General Auditions

Each year PATA provides two opportunities for member performers and producers to connect in an audition setting: the Citywide General Auditions and the Unified Shakespeare & Classical Auditions.

These auditions provide an excellent opportunity for both emerging and established actors to showcase their skills in front of a variety of theatres, and for theatre companies and independent producers to find talent for current and future projects.

PATA members are also eligible to attend the Theatre Puget Sound general auditions in Seattle. Learn more about those auditions here.

photo credit: Craig Mitchelldyer

Citywide General Auditions

Audition for dozens of theatre companies from all across the Portland Tri-county area.

One of our most well-known programs, these auditions are a great way for local actors to get to know local theatres and vice versa.

The Citywide General Auditions usually take place between February and April. In order to be eligible to audition, you must be a current Individual level PATA member or a member of Theatre Puget Sound.

There is a $15 registration fee for actors, which goes to cover the costs of assembling the headshot and resume binders that go out to all auditors.

PATA Company Members at any level can register to audit these auditions for free as part of their membership benefits. Non-member organizations or Individual level members who are currently casting may guest audit for a $50 fee.

The Citywide General Auditions include the option to perform either two monologues or a monologue and a song, and are open to actors of all ages.

Unified Shakespeare & Classical Auditions

The Portland-area hosts plenty of Shakespeare and Classical work – especially in the summer! The Unified Shakespeare & Classical Auditions showcase the distinct skill of acting in verse.

PATA Company members use these auditions to help cast a wide variety of classical and classically-inspired work beyond (and including) Shakespeare. This includes Greek drama, commedia dell’arte, contemporary works written in verse, devised works based in classical stories and styles, and more!

Currently, we do not assemble a headshot and resume binder for these auditions, therefore there is no additional fee for PATA members to audition or to audit.

The Unified Shakespeare & Classical Auditions usually take place between December and February, and are open to actors age 18 and older.

 

Actor & Auditor Registration

When the registration period opens, visit the Auditions & Job Opportunities page to register under the appropriate event (actor or auditor registration), or check back on this page to find a direct link to registration.

Once you register, you will receive an email containing a link to either an audition submission form or an auditor information form. You must fill out this form by the registration deadline for your category (actor or auditor) in order to participate in the auditions.

If you are a Theatre Puget Sound (TPS) member wishing to audition, please email the PATA Office Manager (info@portlandtheatre.com) with proof of your TPS membership (a screenshot of your membership page works well).

Click here for Citywide General Audition – Actor Registration

Click here for Citywide General Audition – Auditor Registration (including guest auditor registration)

Upcoming registration dates:

Online Citywide General Auditions
Monday, February 27, 2023: Actor registration to open at 10 AM PST.
Monday, February 27, 2023: Auditor registration to open at 10 AM PST.
Friday, March 17, 2023: Actor registration closes. All materials due by 11:59 PM PDT.
Saturday, April 11, 2023: Distribution of digital binder to auditors. Auditor registration closes at 11:59 PM PDT.

This year’s auditions will be by video submission only.

More information on auditions, including submission guidelines, can be found below.

2023 Audition Information

2023 Online Citywide General Auditions

Elibigility: Individual-level membership in good standing with either PATA or Theatre Puget Sound at time of registration and on the actors’ audition due date (March 17, 2023).

$15 binder assembly fee due at time of registration (actors only).

Timeline:

Monday, February 27, 2023: Actor registration to open at 10 AM PST.

Monday, February 27, 2023: Auditor registration to open at 10 AM PST.

Friday, March 17, 2023: Actor registration closes. All materials due by 11:59 PM PDT.

Saturday, April 11, 2023: Distribution of digital binder to auditors. Auditor registration closes at 11:59 PM PDT.

 

This year’s auditions will be by video submission only. Submissions will be assembled into a digital talent binder and audition spreadsheet to be distributed to auditors. Auditors will be able to navigate the talent profiles binder, or scroll down the spreadsheet to watch linked audition videos.

ACTOR REGISTRATION

Online actor registration will open at 10 AM PST on Monday, February 27, 2023. Actors have until 11:59 PM PDT on March 17, 2023 to submit their audition form, headshot, and resume.

PATA members:

  1. Please, check the Auditions & Job Opportunities page when registration opens.
  2. Register and pay the binder fee.
  3. Once you register, you will receive an email containing a link to the audition submission form. You must fill out this form by the close of registration on March 17th, 2023 in order to participate in the auditions.
  4. Submit your binder materials (headshot and resume) with your form, or email them to the Office Manager by the close of registration on March 17, 2023.

TPS members, please write to the PATA Office Manager (info@portlandtheatre.com) during the registration period to request an audition form. Include proof of membership with your request (such as a screenshot of your member profile or receipt).

