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 which they most interest them.
— Adopted from language originally created by Kevin Kantor and Emily Trarquin of Actors Theatre of Louisville
2025-2026 Season Auditions
If you are interested in auditioning for a role in our 25-26 season, please email auditions@firststage.org to schedule your time slot.
Audition appointments will be scheduled on a first come-first served basis until full. We will be accepting any AEA and non-AEA audition reels (including a dance reel if interested in musicals) through May 1, 2025 and will hold call backs by invitation in person in Milwaukee in May/June 2025. We have set aside the following dates for in-person auditions.
First Stage Adult Equity Generals
Monday, March 31, 2025
9 AM – 5 PM
Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
325 W. Walnut St.
Milwaukee, WI 53212
First Stage Adult Non-Equity Generals
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
9 AM – 5 PM
Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
325 W. Walnut St.
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Please prepare a monologue and a song in the style of our season (See Character Breakdown in Audition Notice). You can also choose to prepare two contrasting monologues instead. Your pieces, including your slate, should be 3-5 minutes in length. We will have an accompanist in the room. When possible, please submit your headshot and resume electronically ahead of time.
UNDERSTUDY OPPORTUNITIES
All adult roles will be understudied for this season by non-union actors. A First Stage understudy usually covers one to two tracks. Understudies are expected to attend rehearsals 8 hours 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. Reach out to Associate Artistic Director Michelle LoRicco at mloricco@firststage.org if you are interested in being considered for an Understudy role.
OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
Stage Managers
AEA Stage Managers interested in working with First
Stage can submit their resumes to Sammy Brown, our Director of Production, at sbrown@firststage.org.
Teaching Artists
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. Please send your interest and resume to JT Backes
at jtbackes@firststage.org if you are interested in Academy opportunities or Brinn Hill at bhill@firststage.org if you
are interested in working in our in-school and after-school education programs.
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 twenty-five 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.
more information
Jeff Frank, Artistic Director — jfrank@firststage.org, auditions@firststage.org, or (414) 267-2981
Michelle LoRicco, Associate
Artistic Director — mloricco@firststage.org