Audition Registration

This auditions is for Active AEA Members only! American Stage seeks Equity and Non Equity actors for Principal roles in their 2026-2027 season.

We are open to all ethnicities, genders, and abilities. Actors are encouraged to submit for any role they are interested in.

Appointments are given to AEA members only. Non-Equity members are encouraged to attend and will be seen as time permits. Non-Equity actors may request to be placed on a waiting list by emailing a copy of your headshot and resume, as well as desired time frame, to auditions@americanstage.org. We encourage non-union members to email in advance for consideration. Please use the subject line “Waitlist - YOUR NAME.”

Actors who cannot attend in person may submit virtually by 5/1. Please prepare the audition package and send your headshot, resume, and link to one video to auditions@americanstage.org. Please use the subject line “Virtual Submission - YOUR NAME”. Please note we are primarily seeking actors who are local to the greater Tampa Bay area.

If you have worked with American Stage within the last two seasons, you do not need to attend these auditions. Please simply email a copy of your headshot and resume to auditions@americanstage.org with your name in the subject line and list which shows you would like to be considered for.

AUDITION BREAKDOWN:

A Night With Janis Joplin
by Randy Johnson
Directed by TBA

Important Dates
First Rehearsal: August 25, 2026
Tech: September 10 - 13, 2026
Opening: September 18, 2026
Closing: October 11, 2026

SYNOPSIS:
Spend a night with the legend Janis Joplin as she shares her inspirations, her story and the gift of her talent. Featuring Janis’s biggest hits including “Piece of My Heart,” “Me and Bobby McGee” and so many more, this musical will have you leaving the theatre with your heart full. A music driven theatre event focusing on the artist, her music, and her musical influences.

SEEKING:

JANIS JOPLIN - any age to play 20s - Female Identifying. Great, authentic rock & roll/blues voice with incredible range and powerhouse vocals. (ALSO SEEKING UNDERSTUDY FOR THIS ROLE.) G3 - A5

JOPLINAIRE 1 - any age - Female Identifying. Strong blues, rock, and legit vocals required. To play Odetta, Bessie Smith, and others. G3 - E5.

JOPLINAIRE 2 - any age - Female Identifying. Strong blues, rock, and legit vocals required. To play Etta James and others. G3 - E5.

JOPLINAIRE 3 - any age - Female Identifying. Strong blues, rock, and legit vocals required. To play Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, and others. G3 - A5.

JOPLINAIRE 4 - any age - Female Identifying. Strong blues, rock, and legit vocals required. To play a Blues Singer, Chantel, and others.G3 - A5.

UNHINGED
by Steven J. Burge
Directed by Helen R. Murray

Important Dates
First Rehearsal: October 20, 2026
Tech: October 29 - November 1, 2026
Opening: November 6, 2026
Closing: November 22, 2026

SYNOPSIS:
Part confessional. Part storytelling. All ridiculous, “UNHINGED” is a 75-minute tour de force that, depending on statutes of limitations and local laws regarding admission of guilt wherever this may be produced, is either 100% fictional or entirely autobiographical. Trigger warning: This show contains a cis white man talking about himself for over an hour. It also contains some legit-upsetting topics like parallel parking; theater camp; coming out in small-town, rural America; assault; addiction; pickle ball; and mental illness. Oh! And clowns!

SEEKING:

NARRATOR - Role is cast.

SIRI - Female identifying, any age. The embodiment of both AI, and the women in Steven’s life. Smart, tough, and kind. The ultimate therapist and friend.

Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth
by Helen R. Murray
Directed by Rex Daugherty

Important Dates
First Rehearsal: January 5, 2027
Tech: January 21 - 24, 2027
Opening: January 29, 2027
Closing: February 21, 2027

SYNOPSIS:
This wild new adaptation launches Shakespeare’s Macbeth into a three-person theatrical hurricane. Heroes become villains, witches become warriors, and kings don’t stay kings for long as performers swap roles at breakneck speed. It’s a hilarious, high-stakes game of theatrical musical chairs — with daggers. But as the laughter builds, so does the question at the heart of the story: Why do we crave power… even when we know it will cost us everything? A sharp, physical, and darkly funny world premiere that proves the fastest way to the throne is also the messiest.

SEEKING:

Macbeth - any age, any gender, any ethnicity - Seeking three (3) multifaceted actors with strong movement skills. All three actors play Macbeth and all the other characters. Comfort with playing multiple roles, fight choreography, and movement work is encouraged.

Shrek the Musical
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire
Based on the Dreamworks Animated Motion Picture & the book by William Steig
Directed by Helen R. Murray

Important Dates
First Rehearsal: March 9, 2027
Tech: March 23 - 28, 2027
Opening: April 2, 2027
Closing: May 2, 2027
*Note: This production occurs offsite and outdoors.

SYNOPSIS:
"Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek...." And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand... and his name is Shrek. Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there's more to the story than meets the ears.

