Young Company
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 ranging from Auditioning to Stage Combat to Dialects.
Traditionally, the Young Company hosts master classes with guest artists from across the nation, produces a season of three plays, and facilitates special excursions to the Utah Shakespeare Festival and American Players Theater.
Class meets 9:30AM-12:15PM Saturdays throughout the school year with additional workshops and rehearsals scheduled separately.
For questions, please contact Young Company Director Matt Daniels at mdaniels@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 Auditions
AUDITIONS FOR THE 2024-2025 YOUNG COMPANY WILL BE HELD THIS SUMMER
July 11, 2024 - 4-8pm
August 1, 2024 - 4-8pm
August 19, 2024 - 4-8pm
Auditions are by individual appointment, in person, at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (325 W Walnut Street). Please sign up for your audition slot here.
You may submit a video audition if you cannot audition in person or are unavailable for in-person dates. For more information, please email Michelle LoRicco at mloricco@firststage.org.
WHAT IS YOUNG COMPANY?
For high school actors 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 coursework 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 24/25 will run from September 28 - May 17, 2025.
WHO IS IT FOR?
For actors entering 9-12 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 30-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.