AUDITIONS

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If you attended TABs or have worked for TOY in the past, you may be filtered directly through to callbacks. If the TOY team is less familiar with your work OR wants you to have a chance to showcase your material in front of the directors prior to a callback, you will be asked to join the General Auditions first.

If you receive a time slot for our General Auditions we will reach out to ask for either a 1 minute monologue and/or a 32 bar cut of any kind of song. An accompanist will be present at the General auditions. Feel free to be creative with your content choices (song doesn’t need to be from a musical and monologue doesn’t need to be from a play – see FAQs)

Self Tapes will be accepted for all dates if actors have conflicts with TOY’s dates but in person auditions are preferable.

Theatre of Youth Company, Inc. (TOY) stimulates the imagination, nurtures the creative spirit and enhances the education of young people by engaging them in relevant, child-centered and professionally-produced live theatre programs. TOY believes meaningful childhood experiences in the theatre develop confidence in creative thinking skills, cultivate empathy and establish a life-long connection to the theatre. 
TOY is a place where all families, children, cast and crew feel included, represented and inspired. We strive to reflect the community that gave rise to our theatre, both on and off the stage, and to improve access to the magic of children’s theatre and arts education for all. TOY is a safe haven where children can explore and be creative in comfort, with diversity in our productions and ensuring that our community has a voice in everything we do. 

The Historic Allendale Theater (203 Allen Street, Buffalo, NY 14201) is located on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy of Nations, also known as the Six Nations- the Seneca, Tuscarora, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk Nations.

Though the Allendale Theatre offers seating for 445 people and 10 wheelchair locations, our stage and rehearsal room are currently not accessible as a result of steps or stairs. Our team is happy to assist in any way we can but this is an on-going issue we face at the Allendale seeing as it is a city building.

Also, there is a female and male identifying set of bathrooms in our lobby with each respective restroom having one wheelchair accessible stall, where as our backstage area has 2 single use gender neutral bathrooms.

If you have further access needs in relation to the space please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate them!

• What kind of actors does TOY hire?  

Kind, Respectful and Punctual Performers ages 18+ that are available for both weekend and weekday performances. 

• Are any roles Pre-Cast?  

We rarely pre-cast roles at TOY and if any are, we make sure to communicate what characters are still available on our audition postings!  

• What kind of material should I audition with? 

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to choose a song or monologue that portrays you as a child to audition for TOY. Do however avoid adult subject matter in your choice of content.

We hire actors of all ages, races, sexual orientation and gender identities so any content that shows your energy and personality type in a family friendly way works just fine! Feel free to think outside the box and explore the world of pop songs, theme songs from children’s show, excerpts from storybooks etc. (if you’d like!) Got a go to monologue/song that isn’t necessarily from a Kid’s show that you already know by heart and know you’ll be great at? That works too!

• When do you rehearse and do you accept conflicts?  

At TOY, we usually rehearse Tuesday-Friday 6:30-10:30PM, Saturday & Sunday 10AM-2PM (Tech Weekend 10AM-6PM). All major holidays are off days for actors and this includes Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Easter etc. 

We are quite flexible with conflicts due to our Understudy program during the rehearsal period but both principal and understudies must be available and on call for every performance. Conflicts with any show dates for any actor will not be accepted.

• What time are Public Shows and is there a possibility for extension?  

Weekend performances are at 2pm with some 10am matinees. If TOY adds a public performance, it would be an additional 10am matinee somewhere within the run.  Mondays are always an off day.

• What time are School Time Shows and is there possibility for extension?  

On School Time (OST) performances are at 10 or 10:30am. If TOY adds an OST, it would most likely be on a Friday during the run.  

• Do you still hire Understudies?  

Yes! We want to continue offering our valued actors the ability to prioritize their health if they are feeling too unwell to perform. We will continue to hire understudies recognizing them as necessary superheroes within the theatre industry!  

• What does it mean to be an Understudy at TOY?  

Understudies will learn a principal track and be available/on call to perform their role in case of illness/injury/rare schedule conflict within the principal cast. They are required at most but not all rehearsals. They are guaranteed 1 put-in rehearsal and 1 dress rehearsal, as well as 1 school time and 1 public performance throughout the run.  

Understudies are treated with the highest respect at TOY. If offered a role as an understudy, we recognize that you have the talent and work ethic to learn a show and perform it at a high caliber with less repetition than our principals which we deem incredibly admirable!  

• What rates does TOY offer their actors per contract?  

Rates are dependent on the production/number of scheduled performances throughout the run. Seeing as we are a Non-Profit, Non-Union Theatre that rehearses through a Part-Time model in the evenings, rates tend to start around $1,500 per production with an additional $50 per added performance that isn’t initially listed on your contract. Please note that our rates are non-negotiable due to our strict budgets.