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ACT THEATRE – YOUTH ACTOR AUDITIONS

A Christmas Carol

Directed by Kelly Kitchens

Sunday, September 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

ACT will hold auditions for the youth actor roles in this year’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” directed by Kelly Kitchens and featuring David Pichette and Peter Crook alternating in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, with Reginald Jackson and Sunam Ellis as Mr and Mrs Cratchit.

 Callbacks will be held Wednesday, October 9, from approximately 3:30 pm – 7:00 pm.

Rehearsals begin on November 11th.  The production begins performances on November 29^th and hasits final performance on December 28th.    Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day are days off, but there are performances on Christmas Eve at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

We will begin taking appointments for the Youth Actor Auditions on Wednesday, September 18^th, and continue until the day of the auditions.

ACT is committed to equity and inclusivity in casting, and to presenting a community on stage that reflects the community of which we’re a part.  All children aged 6 to 15 who would like to try out for the play are welcome!  (NB: For contractual reasons young actors cast in the show must be under the age of 16 – that is, no older than 15 as of the final performance on December 28.)

Auditions will be held at ACT, 700 Union Street (corner of Seventh Avenue behind the Convention Center).

Please prepare a short poem or monologue (less than 1 minute) to present from memory AND a brief song to be performed a cappella.  Please bring a picture & resume and be prepared to stay at least an hour, accompanied by an adult the entire time. If you’re unable to make your scheduled audition time, please call and cancel.

All children will be contacted about the results of the auditions.

To schedule, please call ACT Casting Director Margaret Layne at (206) 292-7660 ext 1226 weekdays between 12 PM and 5 PM or email laynem@acttheatre.org.  If you choose the e-mail option, please indicate your preferred time of day (morning/afternoon) for the audition.

ROLES AVAILABLE (age ranges are approximate):

(Two of the young actors cast as Cratchits double as YOUNG SCROOGE and FAN.)

STREET URCHIN/SINGING THIEF/UNDERTAKER’S ASSISTANT – Age 9-15.  Solid singer, strong acting skills, charisma.  Savvy street kid and jack of all trades, gregarious, engaging, Artful Dodger type.

MARTHA CRATCHIT– Age 11-15.  Warm, serene, loving, a second mother to the little ones, already out working to help support the family.

PETER CRATCHIT — Age 11-15.  Practical, helpful, a leader with a sense of fun.  Trying hard to be the man of the family when his father isn’t around, but still enough of a kid to get caught up in the younger children’s games.  (Possible double: Young Scrooge).

CHARLES CRATCHIT — Age 9-12.  Bright, ebullient, full of fun and high spirits.  The kind of kid who’ll tease his sisters unmercifully one minute and in the next one give them a bear hug to show he didn’t mean it.  (Possible double: Young Scrooge.)

BELINDA CRATCHIT — Age 9-13.  Quiet, sweet, a little shy, but the most intuitive and tuned in to changes in the emotional atmosphere; always wanting to make things easier or make others feel better.  (Possible double:  Fan).

ELIZABETH CRATCHIT — Age 6-10.  Outgoing, spontaneous, affectionate, not afraid to compete for her share of her parents’ attention.   (Possible double: Fan.)

TINY TIM — Age 5-10.  Youngest Cratchit. A fragile child with a walking disability. Chipper and sweet-natured, an old soul and the apple of everybody’s eye.  Ideally under 4’2” and less than 60 lbs. [Possible double: Fan.]

YOUNG SCROOGE — Age 9-14. Strong acting skills.  Plays Scrooge both as a child and as an adolescent.  Intelligent, inquisitive, but already showing the effects of a lonely, loveless childhood.

FAN — Age 6-11.  Scrooge’s younger sister. Radiant, innocent, loving, the embodiment of all things good and beautiful

Submit your own work for consideration in our programming lineup

ACT accepts script submissions from Literary Agents and/or theatre professionals with a letter of introduction/recommendation. Northwest playwrights (Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho) are welcome to submit up to a 15-page script sample, with a cover letter and play synopsis.

Average response time is six months.

Please mail work to:
ACT Theatre
ATTN: Submissions
700 Union St.
Seattle, WA 98101

We do not accept unsolicited scripts.

Kenan Fellowship in Directing at ACT – A Contemporary Theatre

The University of North Carolina School for the Arts (UNCSA) and ACT are pleased to announce the Kenan Fellowship in Directing at ACT. The Kenan Fellowship is made possible by generous support from the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts at UNSCA as part of the Career Pathways Initiative to broaden opportunities for sustainable careers in the arts.

The Kenan Fellowship in Directing at ACT seeks to provide emerging directors from the School of Drama at UNCSA with practical knowledge and experience as artists embarking on a career in regional theatre.

Each Kenan Fellow is mentored by Artistic Director, John Langs and the entire ACT staff, in varying capacities. Mentors support and assist the Kenan Fellows through their learning of ACT’s approach to making theatre, and guide the Fellows through the challenges and realities of what it means to be an artist in Seattle. Additionally, the Kenan Fellowship supports time to pursue artistic growth, attend performances, and the further development of networking in their professional field. Kenan Fellows are also encouraged to apply to produce and develop their own performance project.

For more information about the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts and the Career Pathways Initiative, visit www.uncsa.edu/kenan.

Young Playwrights Program – Teaching Artists

Department: Artistic/ Education and Engagement

Reports to: Education Staff

 Classification:

Contracted September – November

Contact Hours – Average School Residency is 2 days/week, 1 hour/each day for 10 weeks

Additional Non-Contact Hours Expected

 Summary:

ACT Theatre seeks to grow its current roster of teaching artists for the Young Playwrights Program. Ideal candidates for this work are established teaching artists focused on playwriting, drama, and/or creative writing, with experience teaching in middle and high school communities. Successful YPP teaching artists are compassionate, highly organized, and flexible – with a sense of humor and passion for youth engagement in the arts. Teaching artists at ACT work in a variety of classroom environments, with students of varying levels of achievement and behavior. YPP teaching artists are able to assess and support students and facilitate connection between ACT Theatre and the school communities it serves. Individuals from all cultures and communities are encouraged to apply!

