With each new season, TCT and HHT always announce the audition dates and times for all of our productions in our season brochure and on our website. A short description of each production will be included. Around one month prior to the audition date, we’ll release character descriptions and expectations of age ranges and sex of characters for all roles available. Please note some characters are gender neutral and can be played by a man or woman.

Youth productions will be specified. For many TCT Academy shows, characters are restricted to 18 years or younger.

If you have any questions about when auditions are please feel free to contact our Director of Volunteer Engagement, Jason Smith at Jason@TopekaCivicTheatre.com.

This may sound silly, but the first thing you do when considering auditioning is to read the script. You’ll want to be certain this is a play or musical you would like to volunteer your time for, and the best way to do that is to read the script or libretto, (if it’s a musical), first. 

TCT and HHT make copies of the scripts and librettos available for check out about one month before auditions. You can check out a copy from the Box Office with a small, refundable deposit. Helen Hocker Theater requires a refundable $10.00 deposit and Topeka Civic Theatre requires a $25.00 deposit. We ask that you return these materials about three or four business days after check out, and all materials must be back at least one day before the actual audition date.

Once you’ve read the script or libretto, consider what role or roles you’d most like to play. Read aloud a few scenes and see if you can visualize yourself in the role. Many actors are not particular about which role they most wish to play, and that’s certainly all right, but understanding the roles available is an essential step in the process.

If it’s a musical, please familiarize yourself with a song from the show that you can comfortably sing. We are typically looking for 12 to 16 bars of a song from the musical you are auditioning for. Depending upon time restraints during the audition process, we may be able to listen to an offering from another musical or popular song, but we will insist on hearing a song from this specific muscial. If you don’t know any of the songs, we will happily step you through one before your audition to give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the music.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT!
TCT and HHT typically hold auditions on weekends, though some weekday auditions are necessary. These auditions typically run from 1:00PM to 4:00 PM on Saturdays and occasional Sundays. Simply call TCT or HHT and request an audition appointment. These are usually in five minute increments which allows you a moment of time devoted to you and a scene partner(s) assigned to you at auditions.

For Topeka Civic Theatre, call the Box Office at 785-357-5211, Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, to schedule your audition appointment.

For Helen Hocker Theater, call Kari Johnson at 785-251- 5990, Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, to schedule your audition appointment.

If it’s a play, you’ll be given an opportunity to run the scene with your scene partner(s) in the hall or a separate room until you feel read to present it to the director and stage manager. 

If it’s a musical, we’ll start with your song. We’ll provide piano accompaniment for you as you sing for the director, music director, stage manager and choreographer. After your song, you may be asked to sing another short section of another song from the show, or we may move on to the dance portion of the audition where you will be taught a short section of a dance by our choreographer. Typically this is done with six to eight fellow auditioners at the same time. 

Youth Production auditions are a little different. Typically, these are held with all potential players arriving at once and being set into small groups for reading, singing and dance.

At the audition you’ll be handed two forms. One is an information page spelling out the dates and times of all performances as well as a brief character description. 

The second is an information sheet for you to fill out with your name, contact information, and, if you’re underage, parental permission. Please fill this form out and hand it in to the stage manager. Please bring your calendar and be prepared to list your availability for the rehearsal process on this form. For plays we typically rehearse five days a week, Sunday through Thursday for six weeks before we open. For musicals this process is usually eight week, Sunday through Thursday. You will be asked to provide your availability and indicate any conflicts with the scheduled rehearsals at auditions.

 You may also list a brief description of your theatre background experience on the back of this form. Resumes are not required. If you are new to the theatre, we may ask to snap a instant photo of you to attach to your audition form. 

Remember to bring a collaborative attitude! Auditioning can be a vulnerable experience, and an exploratory and lively attitude allows the other cast members and production team to guide and support you through your audition.

PLEASE WEAR comfortable clothes and close toed shoes.  If the musical requires dance, bring comfortable clothing to move in and shoes to dance in. If the show contains tap and you have tap shoes, please bring them.

A call-back audition is set after your initial audition by the director. It is a chance for the creative team to see potential performers along-side other actors that may have not been paired at the first audition. These call-backs typically fall immediately after the last day of initial auditions and can last about two hours. There is a chance you are still being considered for a role even if you are not called back. 

Cast list are typically posted on Facebook and our website at 12:00 pm (NOON) on Monday following an audition weekend.
If you are cast, your first rehearsal time and location will be posted with that cast list. All auditioners are asked to confirm that they accept their roles by contacting Jason@TopekaCivicTheatre.com.