Casting FAQ
Find answers to your questions and more information about our casting process.
- We are able to provide audition materials in Braille or large print format, or provide interpreting (ASL, other languages).
- Our facilities are completely wheelchair accessible.
- Please let us know if you have any requests.
- We have a chair for your use. We request that you limit use of props and please no weapons, smoking, live fire, or nudity.
- We provide information about who will be in the room with you.
- A reader (professional actor) will read with you when necessary.
- Play—in addition to the sides, the script is most often available to you.
- Musical—please note the audition instructions; from musical selections to type of dance shoes.
Please let casting know immediately if you have conflicts with the callback schedule or any of the time periods for the project. We make all best efforts to accommodate conflicts.
The Equity Membership Candidate Program (EMC) permits actors and stage managers in training to credit theatrical work in certain Equity theatres towards eventual membership in Equity. Please note opportunities at Center Theatre Group for EMC sponsorship are extremely limited. EMC members can attend the Equity monthly open auditions.
- We provide studio teachers for schooling during the time a minor is working with us. A parent/guardian also must be present.
- Consider joining the Center Theatre Group's Student Body
- Check out the August Wilson Monologue Competition
- For any audition where we ask for singing, we provide you with a professional accompanist. Singing a cappella is not helpful, unless specifically requested.
- You should bring your book of music selections. The music score should be legible, in the right key for you, and clearly marked with start/stops. You should not assume the accompanist will know the song you want to sing without sheet music or be able to transpose to your range.
- There shall be no discrimination against any Actor for a part in a cast by reason of race, color, creed, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, political persuasion, belief, or marital status.
- LORT and Equity recognize the need for expanding the participation of ethnic minorities (African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American, and Native American), women Actors and Actors with disabilities in their artistic process. Toward that end, LORT reaffirms its commitment to non-discrimination and a flexible, imaginative casting policy, known hereinafter as Non-Traditional Casting, in all its Theatres.
- Non-traditional casting shall be defined, for the purposes of this Agreement, as the casting of ethnic minority Actors (African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American, and Native American), women Actors, and Actors with disabilities in roles where race, ethnicity, gender, or the presence or absence of a disability is not germane.
- LORT will encourage its members to actively solicit the participation of ethnic minorities and Actors with disabilities in the casting process. LORT Theatres will attach a statement of this non-traditional casting policy to their contracts with directors, choreographers, and casting consultants.
- In furtherance of the foregoing policy, LORT recognizes that all roles where race, ethnicity, gender, or the presence or absence of a disability is not germane shall be open to non-traditional casting. Each Theatre shall include its nontraditional casting policy in casting notices and cast breakdowns to agents and casting directors.
- The Theatre will maintain for each production records of ethnic minorities, females, and Actors with disabilities auditioned, interviewed, and/or hired and will forward such records to Equity at the end of each season.
"Why do I see a production listed on the website, but not in your breakdowns?"
- Some productions on our stages are presented in coordination with outside producers—tours and otherwise. These productions usually have the full cast attached and since they are not on Center Theatre Group contracts, we are not involved with casting those projects. If you are interested in being considered for the tours or commercial productions, we suggest you get in touch with the general manager or casting director of that production.
- Productions we produce have actors on our LORT contract, and we are involved in casting those projects. We do not have the breakdowns released more than 2-3 months in advance of first rehearsal.
Productions at the Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum have understudies. Usually, the breakdown for these roles comes out after the principals are cast. The sessions occur once rehearsals have started.
Understudies usually join rehearsals on the third week of work for the principal cast. There are no guaranteed performances for our understudies. Actors must be at the theatre every performance. Post-opening, understudies rehearse approximately two afternoons a week.
Pre-Rehearsal
- Company Management will be in contact to welcome actors and discuss logistics from payroll to parking.
- Media & Communications will be in contact to gather actor bios and photos for the program and discuss any press interview/appearance needs.
- Our Costume Shop is local, and actors are initially contacted for a measurements or fitting appointment in preparation for the wardrobe process.
- Stage Management comes on contract the week (occasionally 2 weeks) prior to the actors and will be in touch with schedule, script, and welcome information.
- Typical rehearsal schedule is Tuesday through Sunday (Monday off) 10am–6pm or 11am–7pm.
- Typical tech schedule lasts for about 5 days before preview performances start. These are a combination of longer days (noon-midnight) in accordance with the AEA rules.
- Pre-Opening: During the preview period, there are rehearsals during the day and performances take place at night.
- Post-Opening: The regular show schedule proceeds. Regular show calls are usually ½ hour before curtain.
Rehearsal
Performance
We have several projects in development throughout the year. These are not workshops or readings where actors pay to participate—actors are paid on Center Theatre Group contracts.
Workshops are usually one to four weeks in duration.
Readings are usually one day to one week in duration.