Serving the next generation of compassionate, creative thinkers

Join us! Now entering its 18th year, ACT Theatre’s Young Playwrights Program consistently delivers outstanding arts education and enrichment opportunities to middle and high school students across King County. YPP pairs professional playwrights and theatre professionals with classroom teachers to engage middle and high school students in a 10-week intensive program that includes drama and improv exercises, creative writing prompts, and supportive feedback sessions. By the end of YPP, each student completes the first draft of an original, one-act play. YPP aligns with Washington State Learning Standards for the Arts, English Language Arts Learning Standards, and 21st Century Skills development. Additionally, YPP provides support to students as they develop a creative cohort in the classroom that values creative risk-taking, self-expression, and a sense of belonging.

Often school partners showcase finished YPP plays during in-school assemblies or evening presentations, performed and/or directed by peers. Other plays are selected for the Young Playwrights Festival at ACT Theatre each spring.

The majority of hiring and placements for YPP teaching artists happens in the summer and early fall, but inquiries are accepted throughout the year. School placement can vary depending on confirmed school partnerships each year.

Key Responsibilities:

YPP teaching artists support student learning and active participation in the Young Playwrights Program in the following ways:

• Teach twice a week for 10 weeks in classrooms throughout Puget Sound, in accordance with the YPP curriculum and timeline
• Co-Develop a culture of belonging in the classroom with students and the classroom teacher
  • Provide written and verbal feedback to students on their creative developments
  • Maintain compassionate, intentional relationships with classroom teachers and students
  • Facilitate YPP evaluation surveys for students during classroom time
  • Complete teaching artist surveys and other administrative requests from ACT Theatre as requested
  • Nominate student scripts for the Young Playwrights Festival and adjudicate plays
  • Support festival-bound young playwrights as appropriate
  • Attend teaching artist trainings
  • Provide feedback to improve YPP curriculum, program delivery, and organizational systems

Educational Background:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred. Degree in drama, theatre education, playwriting, and/or creative writing a plus.

Experience:

• Minimum two years as a teaching artist-in-residence in middle and/or high school communities, with a focus on drama, playwriting, creative writing, or a combination of these
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to continued learning about the intersection of arts education, racial equity, inclusion, and social justice
• A personal commitment to inclusivity and equity
• Demonstrated experience as a playwright, a plus
• Bilingual in English and another language, a plus
• Ability to communicate via email and access google docs through own device
• Ability to pass a background check in order to work in school communities
• Ability to drive own vehicle is a plus, but not required
• Curiosity for ACT Theatre’s programming is a plus

Compensation

• Teaching artist rates for a full residency of 20 teaching hours begin at $85/student contact hour. This rate is inclusive of non-contact time, including preparation, review of student work, and also adjudicating scripts nominated to the Young Playwrights Festival.
• Additional compensation is provided to teaching artists for training or meetings at ACT, at a rate of $20/hour.
• Complimentary tickets to ACT Theatre mainstage productions.
• Mileage reimbursement for travel outside of City of Seattle.

To Apply:
Please send the following via email to education@acttheatre.org

• Cover Letter
• A resume indicating significant teaching artist experience in theatre, playwriting, and/or creative writing
• Names, phone numbers, and email addresses for three references, at least one of whom should be familiar with your teaching
• Three – five page playwriting sample
• One page or less describing your philosophy and approach to your teaching artist practice

NOTE: Please save all above materials as one PDF document and label FirstName.LastName– YPP Teaching Artist Application.

Please include in the email subject line: LastName, YPP Administrator Position

No phone calls, drop-ins, or physical mailings please.

APPLICANTS WISHING TO APPLY FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY BEFORE AUGUST 7.

All applications will be considered for the following school year.

ACT is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in all aspects of its programming and organization. Teaching artists who identify as a person of color or bilingual are especially encouraged to apply. Those selected for interviews for the 2019-2020 school year will be contacted in mid-August.

House Staff

As a representative of ACT, you will be in direct contact with the Seattle theatre community, while also enjoying opportunity for both artistic enrichment and professional development.

Job Title:               House Staff

Department:       Audience Services

Position Type:      Part-Time

Reports To:          Audience Services Manager

Job Description:

• Facilitating excellent customer service
• Greeting patrons and directing patron traffic in the main Union St. lobby
• Maintaining awareness of all people entering & exiting the building
• Assisting Front of House Staff with day-of show tasks, as needed
• Assisting with the cleanliness & upkeep of our theatre and lobby spaces
• Working cohesively with Front of House Staff

Qualifications:

• Strong customer service skills
• Able to handle stressful situations with professionalism and decorum
• Sound judgement
• Attention to detail
• Regularly required to lift up to 40 lbs.

Requires evening & weekend availability

Compensation: $15/ hour

Benefits:

• Fun, relaxed team atmosphere
• Flexible schedule
• Complimentary tickets to all mainstage productions
• Complimentary ACTPass
• Artistic enrichment via play readings, play book clubs/discussion groups, after parties, etc.
• Ongoing professional development such as employee training, ASL class, EDI workshops, etc.
• Opportunities for professional growth

To apply, please sent a current resume and cover letter starting how your qualifications, experience, and goals are a match for this position. to:

Miranda Swineford, Audience Services Manager: miranda.swineford@acttheatre.org

Subject Line: Your Last Name, House Staff

No phone calls, drops-ins, or physical mailings please