Auditions
Get the details!
The Coterie Seeks Union and Non-Union Performers for Their General Auditions for the 2025/-2026 Season
The Coterie invites you to participate in its general auditions for consideration in their upcoming 2025/2026 season! Our season of shows run September 2025-August 2026. This is a great opportunity for those who have not been seen or have performed on our stage in the last year. Official show announcements to come soon.
WHO WE ARE
We celebrate young people and engage diverse communities through professional theater and education programs that foster creativity, confidence, and compassion. Learn more about us HERE >>
CONTRACT
- TYA Equity Contract
- Non-Equity paid weekly stipend
**SPECIAL NOTE**
We are a theatre dedicated to creating work that is fully inclusive of young people. Our spaces are specifically designed to encourage interactive engagement from our young audiences. The Coterie productions often serve as an introduction to the arts, and we passionately seek artists who will both ensure our young audiences feel welcome in our spaces and encourage active participation in storytelling.
The Coterie is joyfully and boldly committed to ensuring the diversity and equity in casting of each of its productions. Performers of all types regardless of race, gender, age, or disabilities are welcome!
Character Breakdown
Show #1:
- Performs 9/17/25-10/12/25
- Need 8 versatile performers of varying genders, all ethnicities, who can play multiple characters, 1 actor 10-12 years old (double cast), 7 actors 18 years old and up
Show #2:
- Performs 11/12/25-12/28/25 – TYA Premiere
- Need 9 versatile performers who sing of varying genders, all ethnicities, who can play multiple characters, 1 actor 12-14 years old (double cast), 8 actors 18 years old and up
Show #3:
- Performs 1/28/26-2/22/26 – World Premiere
- Authentic racial representation is an important aspect of this piece.
All actors are 18 years and up. - Actor 1: male, Black, 14
- Actor 2: male, Black, 17
- Actor 3: male, white, 14
- Actor 4: male, white, 17
- Actor 5: female, white, 15
- Actor 6: female, African, late 40s-early 50s
- Actor 7: female, white, 40s
- Actor 8: male, white, 40s
Show #4:
- Performs 3/25/26-5/9/26
- Need 5 versatile performers who sing of varying genders, all ethnicities, who can play multiple characters, 18 years old and up
Show #5:
- Performs 6/10/26-8/2/26
- Need 5 versatile performers who sing of varying genders, all ethnicities, who can play multiple characters, 18 years old and up
When and Where
Equity Members:
- Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 9:30am-4pm
Non-Equity/Equity Members Who Can’t Attend Saturday:
- Sunday May 11, 2025 from 10am-6pm and Monday, May 12, 2025 from 5:30pm-10pm
Young Professionals Audition:
- Sunday, May 18, 2025 from 10am-6pm
- Students under the age of 18 years old must have permission to perform during school hours
Our theater space is on the first floor of Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd, Suite 144, Kansas City, MO, 64108
Who Will Be There?
- Khalia Davis – Producing Artistic Director
- Mackenzie Goodwin Tran – Production Stage Manager
- Derek Trautwein – Technical Director
What to Prepare
Please bring a headshot and resume.
Also please prepare material that shows you off in your best light that does not exceed 2 minutes (choose one of the options below):
- A 60 second monologue of your choice and a 16-32 bar cut of a song
OR
- Two contrasting monologues
A piano accompanist and a bluetooth speaker will be provided.
How to Sign Up and Submit
Want to audition in person?
Want to audition via video submission?
Email unlisted Youtube video links or Google downloads to casting@coterietheatre.org.
Additional Material Welcome
The Coterie is always looking for additional stage managers and teaching artists to add to our roster! If you have interest in being a part of our production team, teaching artist, or in-school performer for our upcoming season, please send any relevant materials to casting@coterietheatre.org to sign up for an interview.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to casting@coterietheatre.org
We look forward to seeing you at auditions!
