unexcused absence, emergency, or illness must be accompanied with a written notice from the actor’s parent or guardian to the producers explaining the absence. PYT cannot plan rehearsals without an accurate understanding of who is available at any given rehearsal. We see your conflict calendar as a commitment to attend any rehearsal for which you are called that doesn’t have a conflict.

We usually have one or less to prepare to run shows at a professional theater, with all of the production elements – set, lights, costumes, sound. A stage is exciting, but it can also be dangerous. You are walking around in the dark with things flying in and out, and large pieces of scenery moving around. It is critically important that the cast be present and understand what they need to do and where they need to be on stage.

As part of PYT’s community outreach, we present special weekday morning performances of our productions for school groups in the area. PYT can supply you with a letter to give to your school principal requesting permission to miss school that morning. These performances are not optional for actors cast in the show, so if you are at all concerned about missing school, check with your teacher and principal before auditioning.

PYT does not arrange carpools. The carpool request line on the audition form is for families who know each other in advance of casting and wish to carpool together. We try to place participants who make carpool requests in the same cast, and if possible, in the same group(s). Make sure if you are listing someone as a carpool request that they list you on their form as well. Cast requests work similarly for double-cast shows. If you request a specific cast for conflict reasons, or to be placed in the same cast as another participant, we will do our best to accommodate those requests. Remember that many rehearsals will include both casts at the same time, and only some are split between casts.

For Center Stage Musicals, all actors who audition and who fall within the age range for that show are cast - unless they exceed the maximum number of conflicts allowed, or present casting requirements that cannot be met. There will be two casts (each with four performance dates), and all roles will be double-cast. Every effort will be made to feature each performer and maximize their stage time.