Vocal Appointments
Please prepare 16-32 bars of a musical theatre song. Sheet music is required. No transpositions and no lead sheets. No a cappella singing. Please do not sing songs from the show. An accompanist will be provided. Backing tracks (karaoke) are not preferred, but are allowed. We will provide the speaker and adapters/bluetooth. Please bring your track on a device.

Open Dance Call - Not always offered. Please check current audition notice.
For actors that consider dancing their strength. A short combination will be taught and performed. Please wear appropriate dance and footwear. Some actors may be asked to sing. Please prepare 16-32 bars of a musical theatre song. Sheet music is required. No transpositions and no lead sheets. No a cappella singing. Please do not sing songs from the show. An accompanist will be provided. Those that do not have music will be taught a selection from the show. Pre-registrations are encouraged but not required. You must arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the call time to secure your spot. Any actors that are not present at that point risk losing their position. Day-of registrations will be taken on a first come, first serve basis. 

Actors MUST attend one of the above calls FIRST to be considered for the production. Actors will be notified after their initial audition if they are needed at callbacks. If you are not called back from your vocal audition, this isn’t the right show for you. Unfortunately, we can not cast everyone. We encourage you to come back for future auditions!

Dance Callbacks
Actors will learn a short combination in the style of the show.  Please come dressed to move in dancewear/activewear. The audition notice should state what kind of shoes are requested, but you generally will want:

All actors: Jazz shoes and occasionally tap shoes
Female Identifying Actors: Character shoes and occasionally character taps.

Read/Sing Callbacks
Actors may be asked to read from the script and may also be taught additional music selections to demonstrate for the directors. These scene and music selections are called “Sides.” Not being invited to read/sing callbacks does not necessarily mean an actor will not be offered a role. *Please be prepared for the entirety of this portion of callbacks.  Parents may drop off and come back.*

• One-page resume with your contact information, performance and training experience. This is not required.

• Headshot or current picture, if available. This is ideally 8x10 and attached back-to-back to your resume (which should be trimmed to 8x10. Please staple/glue on all 4 corners. This is not required.

• Digital versions of headshots/resumes are accepted. We do ask for a hard copy, if possible, as it helps with the casting process.

• Complete list of conflicts. These must be entered into the GOOGLE AUDITION FORM to be considered. You may be asked to write them on the printed paperwork, but this is just for a quick glance. Only conflicts in the Google Form will be considered.

• Prepare one 16-32 bar audition song (usually about a verse and a chorus). Sheet music is required. No transpositions and no lead sheets (meaning there must be a piano part). No a cappella singing. An accompanist will be provided. Please put your music in a 3-ring binder and clearly mark where you start and stop. Please read the current notice for the preferred style of song. If possible, bring an alternate selection in case the casting team would like to hear you sing another song.

• Backing (karaoke) tracks are allowed, but not preferred. Please know exactly where your song starts. Please do not bring a track with vocals. We have adapters for most devices.

• Dancewear and dance shoes as outlined above in the dance callback section.

• Water bottle. GCPA does have bottle filler stations on both floors.

• Snacks. GCPA often has snacks available for $1.

• Dress comfortably in clothing that is clean and tidy.  No costumes. 

• Arrive at least 15 minutes early to your audition time.

• Be courteous and polite to GCPA Staff and all actors and parents.

• Only bring your folder into the audition room. Personal items should be left in the holding room/hallway.

• Have fun! We want to see you succeed. Nerves are natural but know we are rooting for you.

• Do not make assumptions about the decisions we are making. You never know what we are thinking!

• If you don’t get cast, it does not mean you are not talented and worthy of being in a GCPA show. It simply means you are not right for this show at this time. Please come back!

GCPA charges a nonrefundable registration fee or $30 per student/actor per year, due upon registration. Families enrolling more than one student/actor at a time are charged a nonrefundable family registration fee of $45 per year. Registration fees cover classes and productions. 

For MAINSTAGE: GCPA charges a production fee of $225 per production.

For SUMMER JUNIOR PRODUCTIONS: GCPA charges a $700 camp fee for the 3-week camp.

GCPA also offers need-based financial assistance and payment plans. The production fee is the same for all, as the fee covers costs of production, not the experience of the role itself. All actors cast have access to the same tools. GCPA strives to keep production costs low and production values high. 

Financial Assistance applications are available by emailing ctimberlake@gcpastl.org. Financial Assistance has no affect on casting. Applications are due at the time of auditions. Tax forms are only due if cast.