On-Stage Opportunities for Youth/Teens
Callback auditions for The Coterie’s upcoming mainstage season are typically held August-October.
The Coterie does not offer general open call auditions for youth. Callbacks are by invitation. Our suggestion is to take a Coterie class to help us know you and your talent. We urge interested youth in grades 5-7 and grades 8-12 who would like to be a young professional on our mainstage to join a spring or summer Audition Lab class.
– Audition Lab class is for those auditioning just for the experience, or future mainstage seasons. The class is also an audition for The Coterie’s invitation-only Master classes. The final day of each Audition Lab culminates in an audition with professional directors of our mainstage season.
Helpful Hints for Young Auditioners
About youth auditions at The Coterie
Advice by Nancy Marcy, founder of The Coterie Education Department and former Coterie Master Class instructor
Usually Coterie auditions will entail:
- A one-minute to one and a half minute memorized monologue or song.
- No poetry, please.
- A short improvised movement pantomime.
- The improvisation will be described on the audition form that you fill out when you arrive. As you wait your turn to audition you should plan a beginning, middle and an end to the improvisation and then rehearse it to match the time limit given.
- A photo of yourself for theatre’s reference.
- School or family photos are fine but make sure it is up to date for your appearance and age.
- A simple resume.
- If you have a resume, bring it with you.
- If this is not possible, there are questions on the audition form that will provide the theatre with necessary information.
You will be notified by email if you need to come to a “callback” to read for a specific part. It is important to clearly print an email address on the form that will be checked regularly.
Please understand that sometimes these callbacks are held months after your initial audition! You do not need to call the theatre to ask about whether or not your are being considered for any role.
How a Play is Cast
By its very nature, the selection of a cast is a difficult and sometimes unpleasant process for all concerned. The actors who audition are risking rejection, and usually most of them come away empty-handed. Some win roles and some do not, so it is vital for young actors to develop a healthy perspective towards what this process is all about. No matter how many times one auditions, there will always be disappointment at not being cast. Rejection is rejection; it goes with the territory. An actor, no matter what age, must find a perspective for the audition process. The Coterie is looking for something specific in an actor to fill a given role. Whether or not you are called back or cast for a role depends upon production requirements, and there are very few roles for young actors. As difficult as it is to accept, rejection is seldom the result of an actor’s incompetence or lack of inherent talent.
How to Perform the Best Monologue
Choose something that is close to yourself in terms of age and experience. Never audition with a character you would not be cast to play – if you’re 13 years old, don’t audition with a 25 year old’s monologue. Rather than using monologues from “books of monologues”, you might try to find a monologue from a piece of literature that you love. You will know and understand the character and their story, and that will benefit your performance tremendously. Be sure the monologue stays within the time limit and that it is a self-contained selection that has or implies a beginning, middle, and end. Prepare your monologue – rehearse it “out loud” many times. You shouldn’t memorize it like you memorize material for a test in school. If you are just thinking the words, they will leave your brain when you need them the most. Keep in mind that the theatre is larger than your bedroom – practice with projection!
What To Do…and NOT To Do
- Bring something to do while you wait.
- This will help to keep you focused and to avoid the “jitters.”
- Be polite to everyone you meet.
- Your audition begins the moment you arrive at the theatre, and your ability to be a cooperative team player is vital to casting.
- Everyone who works for the theatre is aware of the attitude and energy needed for a Coterie actor!
- You don’t want to distract attention away from you with your attire.
- Avoid wearing sandals, clogs, crocs, platforms, outrageous clothing, hats, dangling jewelry, or hair that covers your face.
- Do not apologize about yourself or your monologue.
- Audition with confidence – think “I’ve got something very important to share with you.”
- Do not explain the monologue.
- You need to simply state the name of the play or book that it’s from and the author.
- Avoid delivering your monologue directly to those sitting at the table, or glancing at them while performing.
- Create a “fourth wall” for yourself.
Break a leg at your audition!