We recommend submitting your audition materials early in the registration period in case any technical issues arise.

BINDER MATERIALS & INFO

This year’s registration form will offer PATA members the option to upload your headshot and resume for the Citywide General Auditions binder when you submit your audition form.

Using the upload function on the submission form requires you to have a Google account (you do not need to have a Gmail address to create a free Google account). In your confirmation email, you will have the option to choose between two forms – one which requires you to login to Google and which will give you the option to upload your headshot and resume, and the other which does not require you to login and does not give you the option to upload your files – meaning you will need to email them separately.

If you would prefer to email your headshot and resume, you may send them to info@portlandtheatre.com, making sure to include your name and “Binder Materials” in the subject line. All materials must be submitted by 11:59 PM PDT on March 17, 2023.

 

Specifications for headshots:

  • In .jpg format.
  • Ideally, >1MB and <20 MB
  • The file name format should be “Lastname_Firstname.jpg” and match the name on your PATA profile. Example: Little_Stuart.jpg

Specifications for resumes:

  • One-page
  • .pdf format.
  • <20 MB
  • Excludes your home address.
  • The file name format should be “Lastname_Firstname.pdf” and match the name on your PATA profile. Example: Little_Stuart.pdf

VIDEO SUBMISSIONS

Submit your audition video before 11:59 PM PDT on March 17, 2023 using the online submission form found in your confirmation email.

    Video Formatting Requirements

    • Your audition video must be  less than 3 minutes total.
    • You must have a slate, i.e., an introduction including your name, your pronouns, and a brief description of the pieces you are presenting (character name, song or excerpt title if applicable, show title, and author).
      • Example: Hello. My name is Anna May Wong. My pronouns are she, her, and hers. I will be singing “Love Look Away” from Flower Drum Song by Rodgers and Hammerstein and David Henry Hwang. Also, I will be playing Shizuko Mizoguchi from Velina Hasu Houston’s Kokoro (True Heart).
    • The performance portion, including transitions between pieces, must be less than 2 minutes total. You may use your two minutes as you wish, however, most performers present programs in the following formats.
      • One monologue and one song (recommended)
      • Two contrasting monologues (recommended)
      • Two short songs
      • One long monologue
      • One long song
    • You may use the platform of your choice for posting your video, and the option to submit passwords for password-protected videos is available. However, most auditors find YouTube videos set to Unlisted easiest to use. An Unlisted privacy setting means that anybody who has the video link can watch the video without submitting a password, but YouTube will not go out of their way to show the video to the general public.

    Click here to watch our video audition tutorial for tips on filming your PATA audition.

    NEED TO CANCEL?

    You must directly communicate your cancellation to PATA in advance for it to be considered a cancellation – even if your event is online. Your audition is an appointment, and communicating when you cannot fulfill a commitment is part of professional courtesy. 

    If you must cancel, please do so as early as possible before 11:59 PM PDT on March 17, 2023. If you fail to cancel your audition before the video due date, i.e. no-show, PATA will not refund your binder fee.

    To cancel a registration, please email the Office Manager.

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    PATA has compiled a comprehensive information packet that includes all of the information above, plus additional tips on audition preparation, technical issues, and common errors to avoid.

    Click here to view the 2023 Audition Information Packet. 

    If you have any other questions, please email the Office Manager.

    LIST OF AUDITORS

    As auditors register to receive their digital binder and spreadsheet of actor profiles and video links, we will provide information about them here. After the binder goes out to the auditors, we will email participating actors a list of participating auditors.

    Last update: 4/13/23

    Nancy McDonald

    STAGES Academy

    Milagro

    Peter Armetta

    Red Door Project

    Experience Theatre Project

    Enlightened Theatrics

    Ryan Artists

    Hillsboro Artists’ Regional Theatre

    21ten

    The Pulp Stage

    Janna King

    Theatre Diaspora

    Broadway Rose Theatre Company

    Bag&Baggage

    Lakewood Theatre Company

    Mitchell Rofsky

    Portland Playhouse

    Resound NW 

    Other Opportunities

    Dance Wire Citywide Dance Auditions

    Check https://dancewirepdx.org/city-wide-dance-audition/ for updates.

    Theatre Puget Sound – Unified General Auditions

    Did you know, through a reciprocity agreement, an individual level membership in the Portland Area Theatre Alliance includes eligibility to audition at Theatre Puget Sound‘s Unified General Auditions (provided other TPS eligibility requirements are also met).

    Learn more about TPS Unified General Auditions here: https://unifiedgeneralauditions.com/

    Have Questions?

    Audition Event Questions