COSTUMES

GCPA provides costumes. Actors will be asked to provide the following:

Female Characters – Skin-colored tights. Skin-colored leotard with invisible straps. Some option(s) out of: jazz shoes, character shoes, lace up boots, heeled tap shoes

Male Characters: – Black pants, black belt, and black socks. White button-down dress shirt. White undershirt. Fitted undershorts. Some option(s) out of: black dress shoes, black jazz shoes, flat tap shoes, lace-up boots.

All - Provide own make-up and hair products unless wigged. Basic items from closet such as jeans, tennis shoes, etc.

TICKETS

MAINSTAGE:
We are so excited to move to the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center! As part of our rental of this amazing space, there is a $4 ticketing fee per ticket. Tickets are sold through Metrotix - which will also add a fee. You can avoid the fee by purchasing directly from the box office. Ticket prices are announced show by show. \

SUMMER:
Summer ticket prices vary and are announced show by show.

Student Matinee seats may be available.

TRIBUTES AND T-SHIRTS

GCPA provides a program (digital and printed) where you will have the option to purchase a tribute ad for your actor and/or a business ad. Prices vary from $25 - $200 for tribute ads and $35 - $500 for business ads.

T-shirts will be available for $25. Show shirts include the show logo on the front, cast/crew list on the back and the YTC Cast Member badge on the shoulder.

Both tributes and t-shirts are optional.

There is no charge to audition.

GCPA auditions are open to all actors within the age requirements. We strive to maintain a diverse and inclusive environment for all.

• GCPA strives for a quality experience for every actor. In order to provide this experience, we have a specific number of spots for each production and, unfortunately, cannot cast every actor that auditions.

  GCPA never pre-casts and only cast actors that attend auditions or make previous arrangements to be seen at an alternate time. However, if there is no option for a role with specific needs (eg: no one that can safely sing a specific role) GCPA may hold further auditions.

  We sometimes make cuts during the audition process. This is to respect everyone’s time, to promote an efficient casting process, and to best care for the high emotions everyone experiences during auditions. We do our best to notify actors quickly of all casting decisions.

  If you are not called back from your vocal appointment, this isn’t the right show for you. We encourage you to come back for future auditions!

  During callbacks, you will be told if you are still being considered as you leave on your audition day. Those who are still being considered will be contacted either way once casting decisions are made.

  Please make sure your emails and phone numbers are correct on your audition paperwork. We will use these to contact you about casting decisions. Please do not reach out to us about casting prior to two weeks UNLESS you receive another offer or commitment that would affect your ability to participate in our production. If this is the case, we will give you an honest assessment of where we are with your casting decision to help you make an informed decision.

  If cast, you may not share your offer until the cast list has been posted on social media. You may share with immediate family but sharing beyond that will mean having the offer rescinded. We appreciate you following this requirement as many actors wait for information on their casting.

  Casting calls are made within 2 weeks of auditions unless stated otherwise. Acceptance of your offer is permission to post your name on the cast list unless specifically stated otherwise in writing (via email) which is shared on our social media.

  Casting offers must be accepted or declined within 24 hours of receiving your offer. GCPA will use all contact information on this form to make sure we are able to reach you. Failure to respond will be taken as a declined offer.

  The cast list is not posted until all actors have accepted the offer. Not all calls are made at the same time. Should someone turn down an offer, GCPA will consider other actors to fill that track.

  If a confirmed actor adds additional conflicts after the cast list has been announced, we will recast that track with an actor from an alternate list.

  If you are not cast, we encourage you to audition again. The needs of each show change with each round of auditions, so the next show may be perfect for you.

   
  While we can’t cast everyone, we want there to be a place for everyone at GCPA. If this is your first experience at GCPA and you audition for a production and are not cast, please accept a $25 credit to be used towards any class that session. Simply enroll using code: Audition25. As a reminder, there is no cost to audition.

  UNDERSTUDIES
  GCPA highly values the role of Understudy and the quality of experience and education it provides. We do not always understudy every role. When we do, it is because we feel the opportunity is the right fit for that production and specific actor. We never double cast and there is never more than one understudy per role, though an understudy may cover multiple characters. Understudies are always cast in the ensemble and may have additional featured roles.

  We utilize the understudy in the same manner a professional company would - as an actor trained to perform in a specific role should the actor in that role be unable to perform. We do not schedule an understudy performance. GCPA runs this way for one reason: GCPA prioritizes giving our actors as authentic an experience as possible to that of a professional job.

  The understudy is not required to attend all of the rehearsals for the role he/she is covering, however, he/she is always welcome and encouraged to come when possible. The understudy is responsible for getting any missed blocking, music, director's notes, etc from the actor or stage manager. The understudy will step into the role if the actor cast in that role is unable to perform, whether in rehearsal or performance.