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Auditions & Opportunities

Scroll down for Production and Administrative positions.

Volunteers are needed in every area of the organization from admin to production, on stage and back stage – email Barbe@merrillartscenter.org if you’re interested in volunteering.

Auditions:

Page to Stage New Play Festival

Page to Stage New Play Festival

Auditions: December 21st

  • Auditions are open to Men and Women. No registration fee. Donation is optional and will not affect casting. Directors will not know if you donated or not.
    If all audition appointments are full, show up early, and we will fit you into a no-show slot. We generally have about 1/3 no-shows.
    • Elmer’s Place a world-premiere drama by Minnesota playwright Jim Flake.
    • Mother Rabbit a world-premiere comedy by playwright Ben Gagliardi.
    • Pocketwatch a world-premiere drama by Minnesota playwright Thomas Nelson.

    Auditions Dec 21, 2024 – Sign Up below.
    Bring a 1 or 2 contemporary monologues of about 1-3 minutes in length. Monologues do not need to be memorized, as the performance is a reading without memorization.

    Rehearsals will be twice per week on weekdays 7-10pm; January and February.
    Rehearsals and performances are at the Merrill Arts Center (380 Rivertown Dr., Ste. 200).

    Performances are FREE with advance reservation.
    Seating is limited.

    Each reading on the New Play Festival has public performances: Feb 22 – March 2. Weekends and Monday evenings.
    Merrill Arts Center

    (380 Rivertown Dr., Ste. 200 St. Paul, MN 55125)

AUDITION SIGN UP:   CLICK HERE

Looking Glass Land

Auditions: February 8th

  • Audition details for kids:
    -Sign up appointments are in groups.
    – No preparation is necessary, but some children may choose to bring a 1 minute monologue if they wish to be considered for a lead. This is not a musical, so there will be no singing. Please let Dayna know if your child would prefer not to receive any lines.
    -Wear comfy clothes you can move in
    -Please bring resume or list of performance experiences if relevant (no experience required)
    -Bring a printed selfie, school photo or headshot to staple to the audition form.
    -If your child changes their mind following auditions and lets us know prior to the first rehearsal but after registering, the registration fee will be refunded. The processing fee charged by SignUpGenius cannot be refunded.
    -Auditions will be at 380 Rivertown Drive, Suite 200 in Woodbury. Rehearsals will be at The Black Box Theater, Door 7, East Ridge High School in Woodbury. Performances are April 25, 26, 27, and May 2, 3, 4. If sold out one week prior to opening, Thursday performances and Saturday evening performances will be added. Kids will need to be available for all performances and technical rehearsals April 12, and 21-24

    Rehearsals: Fridays 6-8:30pm and Saturday afternoons 1-4pm, March 1- April 19
    April 21-24. No rehearsal during Spring Break March 9-15
    Tech Rehearsals: April 21-24  6-9pm; to 10pm for adults
    Performances at 7pm April 25 and May 3. 2pm April 26-27 and May 3-4. If shows sell out one week prior to opening Thursday evening and Saturday evening performances may be added.
    Strike and pizza party will follow final performance on May 4 (parents will need to help)
    Parent Orientation Meeting Saturday, March 1 at 1pm at MAC, 380 Rivertown Dr, Suite 200 in Woodbury.
    Parents will be asked to help out with costumes, sets, props, box office, concessions, wrap pizza party or backstage. Also seeking one assistant stage manager to volunteer with rehearsals – or 2 to split it up.
    All performances are ticketed. Cast and crew will all get unlimited coupon codes for discounted tickets.

    Direct any questions to the director, Dayna Railton at dnacsr@aol.com or 952.484.3296.

AUDITION SIGN UP:   CLICK HERE

Annie

Auditions: May 17th

  • Audition details for kids:
    -Sign up appointments are in groups.
    – No preparation is necessary, but some children may choose to bring a 1 minute monologue and 16 bars of a song with their own recorded accompaniment if they wish to be considered for a lead.
    -Wear comfy clothes you can move in
    -Please bring resume or list of performance experiences if relevant (no experience required)
    -Bring a printed selfie, school photo or headshot to staple to the audition form.
    -If your child changes their mind following auditions and lets us know prior to the first rehearsal but after registering, the registration fee will be refunded. The processing fee charged by SignUpGenius cannot be refunded.
    -Auditions will be at 380 Rivertown Drive, Suite 200 in Woodbury. Rehearsals and performances at East Ridge High School Loft Theatre, in Woodbury, MN. Performances are July 18-27. Kids will need to be available for all performances and technical rehearsals July 14-18.

