Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Submissions for a particular production
For future opportunities · Chicago
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
The role
Who they’re looking for
Local and out-of-town actors interested in a particular production may submit; auditions outside the Chicago area are by invitation only.
Playing age, Equity, understudy… what do these mean?
Playing age is how old a character appears, which may differ from your own age. Equity is the actors’ union; check each theatre’s eligibility rules. An understudy learns a role to perform when the main actor is unavailable.
The commitment
What does it pay?
The theatre hasn’t listed the pay
Dates & location
The full schedule hasn’t been listed. Check rehearsal and performance dates with the theatre before committing.
Get ready
What to prepare
Help with headshots, résumés, and self-tapes
A headshot is a clear photo of you. An acting résumé lists your performance experience and training. A self-tape is a recorded audition video. Sides are the short script excerpts the theatre asks you to perform. Follow this theatre’s specific instructions.
Your next step
How to apply
Please specify the show and role you’re interested in. Both e-mail and US mail submissions are accepted. E-mail submissions must be formatted correctly: both headshot and resume should be submitted as one attachment, and contact information must appear on your resume; any cover letter should be included in the body of the e-mail, not as a separate attachment. Requests should be sent to castingoffice@chicagoshakes.com with the title of the production in the subject line. US mail to Casting Director Bob Mason, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, ATTN: Casting, 800 East Grand Avenue on Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 60611. No phone calls.
Email the theatre →Opens your email app. Attach the requested materials before sending.
Application email: castingoffice@chicagoshakes.com
Full posting and updates
We last checked the posting on Sep 24, 2026. The theatre may have updated it since.
What changed?
Eligibility · Sep 23, 2026
Local actors may submit a headshot/resume for a particular production, specifying the show and role of interest. Out-of-town actors may submit; the need for out-of-town actors depends on each individual production and auditions held outside the Chicago area are by invitation only. → Local and out-of-town actors interested in a particular production may submit; auditions outside the Chicago area are by invitation only.
Eligibility · Sep 17, 2026
Local Chicago actors may submit for any production; out-of-town actors may also submit, but auditions held outside the Chicago area are by invitation only. → Local actors may submit a headshot/resume for a particular production, specifying the show and role of interest. Out-of-town actors may submit; the need for out-of-town actors depends on each individual production and auditions held outside the Chicago area are by invitation only.
How to apply · Sep 17, 2026
Instructions: E-mail your headshot and resume as one attachment with your contact information on the resume; include any cover letter in the body of the e-mail, not as a separate attachment, and put the title of the production in the subject line. Specify the show and role you are interested in. Out-of-town actors should state where they are based in the cover letter. US mail submissions are also accepted (headshot/resume to Casting Director Bob Mason). No phone calls, please.
Materials: headshot/resume as one attachment
cover letter in the body of the e-mail
Method: email
Rolling: Yes → Email: castingoffice@chicagoshakes.com
Instructions: Please specify the show and role you’re interested in. Both e-mail and US mail submissions are accepted. E-mail submissions must be formatted correctly: both headshot and resume should be submitted as one attachment, and contact information must appear on your resume; any cover letter should be included in the body of the e-mail, not as a separate attachment. Requests should be sent to castingoffice@chicagoshakes.com with the title of the production in the subject line. US mail to Casting Director Bob Mason, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, ATTN: Casting, 800 East Grand Avenue on Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 60611. No phone calls.
Materials: headshot/resume
cover letter
Method: email
Rolling: Yes
Eligibility · Sep 14, 2026
Local and out-of-town actors may submit for particular productions; out-of-town auditions by invitation only. → Local Chicago actors may submit for any production; out-of-town actors may also submit, but auditions held outside the Chicago area are by invitation only.
How to apply · Sep 14, 2026
Instructions: Both e-mail and US mail submissions are accepted. E-mail submissions: headshot and resume as one attachment; contact information must appear on resume; cover letter in the body of the e-mail; send to the casting email address with the title of the production in the subject line. Specify the show and role you’re interested in. Out-of-town actors should let us know where they are based in their cover letter. Mail to Casting Director, Bob Mason, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, ATTN: Casting, 800 East Grand Avenue on Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 60611. No phone calls, please.
Materials: headshot/resume as one attachment
cover letter in the body of the e-mail
Method: email → Instructions: E-mail your headshot and resume as one attachment with your contact information on the resume; include any cover letter in the body of the e-mail, not as a separate attachment, and put the title of the production in the subject line. Specify the show and role you are interested in. Out-of-town actors should state where they are based in the cover letter. US mail submissions are also accepted (headshot/resume to Casting Director Bob Mason). No phone calls, please.
Materials: headshot/resume as one attachment
cover letter in the body of the e-mail
Method: email
Rolling: Yes
Eligibility · Sep 13, 2026
Local actors may submit a headshot/resume specifying the show and role they are interested in. Out-of-town actors are by invitation only for auditions held outside the Chicago area, but may submit a headshot/resume specifying the show and role and where they are based. → Local and out-of-town actors may submit for particular productions; out-of-town auditions by invitation only.
How to apply · Sep 13, 2026
Instructions: Local actors: submit headshot/resume specifying the show and role. Out-of-town actors: submit headshot/resume specifying the show and role, and include where you are based in your cover letter. E-mail submissions: headshot and resume as one attachment, contact information on resume, cover letter in the body of the e-mail, production title in the subject line. US mail: Casting Director Bob Mason, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, ATTN: Casting, 800 East Grand Avenue on Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 60611. No phone calls.
Materials: headshot/resume
cover letter
Method: email → Instructions: Both e-mail and US mail submissions are accepted. E-mail submissions: headshot and resume as one attachment; contact information must appear on resume; cover letter in the body of the e-mail; send to the casting email address with the title of the production in the subject line. Specify the show and role you’re interested in. Out-of-town actors should let us know where they are based in their cover letter. Mail to Casting Director, Bob Mason, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, ATTN: Casting, 800 East Grand Avenue on Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 60611. No phone calls, please.
Materials: headshot/resume as one attachment
cover letter in the body of the e-mail
Method: email