Young Performer Auditions

  Audition Process — What Do I Do?

Whether or not you have auditioned previously for First Stage we are asking that all interested young performers participate in our General Auditions this Spring (to be considered for all shows in the season) or this Summer (if you are only interested in shows rehearsing in the second half of our season.) If you are interested in auditioning for First Stage this season, please review the shows and dates on our 2025-2026 Audition Notice to choose the productions/opportunities/roles for which you would like to be considered. Once you have made that decision, here are the next steps: 

1. Schedule your Audition Date and Time

Schedule a time for an in-person audition by picking an available time slot on our Audition Sign-Up page. All in-person auditions and callbacks will take place at Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 West Walnut Street.  

2. Complete your Audition Form 

Once you’ve signed up for an audition time, you will be sent a confirmation email with a link to our SharePoint. This site will include a mandatory audition form and all audition materials, updates, and FAQs for your perusal.

REQUIRED AUDITION FORM

3. Prepare Your Audition 

For your audition, please prepare a memorized monologue (between 30 seconds to 1 minute). 

If you’d like to be considered for a musical, please also prepare 30 seconds of a song of your choosing. All songs will be sung a capella (no music, just voice).  

Or, if you would prefer preparing a scene and song (if you want to be considered for the musicals in our season) from one of the productions that you are interested in, look through the scenes and songs available for your preferred show and choose a character, scene, and song to prepare (we will ask other auditionees to read with you at the audition if needed). Once you sign up for an audition time, we will share audition materials from the season that you can choose from.   

NOTE: Though you may be using materials from a specific show, we will consider you for all options in our season for which you are available. Please note all shows for which you are interested in being considered for on your audition form. 

4. Arrive 15 minutes before your slot and break a leg!  

Plan to park in the side lot of the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 West Walnut Street. Enter through the main entrance and follow the signs that will lead you through the left side of the building. We will have someone at the Auditions table to greet you and check you in.  

Then get pumped to show us what you’ve prepared! :)

Virtual Auditions

Please email auditions@firststage.org for instructions and access to audition materials. To be considered for a Fall show in 2025, the virtual submission deadline is May 1, 2025.  

To be considered for a Spring show in 2026, the virtual submission deadline is August 1, 2025.  

  What is it like to be in a First Stage production?

Being cast in a First Stage show is a lot of work and a lot of fun!

Young performers are always “double cast”’ and share their roles with a “counterpart”, which is another young performer in which you will share duties, blocking, performance responsibilities and may be asked to switch rehearsals or performances on a limited basis.

Rehearsal schedule:
Young performers work with the adult, professional actors, professional stage management team, and directors to rehearse and perform the roles in any given production.

The typical rehearsal/performance commitment is between 8-9 weeks.

Rehearsals are Wednesday through Friday from 4PM – 8:30PM, with a 20-minute dinner break; Saturdays from 12:30PM – 4PM or 5PM – 8:30PM, and Sundays from 10AM – 1:30PM or 2:30PM – 6PM.    

Each Wednesday both casts of Young Performers are typically called to rehearsal, but on Thursday and Friday, Young Performer casts will alternate rehearsal days. This keeps Young Performers fresh with their schoolwork and not at rehearsal every single night. On the weekends, casts alternate between the first rehearsal block and second rehearsal block.  This adds up to four rehearsals per week in each cast. There will be three to four BOTH CAST rehearsals in which we call all of the young performers to have them work together or watch each other.

Rehearsals for the first three weeks are at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. At the end of the third week, our Mainstage production rehearsals will move to the Todd Wehr Theater at the Marcus Performing Arts Center. All other productions will typically tech in Goodman Mainstage Hall at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.

Once Mainstage shows move to the Marcus Center, pick up and drop off is at the Stage Door of the Marcus Center on State Street.  An Assistant Stage Manager will meet them at the door and wait for their rides with them after rehearsals or performances.

Performance schedules:
Our school matinee performances are in the morning and into the lunch hour.  Young performers should expect to miss between 7 and 9 days of school from 8:30am until 1:45pm.

Young performers to be at their show times one hour before their performance, and to be picked up 30 minutes after the final show of the day.  A typical show call is 9:00am until 1:45pm. If you are available, you will to go to school in the morning before 8:30am or after the shows from 2:00pm on. 

We work with schools and principals to make sure your attendance is excused as long as your work is being completed.  Because of the school commitment, we only cast young performers in one show during any season.

Commitment:
If cast in a First Stage production, you and your child understand and agree to the time commitment asked of you; including but not limited to transport to/from rehearsals and performances, attending all rehearsals when called, attending all performances your cast is scheduled for, and working with your counterpart should any conflicts arise for you or for them. If offered a role, you are expected to clear any outside commitments for the duration of rehearsal and performances. Please discuss any possible conflicts with casting or Stage Management at the time of the offer. We have to replace young performers from time to time who have unexpected conflicts or conflicts that haven’t been communicated.

Past history tells us that Young Performers are generally not able to be on a sports team, competitive dance team, or in another show during the eight to ten weeks of rehearsal and performances. A dual commitment causes significant problems for both sides, and the young performers have a poorer experience in both cases.

Young Performers should expect to miss seven to nine days of school during performances. We work with schools and principals to make sure attendance is excused as long as you are completing all schoolwork.