SEEKING:

Shrek - 25 - 45 - male identifying.
Our story's title character. A big, green, terrifying ogre who lives alone on a swamp. He embarks on a journey to rid his land of fairytale creatures and, along the way, falls in love with Fiona. Begins as a grumpy hermit, but reveals his layers and eventually becomes the hero. A2 - G#4

Fiona - 20s - 30s - Female identifying.
The beautiful princess of Far Far Away, she transforms into an ogre every night when the sun sets. Rescued by Shrek and eventually falls in love with him. Quirky, blunt, and multitalented, she is not an ordinary princess. F3 - G5

Donkey - 20s - 30s - Male identifying.
A talking donkey who joins Shrek on the run from Farquaad's guards. Quite the chatterbox, he is not deterred by Shrek's looks and practically forces himself into his good graces. Easily frightened and pushy, but also an optimistic with heart. C3 - B4.

Lord Farquaad - 30s - 40s - Male identifying.
The comically short, ruthless ruler of Duloc. He is in search of a princess to marry so that he can become king. Has an intensely unfair bias against fairytale creatures that stems from a resentment of his father. Self-absorbed, lonely, and cruel. B2 - D5.

Dragon - 20s - 40s - Female identifying.
A dragon that has been charged with guarding Princess Fiona in her isolated castle. She eventually falls in love with Donkey and attempts to keep him there forever. Imposing and flirtatious, but tired of her job as the glorified baby-sitter. F3 - Eb5

Gingy - 20s - 40s - Female identifying.
A gingerbread man initially kidnapped by Lord Farquaad. His wit and resolution help him both avoid trouble and inspire the rest of the fairytale creatures. Puppet. Can be operated by actress appearing as Sugar Plum Fairy. B3 - C#5

Pinocchio - 20s - 40s - Male identifying.
The leader of the fairytale creatures. He is an animated puppet whose nose grows every time he lies. Plenty of sass with a penchant for lying. E3 - F#4

Big Bad Wolf / Knight / Ensemble - Any age, Male identifying. Seeking a versatile group of strong singers, movers, and actors to play multiple roles.

Little Pig 1 / Duloc Guard / Blind Mice - Any age, any gender. Seeking a versatile group of strong singers, movers, and actors to play multiple roles.

Little Pig 2 / Duloc Guard / Ensemble - Any age, any gender. Seeking a versatile group of strong singers, movers, and actors to play multiple roles.

Little Pig 3 / Knight / Ensemble - Any age, any gender. Seeking a versatile group of strong singers, movers, and actors to play multiple roles.

Blind Mice- Lead Mouse / Ensemble - Any age, any gender. Seeking a versatile group of strong singers, movers, and actors to play multiple roles.

Mama Bear / Wicked Witch / Ensemble - Any age, Female identifying. Seeking a versatile group of strong singers, movers, and actors to play multiple roles.

Papa Bear / Duloc Guard / Knight - Any age, Male identifying. Seeking a versatile group of strong singers, movers, and actors to play multiple roles.

Baby Bear / Blind Mice / Ensemble - Any age, any gender. Seeking a versatile group of strong singers, movers, and actors to play multiple roles.

Peter Pan / Rat Tapper / Guard / Ensemble Any age, any gender. Seeking a versatile group of strong singers, movers, and actors to play multiple roles.

Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - APT. 2B
by Kate Hamill
Directed by TBA

Important Dates
First Rehearsal: May 18, 2027
Tech: May 27 - 30, 2027
Opening: June 4, 2027
Closing: June 20, 2027

SYNOPSIS:
An irreverent, darkly comic, modern take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous sleuth and sidekick, this fast-paced romp re-examines the world’s most famous detective story with a bold new feminist lens. In this highly theatrical, small cast escapade, oddball female roommates Sherlock Holmes & Joan Watson join forces to emerge from pandemic fog as a deeply codependent, quasi-dysfunctional Odd Couple adventure duo - solving mysteries and kicking butts, until they come face to face with a villain who seems to have all of the answers.

SEEKING:

SHERLOCK HOLMES - 30s-40s, female-identifying. A once-in-a-generation genius. Eccentric. Focused, to a fault. Can be less-than-sensitive. Always playing psychological 3-D chess; operating on a totally different level than civilians. Like many geniuses, has a megalomaniac streak. Gets bored easily; likes applause; sometimes accused of being unfeeling. LOVES costumes and drama.

DR. JOAN WATSON - 30s-40s, female-identifying. American. Formerly type-A high-achiever. Recently divorced; struggling to find herself, feels broken. Reflexively defensive. Once had great bedside manner. Sometimes accused of being a loser; is not a loser. Wry. Smart.

IRENE ADLER/MRS. HUDSON/MRS. DREBBER - Late 20s-40s, female-identifying.
Irene Adler: A whip-smart, super-charming sex worker finding success at the highest levels. Always playing psychological 3-D chess; operating on a totally different level than civilians. Has incredible charm, confidence, and wit, and she knows it—uses it without mercy. You may want to be Irene, or you may want to be with Irene; but you can’t ignore her.
Mrs. Hudson: Holmes & Watson’s long-suffering landlady.
Mrs. Drebber: Seemingly an ordinary housewife. Somebody you would be very wise not to underestimate.

MORIARTY / LESTRADE / ELLIOT MONK - 30s-50s, male-identifying.
Moriarty: A criminal so great you’ve never heard of him. A master blackmailer; knows just when to play his cards. Always playing psychological 3-D chess; operating on a different level than civilians. Wears many masks. A professional. Amoral, but you’d like him.
Lestrade: An inspector new to his position at Scotland Yard. Not very imaginative. Often says the wrong thing.
Elliot Monk: An amoral tech billionaire from Texas.