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How to Reach Out to Theatre Casting Directors

By The Up-To-Date Actor, July 01, 2022

The process of reaching out to casting directors for theatre project submissions differs slightly from that of general Film/TV project submissions.

One similarity is your ability to research and get specific! Like television, there is a lot of information available prior to a theatre production. As a theatre performer, you should be prepared with a list of 5-10 roles in specific plays that you are right for. Look to the roles you have already worked on in acting class.

For most theatre audition notices the roles and storyline will already be available, which makes it easier to be more specific in the submission for a particular role. Up-To-Date Actor lists public EPA and audition notices for union regional theatre projects. EPAs and audition notices are great, but don’t let that be your only option! If you don’t see an upcoming audition but are interested in a certain production, call the producing company or regional theatre directly.

Ask how you can submit your materials and to whom they should be sent. Follow up after 10 business days with a phone call and ask to speak to the same person to whom you sent your materials. A standard script might sound like, “I hope you’ve had an opportunity to review my submission for the role of ____. I would like to know if I can schedule an audition appointment or submit a self-tape.

If you are submitting for a role you have previously performed, make sure to mention that in your submission along with any reviews. Something along the lines of, “Having performed the role before at ____(theatre company)_____, I am always eager to continue exploring __(name of role)’s__ journey with a new director’s vision.

When submitting for local hires, make sure to mention your willingness to travel/stay in the area. You may have friends or family in the area, so saying something like, “Even though I am based in NYC, I have housing available in your area and can be a local hire,” may help get you considered for a role.

As for additional strategies to follow when reaching out to casting directors for theatre productions, it is crucial to conduct the appropriate research, know the rules around the Actor’s Equity Association (including EPAs, ECCs, and more), and have a working knowledge of protocols within the industry.

Research the Play

The luxury of theatre is that you can typically research the play ahead of time. This is often the case, especially for previously produced plays. An easy way to conduct thorough research is to purchase and read the script. Find a review of the original production for plays that are not published. You can probably still find a synopsis available, as well as the cast of the original production. This will help you get an idea of the demographics of the original production and a starting off point for how a casting director or artistic director might envision this new production of the play. All of this will be useful information to determine if you are a good fit.

The Actor’s Equity Association & Mandatory Public Opportunity

Unlike film and TV productions, the Actor’s Equity Association (AEA - the union for stage actors) requires that their productions offer a public audition opportunity for all union members prior to seeing agent and manager submissions. This allows for more of an equal opportunity for union actors. AEA’s policy is that union members will be seen prior to non-union actors for in-person auditions. Equity Video Submissions have taken over in the post-pandemic world, which has led to some productions issuing public union calls and public non-union calls on a case-by-case basis.

There are various types of AEA auditions, some of which include Equity Principal Auditions (EPAs), Equity Video Submissions, Equity Chorus Calls (ECCs), and Submissions/Appointments.

EPA Auditions

Equity Principal Auditions (EPAs) are open casting calls for new and burgeoning actors in the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA). It’s a common misconception that EPAs are not worth it, but don’t fall for this! EPAs are great for introducing your talent to casting directors for Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theatre projects. Casting directors who consistently see how great you are at EPAs will have the confidence to call you in directly.

Prior to the pandemic, actors would go in-person to an EPA. If the actor was non-union, they would often wait all day in the hopes that they would be seen, which was not a given unless too few union members showed up. The birth of the virtual theatre audition has resulted in this time-consuming process falling by the wayside, to some degree. Virtual auditions for theatre were a practice previously used in Film & TV, but have now been adopted by theatre productions. With your materials ready and self-tape equipment prepared for video submissions, you can submit yourself to a theatre production in minutes.

In-person Local EPAs have returned in the past few months. This is a great opportunity for actors outside of a major market (especially NYC) to introduce their talent to the local professional theatres. In NYC, EPAs mostly remain Equity Virtual Submissions for the time being.

Equity Chorus Call (Singers and Dancers)

Equity Chorus Calls (ECCs) are open calls for singers and dancers. On the morning of the audition, equity singers and dancers sign up on a list and are seen on a first-come-first-serve basis. In a completely open call, however, there is no difference in the order in which equity, non-equity, and EMC (Equity Membership Candidates) are seen.

Up-To-Date-Actor shares all public union theatre audition notices with the intention to add non-union notices in the future.

Additional Tips for Theatre Submissions

Timing

We mentioned this above, but it’s critical to understand how timing works with EPA auditions. The EPA must come prior to agent submissions. While it is always best to follow the instructions laid out in the audition post, don’t let a missed EPA prevent you from submitting even after the fact.

Outreach

The hired casting director is not your only option. Consider contacting the artistic director or director if you are absolutely confident that you are right for the role. Up-To-Date Actor provides members with a full staff roster, contact information, and submission preferences so you’ll always know the best way to submit and have the resources to do so.

A Proactive Approach

The last piece of advice we’ll offer up regarding how to reach out to theatre casting directors is to NOT wait for the EPA. There will be times when a theatre company’s season is announced months in advance of an audition notice for a specific production. The moment you hear of a production you’re interested in is the moment you should reach out to the artistic director (AD) to introduce yourself and make a case for why you should be in the show.

Up-To-Date Actor lists regional theatres’ seasons nationwide as soon as they are announced. Our interface allows you to add specific plays, musicals, and authors to your targets so you will be instantly notified of newly announced productions and opportunities.

Gain access to the latest casting calls, auditions, and networking events when you sign up with Up-To-Date Actor today!