Maltz Jupiter Theatre Invites Local Performers to Audition for Next Season

Every great show begins with auditions, and the Maltz Jupiter Theatre is encouraging local professional performers to try out.

The first of the Theatre's season auditions will take place in Jupiter on Monday, May 2, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Performers are asked to prepare two brief contrasting musical theatre songs and at least one one-minute monologue. They should bring sheet music for the accompanist, a headshot and résumé.

As the largest regional theatre in South Florida, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre is one of the area's top employers of both onstage and backstage talent, including directors, choreographers, designers, musicians, performers and stage crew. To cast its professional shows, the Theatre draws from a national and local talent pool. Of 75 stage roles needed during the 2010/11 season, 32 performers were from Florida, and the remaining 43 were from New York, Chicago and elsewhere.

"Our first priority is to employ talented actors from this area, and the response to our season auditions this year has been great," said Andrew Kato, the Theatre's artistic director. "However, I'm surprised that very few people have shown up to our local auditions in the past, as we accept submissions from both those with and without Actors' Equity Association (AEA) union status. We'd like to encourage local performers to continue letting their talents be known."

Between 400 and 700 people typically audition in New York for each of the Theatre's large-scale musicals, and as many as 250 people audition for its plays. However, the Theatre's leaders always give strong consideration to local performers due to their desire to support local talent. There are also financial incentives to hiring locally, since the Theatre is required to offer housing to any union performer outside a 50-mile radius.

"There are so many opportunities to be seen at our Theatre," said Rachel Blavatnik, the Theatre's associate producer who oversees casting. "Just like on Broadway, we follow AEA requirements and host Equity Principal Auditions (EPAs), or union open calls. However, non-union actors can also attend these auditions; they just have to wait in line. Performers who are members of the union are encouraged to make an appointment."

Since the Theatre is also required to hold EPAs in two major cities outside of South Florida, auditions for the Theatre's season shows also take place in Orlando and New York City. The Theatre is also a member of the Florida Professional Theatres Association (FPTA), which holds state-wide auditions every summer. Blavatnik attends each year.

"The opportunities abound each year, from comedy and drama to big, splashy musicals," Blavatnik said. "The needs are often very specific to the particular shows we are doing. For example, for Cabaret, which our Theatre is producing in January, we are seeking actors who are not only strong singers and dancers, but also play an instrument."

The Theatre's New York musical auditions often take place over five days, including a day for an open casting call, two days for agent submissions, a day for dance calls and a day for callbacks.

Mark Martino, who will be directing the Theatre's upcoming production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in November and December, says he appreciates seeing both local and national actors because of the specific performance requirements for certain shows.

"Probably the most important - and most difficult - part of a director's job when putting together a big musical is casting, and we are often looking for amazingly multitalented performers with very specific skills," Martino said. "For example, when holding auditions for the Theatre's production of La Cage Aux Folles, we were searching for six male actors who were magnificent singers, spectacular jazz dancers, knockout tap dancers in five-inch heels and terrific acrobats with astounding flexibility, including being able to execute flawless jump splits. We saw over 500 men in our search, and happily found an amazing group of triple threats who could do it all - all while wearing the skimpiest of show girl costumes."

Full details of all of the Theatre's casting sessions can be found by visiting www.jupitertheatre.org and clicking on the "auditions and submissions" tab at the bottom of page.

About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is an award-winning professional not-for-profit regional theatre dedicated to the performing arts whose mission is to entertain, educate and inspire our community. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and is located east of U.S. Highway 1 at 1001 East Indiantown Road and State Road A1A in Jupiter. For more information about the Theatre's upcoming shows and Conservatory of Performing Arts, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.