All students who audition will be considered without regard to physical ability, age, race, national/ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or gender.
We welcome students from across the university, no matter what your major.
Everyone is welcome!
Auditions for Spring 2025 Shows
There are many projects auditioning this Spring. Two Department Season productions - The Good Person of Setzuan, the 4 short plays that make up the John Lion New Plays Festival 2025 (NPF), and the Workshop "Special Skills include:". All will be at the first two days of auditions as these are group auditions. Call backs will be later in the week.
Several MFA in TVFT students are working on projects and will be sitting in the auditions to see the amazing talent pool. They will be casting separately.
Also in attendance will be folks from The Playground, Cal State LA's theatre club. They will be producing this semester and roles are available. For more info go to The Playground's website.
Detailed casting info/character breakdowns will be found on the Casting webpage
AUDITION DATES & TIMES:
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
6:30-10pm Scheduled Audition slots (all shows)
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
7:30-10pm Scheduled Audition slots (all shows)
Thursday, January 23, 2025
6:30-10pm Good Person of Setzuan Callbacks
6:30-9pm Callbacks (NPF/God Given Talent)
8-10pm Callbacks (NPF/Crumble)
Friday, January 24, 2025
12-2pm Callbacks (NPF/Who-don-it?)
2-5pm Callbacks (NPF/Not So Silent Auction)
AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS:
- Sign up for one of the 5-minute slots on Tuesday, or Wednesday
- Prepare a short monologue (1-2 minutes) that shows YOU in the best way. This can be classical or contemporary, comic or drama. As the shows auditioning are all very different - Anything is appropriate.
- While many of our directors will also provide an excerpt from the play that students can cold read if they do not have a monologue prepared, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to have a memorized, prepared monologue ready for auditions.
- Please prepare a short song (16 bars) to sing at the audition. If you have accompaniment, you can bring on a device with bluetooth or aux connection - we will have a speaker available. Or you can sing a capella (without music). If you do NOT have a song prepared - that is ok too. Don't stress if you think you can't sing - stretch yourself - we recommend trying everything, and you may surprise yourself.
Within 24-48 hours of signing up, you will receive a confirmation email which will include a link to the Audition Information Form. PLEASE be sure to fill out that information form BEFORE your audition date, as the scheduling information you include on that form is necessary for callback/casting decisions. The confirmation email will come from tad@calstatela.edu.
CALLBACKS:
Lists will be sent via email on the evening following the final auditions, using the email address you provide when you sign up to audition. More information about callbacks will be given at that time.
Spring 2025 PRODUCTIONS
Detailed casting info/character breakdowns will be found on the Casting webpage
The Good Person of Setzuan, By Bertolt Brecht
Translated by Wendy Arons
Adapted by Tony Kushner
Directed by: Randee Trabitz
Composer and Music Director: John Ballinger
Rehearsals: begin as soon as casting is complete
Performances: Weeks 9 and 10
- Thursday, March 20 – Saturday, March 22 @ 7:30pm
- Sunday, March 21 @ 2:30pm
- Wednesday, March 26 – Saturday, March 29 @ 7:30pm
Venue: Intimate Theatre at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex
Note: Students participating in this full rehearsal/performance process will register for a 2-unit upper division course (TA 4100 or TVFT 5300) to receive credit for their work on this show.
The John Lion New Plays Festival 2025, four original one act plays by current Cal State LA students.
GOD GIVEN TALENT, a farce in One Act by Cliff Connors
Directed by: Professor Tanya Kane-Parry
NOT SO SILENT AUCTION by Lauren Holliday
Directed by: Professor Steve Rothman
WHO-DUN-IT by Laurence Carter
Directed by: Dr. Carolyn Dunn
CRUMBLE by Em Perez
Directed by: Professor Roberto Alcaraz
Performances: Weeks 13 and 14
- Thursday, April 24 – Saturday, April 26 @ 7:30pm
- Sunday, April 27 @ 2:30pm
- Wednesday, April 30 – Saturday, May 3 @ 7:30pm
Rehearsals: Begin no earlier than week 8 or 9
Tech: Weeks 12/13
Venue: State Playhouse
Note: Students participating in this full rehearsal/performance process will register for a 2-unit upper division course (TA 4100 or TVFT 5300) to receive credit for their work on this show.
Workshop - "Special Skills Include:"
In six 3-hour workshops over 2-3 weeks, students learn 6 different special skills that they can add to their performance resumes. Invited guest artists will work with students on skills that may include everything from basic 3-ball juggling to basic dance (waltz, time step) to improv, clowning, basic tumbling, and stage combat: slaps, falls.
Workshop will run 2 evenings a week in weeks 6-8 of the semester – end of February/beginning of March. Workshop will culminate in a public presentation.
Auditions will be on Tues/Wed with the group auditions. Students will be invited to join the workshop. We can take up to 25 students.
Permits will be given with casting complete.
This class will count as a 2-unit UPPER DIVISION PARTICIPATION course for all involved.
Program Auditions
Students do NOT have to audition to be admitted to the B.A. in Theatre, regardless of their option. Prospective students wishing to obtain a B.A. in Theatre must first be admitted to the University and then declare Theatre as their major.
Prospective MFA in TVFT/Acting Option students DO have to audition in order to be considered for admission. Information about MFA in TVFT admissions can be found here.
General Audition Guidelines
Auditions for Fall and Spring productions occur at the beginning of each semester. Occasionally, additional auditions are held later on in the semester. Audition requirements are shifted to accommodate the needs of each production/director, however, the general audition guidelines are below.
Typically, auditioners are asked to prepare a 1-2 minute monologue. Depending on the production, further guidelines (like contemporary, classical, humorous, dramatic, etc.) may be specified. While many of our directors will also provide an excerpt from the play that students can cold read if they do not have a monologue prepared, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to have a memorized, prepared monologue ready for auditions.
Callbacks are usually posted within 72 hours after the last day of preliminary auditions, and students are notified via email regarding their callback status.
Cast lists are posted/emailed within a week or less after callbacks. Specific guidelines and audition registration for Fall and Spring productions are posted here and emailed to our majors, minors, and graduate students -- usually about two weeks prior to the first day of preliminary auditions.