    Rehearsals: weekdays June 9-July 18 afternoons 1-5pm, No rehearsal July 4-6.
    Tech Rehearsals: July 14-18  6-9pm.
    Performances at 2pm, July 19-20 and 26-27. If shows sell out two weeks prior to opening Friday and Thursday evening and Saturday evening performances may be added.
    Strike and pizza party will follow final performance on Sunday (parents will need to help)
    Parent Orientation Meeting Monday, June 9 at 4:30pm at MAC, 380 Rivertown Dr, Suite 200 in Woodbury.
    Parents will be asked to help out with costumes, sets, props, box office, concessions, wrap pizza party or backstage. Also seeking one assistant stage manager to volunteer with rehearsals – or 2 to split it up.
    All performances are ticketed. Cast and crew will all get unlimited coupon codes for discounted tickets.

    Direct any questions to the director, Dayna Railton at dnacsr@aol.com or 952.484.3296.

AUDITION SIGN UP:   CLICK HERE

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the Black Forest

Auditions: September 6th

  • Audition details for kids:
    -Sign up appointments are in groups.
    – No preparation is necessary, but some children may choose to bring a 1 minute monologue if they wish to be considered for a lead. This is not a musical, so there will be no singing. Please let Dayna know if your child would prefer not to receive any lines.
    -Wear comfy clothes you can move in
    -Please bring resume or list of performance experiences if relevant (no experience required)
    -Bring a printed selfie, school photo or headshot to staple to the audition form.
    -If your child changes their mind following auditions and lets us know prior to the first rehearsal but after registering, the registration fee will be refunded. The processing fee charged by SignUpGenius cannot be refunded.
    -Auditions will be at 380 Rivertown Drive, Suite 200 in Woodbury. Rehearsals and performances at East Ridge High School Black Box, door 7, in Woodbury, MN. Performances are Oct 25-Nov 2, 2025 – weekends at 2pm. If sold out two weeks prior to opening, Thursday & Friday performances and Saturday evening performances will be added. Kids will need to be available for all performances and technical rehearsals October 18-24, 2025.

    Rehearsals: Fridays 6-8:30pm and Saturday afternoons 1-4pm, Sept 12-Oct 18. No rehearsal during MEA.
    Tech Rehearsals: Oct 20-24  6-9pm.
    Performances at 7pm Oct 24 and Nov 1, 2025. 2pm Oct 25-26 and Nov 2-3. If shows sell out two weeks prior to opening Thursday evening and Saturday evening performances may be added.
    Strike and pizza party will follow final performance on Nov 3 (parents will need to help)
    Parent Orientation Meeting Saturday, Sept 13 at 1pm at MAC, 380 Rivertown Dr, Suite 200 in Woodbury.
    Parents will be asked to help out with costumes, sets, props, box office, concessions, wrap pizza party or backstage. Also seeking one assistant stage manager to volunteer with rehearsals – or 2 to split it up.
    All performances are ticketed. Cast and crew will all get unlimited coupon codes for discounted tickets.

    Direct any questions to the director, Dayna Railton at dnacsr@aol.com or 952.484.3296.

AUDITION SIGN UP:   CLICK HERE

Holiday Festival 2025: Madeline’s Christmas Adult & Child Auditions

Auditions: August 23rd & September 13th

  • Audition details for kids:
    -Sign up appointments are in groups, but children considered for Madeline and other students will go in to audition separately.
    -Please bring a 1-2 minute monologue and 16 bars of music to sing with your own accompaniment on your own technology if you want to be considered for the role of Madeline. All others considered for one of Madeline’s schoolmates will be asked to sing and read. Feel free to bring your own music and accompaniment – or use ours.  Boys will be asked to act out various animals and improv situations. Boy roles are nonspeaking, and nonsinging. The boys play animals and scene changers and the Magician’s assistants. 2 are cast. One to two may be added if more audition.
    -Wear comfy clothes you can move in
    -Please bring resume or list of performance experiences if relevant (no experience required)
    -Bring a printed selfie, school photo or headshot to staple to the audition form.
    -Auditions will be at 380 Rivertown Drive, Suite 200 in Woodbury. Rehearsals will be at The Black Box Theater, Door 7, East Ridge High School in Woodbury. Performances are all matinees, the first 2 weekends in December at The Loft at East Ridge High School in Woodbury. Unless enough girls audition for a double cast, kids will need to be available for all performances and technical rehearsals.

