Chicago Shakespeare Theater
General Auditions
For future opportunities · Chicago
Submissions are accepted year-round.
Send a video
The role
Who they’re looking for
Actors.
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
Auditions
We typically conduct Equity dramatic and musical season auditions in the late winter/early spring.
Auditions
We conduct non-Equity dramatic and musical general auditions as needed at multiple times of the year (posted on the League of Chicago Theatres [https://auditions.leagueofchicagotheatres.org/find-an-audition/] website).
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
If general season auditions have concluded, send a headshot/resume as one PDF and a video audition. The video should consist of two monologues of your choice, or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song; no a cappella. For a dramatic audition, prepare two contrasting monologues totaling no more than three minutes, one classical (preferably Shakespeare) and one contemporary; two contemporary monologues are acceptable if you are uncomfortable with classical work. For a musical audition, prepare 32 bars of a song with sheet music in your key and one 90-second monologue, either Shakespeare or contemporary; an accompanist will be provided. Shakespeare should be performed in standard American dialect.
Read the theatre’s instructions →Opens the original posting.
Full posting and updates
We last checked the posting on Sep 24, 2026. The theatre may have updated it since.
What changed?
Schedule · Sep 23, 2026
Not specified → Description: We typically conduct Equity dramatic and musical season auditions in the late winter/early spring.
Kind: audition
Description: We conduct non-Equity dramatic and musical general auditions as needed at multiple times of the year (posted on the League of Chicago Theatres [https://auditions.leagueofchicagotheatres.org/find-an-audition/] website).
Kind: audition
Eligibility · Sep 23, 2026
No stated eligibility restriction; the theater is always looking to meet new talent in all genres and accepts submissions year-round. It typically conducts Equity dramatic and musical season auditions in late winter/early spring and non-Equity dramatic and musical general auditions as needed at multiple times of the year. Actors not based in Chicago or without access to Chicago housing are recommended to send a taped audition. → Actors.
How to apply · Sep 23, 2026
Deadline text: Submissions are accepted year-round.
Instructions: If general season auditions have concluded, you are welcome to send a headshot/resume (as one PDF) and a video audition, consisting of two monologues of your choice or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song (no a cappella, please). Submissions are accepted year-round.
Materials: headshot/resume (one PDF)
video audition
Method: video
Rolling: Yes → Deadline text: Submissions are accepted year-round.
Instructions: If general season auditions have concluded, send a headshot/resume as one PDF and a video audition. The video should consist of two monologues of your choice, or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song; no a cappella. For a dramatic audition, prepare two contrasting monologues totaling no more than three minutes, one classical (preferably Shakespeare) and one contemporary; two contemporary monologues are acceptable if you are uncomfortable with classical work. For a musical audition, prepare 32 bars of a song with sheet music in your key and one 90-second monologue, either Shakespeare or contemporary; an accompanist will be provided. Shakespeare should be performed in standard American dialect.
Materials: Headshot/resume as one PDF
Video audition: two monologues of your choice, or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song (no a cappella)
Method: video
Rolling: Yes
Eligibility · Sep 17, 2026
Performers in all genres; the theater is always looking to meet new talent in all genres. → No stated eligibility restriction; the theater is always looking to meet new talent in all genres and accepts submissions year-round. It typically conducts Equity dramatic and musical season auditions in late winter/early spring and non-Equity dramatic and musical general auditions as needed at multiple times of the year. Actors not based in Chicago or without access to Chicago housing are recommended to send a taped audition.
How to apply · Sep 17, 2026
Deadline text: Submissions are accepted year-round.
Instructions: Send a headshot/resume as one PDF plus a video audition consisting of two monologues of your choice, or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song (no a cappella, please). Submissions are accepted year-round.
Materials: headshot/resume as one PDF
video audition: two monologues of your choice, or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song (no a cappella)
Method: video
Rolling: Yes → Deadline text: Submissions are accepted year-round.
Instructions: If general season auditions have concluded, you are welcome to send a headshot/resume (as one PDF) and a video audition, consisting of two monologues of your choice or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song (no a cappella, please). Submissions are accepted year-round.
Materials: headshot/resume (one PDF)
video audition
Method: video
Rolling: Yes
Eligibility · Sep 14, 2026
Actors; open to Chicago-based and out-of-town actors; out-of-town actors recommended to send a taped audition. → Performers in all genres; the theater is always looking to meet new talent in all genres.
How to apply · Sep 14, 2026
Deadline text: Submissions are accepted year-round.
Instructions: Send a headshot/resume as one PDF and a video audition, consisting of two monologues of your choice or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song (no a cappella, please). Submissions are accepted year-round.
Materials: headshot/resume as one PDF
video audition
two monologues of your choice or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song (no a cappella, please)
Method: video
Rolling: Yes → Deadline text: Submissions are accepted year-round.
Instructions: Send a headshot/resume as one PDF plus a video audition consisting of two monologues of your choice, or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song (no a cappella, please). Submissions are accepted year-round.
Materials: headshot/resume as one PDF
video audition: two monologues of your choice, or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song (no a cappella)
Method: video
Rolling: Yes
Eligibility · Sep 13, 2026
Open to actors of all genres; out-of-town actors without access to Chicago housing are advised to submit a taped audition instead of coming in person. → Actors; open to Chicago-based and out-of-town actors; out-of-town actors recommended to send a taped audition.
How to apply · Sep 13, 2026
Deadline text: Submissions are accepted year-round.
Instructions: Send a headshot/resume (as one PDF) and a video audition, consisting of two monologues of your choice or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song (no a cappella, please).
Materials: headshot/resume (as one PDF)
video audition (two monologues, or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song)
Method: email
Rolling: Yes → Deadline text: Submissions are accepted year-round.
Instructions: Send a headshot/resume as one PDF and a video audition, consisting of two monologues of your choice or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song (no a cappella, please). Submissions are accepted year-round.
Materials: headshot/resume as one PDF
video audition
two monologues of your choice or one monologue and 32 bars of an accompanied song (no a cappella, please)
Method: video
Rolling: Yes