Auditions

ANNOUNCING AUDITIONS FOR THE 2023-2024 SEASON AT THE CONTEMPORARY THEATRE OF OHIO (formerly CATCO)

This is an open invitation from The Contemporary to submit for our 2023-2024 Season. The Contemporary is seeking Equity and non-Equity actors for our upcoming season.

The Contemporary’s vision is to become a nationally recognized, anti-racist contemporary theatre company, anchoring a thriving Columbus theatre ecosystem in an empathetic, equitable world. Our purpose is to harness the transformational power of theatre that engages with our current moment to inspire a community of empathy.

In-Person Auditions:

  • Friday May 19 | 9 am – 12 pm & 1 – 6 pm
  • Saturday, May 20 | 9 am – 12 pm & 1 – 6 pm
  • Sunday, May 21 | 9 am – 6 pm

DETAILS:
Equity Auditions with EMC and Non-Equity Walk Ins welcome are on Friday and Saturday at the Riffe Center – 77 S High St. 

On Friday, Parking at the Riffe Center Parking Garage is NOT available. Parking is available on the street or in the Statehouse Underground Parking Garage (for a fee). On Saturday, public parking is available in the Riffe Center Parking Garage, accessible from Front Street.  

Please ignore signage for the Riffe Center Parking Garage that says “closed” or “full,” including any reserved signs on individual parking spaces. The garage is open and free to everyone after 6:00 pm, and during the day on weekends. If the gate is down, push the call button and say you are with CATCO. 

We will meet you at the G2 elevator to escort you to the 4th floor where auditions will be held. 

Click here for additional information about parking at and near the Riffe Center. 

Friday and Saturday are by appointment for AEA actors. AEA, EMC, and Non-Equity actors are also welcome to attend without an appointment. For more information, email casting@catco.org 

Non-Equity Auditions are on Sunday at the Columbus Performing Arts Center (CPAC) – 549 Franklin Ave – in the Van Fleet Theatre.  

Sunday’s auditions are by appointments only. First come first serve at this link. 

Park in the open lot across the street from CPAC. There is a parking lot next to the building, please do not park here. Street parking is also available. 

Enter CPAC through the front doors to enter the waiting area for auditions. 

What to Prepare 

Please be prepared to share a 1-2 minute contemporary monologue. If you don’t have a prepared monologue, you can read from one of the pieces here. You may also sing a brief cut from a selection of a musical theatre or a pop song if you wish. An accompanist will be provided on Saturday and from 1pm – 4pm on Sunday, please bring sheet music in a binder. 

Instead of bringing a hardcopy headshot and resume, please share your information here. 

Deadline: May 21st, 10pm EST. 

If you cannot attend in person, videos can be submitted via private video link (YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive).  Please share a 1-2 minute contemporary monologue. If you don’t have a prepared monologue, you can read from one of the pieces here. If you wish, you may also sing a brief cut from a selection of musical theatre or a pop song. Please submit your info and video here. Please note The Contemporary is unable to provide housing to non-local actors, local actors only please. 

Rehearsals will usually be six days a week in the evenings and weekends. Actors will only be called to rehearsal when rehearsing scenes they are in for a maximum of 30 hours total per week.

Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings with Sunday matinees. The first two performances are preview performances with rehearsal continuing through opening night on Saturday.

AEA Contracts: Equity actors’ work is governed by the AEA SPT agreement. Please see the submission guidelines on the Equity website. Reach out to casting@catco.org with any questions. 

Non-AEA Contracts: Non-Equity actors will be paid $10.10/hour with a guaranteed minimum of $265/week. Equity Membership Candidacy Points available. 

Young Performers: Auditions for young performers (under 18) for roles in The Worries of Wesley will occur later in the summer. If you are interested in auditioning, please email casting@catco.org with the subject line: Wesley. 

Callback information will be provided at a later date. You will be notified if you are called back. Please be sure to provide correct contact info on your headshot and resume so we can reach you.
Please email casting@catco.org with information regarding any accommodations you need in an audition, rehearsal, or performance space.
For auditions, actors must keep their masks on in the waiting area and in the audition room when not actively auditioning. Staff and directors attending auditions will be masked.
COMMITTMENT TO DIVERSITY:

The Contemporary is committed to diversity and inclusion in our casting practices. We strongly encourage actors of all gender identities, ethnicities, races, and ages, as well as actors with disabilities, to audition for any role.

Characters’ pronouns are listed for reference. We invite actors of all genders to submit for any roles they identify with. We will list race/ethnicity when specific to the characters and are otherwise seeking actors of all races and ethnicities. We will also list disability when specific to a character and are otherwise seeking actors with disabilities and well as without disabilities for all roles.

CASTING BREAKDOWN & SCHEDULES

POTUS Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive

Rehearsals: August 21 – Sept 23, 2023
Performances: Previews Sept 21 & 22; Opens Sept 23 – Closes October 8, 2023

DETAILS

Good Grief

Rehearsals: October 10 – Oct 29, 2023
Performances: Previews Nov 2 & 3; Opens Nov 4 – Closes Nov 19,  2023

DETAILS

The Worries of Wesley (Or: How I Learned to Stop Having Anxiety or Not Really, But I Am Trying)

Rehearsals: Jan 2 – Jan 26, 2023
Opening Night: Jan 27, 2023

DETAILS

Skeleton Crew

Rehearsals: Feb 6 – Feb 25, 2024
Performances: Previews Feb 29 & March 1; Opens March 2 – Closes March 17, 2024

DETAILS

Ride the Cyclone

Rehearsals: March 19 – Apr 14, 2024
Performances: Previews Apr 18 & 19; Opens April 20 – Closes May 5, 2024

DETAILS