    Audition details for ADULTS:
    -Sign up in groups, but audition appointments for adults are private.
    -SignUpGenius has a donation option. Donations are completely optional. The director will not know if you donated or not. Donations will have no impact on casting. MAC is a nonprofit, and half of the cost of putting on shows is supported by donations.
    -Please bring a 1-2 minute monologue and 16 bars of music to sing with your own accompaniment on your own technology unless you want to be considered for a non-singing role. For non-singing roles, just bring a monologue.
    -Wear comfy clothes you can move in
    -Please bring resume or list of performance experiences.
    -Bring a printed selfie, photo or headshot to staple to the audition form.
    -Adult actors will be asked to help with load in and strike.
    -Auditions will be at 380 Rivertown Drive, Suite 200 in Woodbury. Rehearsals will be at The Black Box Theater, Door 7, East Ridge High School in Woodbury. Performances are all matinees, the first 2 weekends in December at The Loft at East Ridge High School in Woodbury. Cast will need to be available for all performances and technical rehearsals.

    Rehearsals: Monday through Fridays 6-9pm, to 10pm for adults, October & November
    Load in (with parents)  all day Nov 22, evenings Nov 24, 25, 26.
    No rehearsal during MEA Oct 15-19 or Thanksgiving Nov 27-30;
    Tech Rehearsals: Nov 24-26, Dec 1-5,  6-9pm; to 10pm for adults
    Performances at 2pm Dec 7-8 & 14-15. Tea party performances 11:30-1:30 Dec 7 & 14. Madeline, Miss Clavel, and Madeline’s school classmates attend tea parties
    Strike and pizza party will follow final performance on final Sunday (parents will need to help)
    Parent Orientation Meeting Monday, October 6, 6-6:30pm
    Parents will be asked to help out with costumes, sets, props, box office, concessions, pizza party or backstage. Also seeking one assistant stage manager to volunteer with rehearsals – or 2 to split it up.
    All performances are ticketed. Cast and crew will all get unlimited coupon codes for discounted tickets.

    Direct any questions to the director, Scott Gilbert at segue911@gmail.com or 651.226.9630.

AUDITION SIGN UP:   CLICK HERE

Staff

Paid and unpaid positions open

Director – Seeking director for fall 2024 & winter 2025 staged readings (mileage reimbursement available).
Auditions: TBA
Rehearsals: Mondays & Thursdays, 7-10pm
Performances: September and February @ Black Box at East Ridge HS, Woodbury
No budget reading with access to prop and costume storage. No set. Staged Reading.
Seeking director to work with living playwright and actors on new script to be produced at a later date.

Send resume, headshot, cover letter, and bio to Barbe@merrillartscenter.org

Director – Seeking director for fully-produced black box production of Spring 2025 Page to Stage Audience Pick (Finding J Mitchell  – comedy mysteries) – paid
Auditions: TBA @ Black Box at East Ridge HS, Woodbury
Rehearsals: Mondays through Fridays, January and February 2025
Performances: March 2025, Black Box at East Ridge HS, Woodbury
Strike (director included)

Send resume, headshot, cover letter, and bio to Barbe@merrillartscenter.org

 

Directors, Stage Managers, Sound Designers, Costume Designers, Props Designers, Set Designers, Box Office Personnel, Front of House Managers, Board Ops – ongoing search for experienced, paid personnel for future productions. Send resume, cover letter, bio and headshot to Barbe@merrillartscenter.org

 

ARTS GRANTS REVIEW PANELISTS WANTED:  The Minnesota State Arts Board is looking for application review panel members for their FY24 Creative Individuals and Arts Experiences programs. These review periods and panel meetings take place somewhere between mid-October through January (you do not need to be available this entire period, just some portion of it). Reviewers receive a stipend of $200, get a close look at the Arts Board grantmaking process, learn and improve grant writing skills, and play a meaningful role in our state’s public funding system for the arts. If you may be interested in serving, you can learn more here and/or fill out the online interest form today.

Questions may be directed to Jennifer Dodgson | Grants Program Officer, Minnesota State Arts Board at jenny.dodgson@arts.state.mn.us or 651 539 2672.