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Auditions

Auditions

Auditions are open to everyone and are held at the Ashtabula Arts Center. You do not need prior theater experience to try out for a show. If you are not cast in an on-stage role, please consider volunteering on the backstage crew. Working behind the scenes at a show is a tremendously valuable experience for any performer – and a successful production is as dependent on the backstage team as it is on the cast.

There is no cost to audition for or take part in a 13th Street or Straw Hat show. Please direct audition questions to Kimberly Godfrey Warren, Director of Theater & Music, at (440) 964-3396.

Please bring a list of calendar conflicts for the director of the show you’re trying out for. Commitment is important, and the success of a production relies heavily on everyone from leads to ensemble being responsible and consistent in showing up for rehearsals.

Upcoming Auditions

 

Auditions for Straw Hat Theatre 2025 and summer Concerts on the Lawn

Saturday, March 15 with an open call from 10 a.m.- noon
Sunday, March 16 with an open call from 5-7 p.m.
For your convenience you can make an audition appointment beginning on February 1, 2025.
Call (440) 964-3396.
Fill out an audition form online.
 
Straw Hat 2025 shows:
 

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
Performance Dates: June 6-8, 12-14
Romeo & Juliet
Performance Dates: June 20-22, 27-29
Content Warnings: violence, suicide, death
ages 15 & up
*This show is not a musical.
Auditioners for this show should come prepared with a memorized classical monologue, preferably from Shakespeare, a sonnet, or an excerpt from a play.
Rent
Performance Dates: July 11-13, 18-20
Content warnings: suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, homophobia, HIV/AIDS, homelessness
All actors must be at least 17 years old as of their audition date.
17-year-olds must have written consent from a parent/guardian at the time of auditions.
The Spongebob Musical: Youth Edition
All actors must be under the age of 19 as of the first performance date.
Performance Dates: August 1-3, 8-10
Sensory Friendly Performance on August 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Concerts on the Lawn:

Broadway Classics: July 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Broadway Babies: August 16 at 6:30 p.m.

Audition FAQs

Know what you’re auditioning for: read about the show and familiarize yourself with the characters; you’ll find these details on the website for the licensing company that holds the rights to the show (MTI, Concord Theatricals, etc.) Choose a song or a monologue that fits the character you want to play. You should have your audition material memorized (the exception is an audition where you’ll be asked to read from the script.) It’s ideal to bring sheet music to a musical audition so the director can hear if you’re able to match pitch with the piano and what key you’re singing in. If you’re unable to bring sheet music, recorded accompaniment on your phone is fine, but it must be instrumental only – no vocals.
Look up other songs by the show’s composer(s), and choose one that’s age appropriate. Avoid pop songs; they don’t generally show off a singer’s full range as well as a theatrical song, and they also don’t typically have a storytelling element.
Young children can sing nursery rhymes or school songs, or tell a funny story about something that happened to them. With little ones, directors are looking at how clearly they can understand speech, whether children can project, and if they’re animated and engaging.
Don’t panic! Even seasoned performers can make mistakes – directors aren’t looking for perfection in your audition. It’s perfectly fine to be nervous, or to have to start a song or monologue over.
Calendar conflicts don’t necessarily mean you won’t be cast. You will be expected to be present throughout tech week and at every performance. It’s always best to keep conflicts during the rest of the rehearsal process to a minimum, but they’re much less of a problem when the director is made aware of them in advance and can take them into account when planning the rehearsal schedule.
The timeline for casting is different for every show and director. Directors aren’t just considering how each person fits a particular character, but also how they interact with each other. Casting is as much about actors’ chemistry with each other as it is about individual performances. Directors also consider how closely auditioning performers fit their vision for a show. Callbacks are always a possibility, but don’t happen for every show, or even every character within a single show. In short, the timeline to hear back can vary tremendously from one show to another.

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