Employment
SUMMER 2025 AUDITION INFORMATION
Cortland Rep's auditions for our summer season will be held at CRT Downtown, 24 Port Watson Street, Cortland on January 17, 18 and 19. Further auditions (in NYC or elsewhere) will be determined following these local auditions.
We are seeking non-union actors only at this time and are also seeking for candidates for our performing intern program. See the drop-down tab on this page for more information about our internships.
Registration for auditions will be online, starting on December 11, on this page. You will be asked to pick your three top time frames - morning or afternoon on each of the three days. Time slots will be filled in the order requests have been received.
NOTE: If you plan on auditioning for The Rev in Auburn on the same weekend, please plan your auditions for different days. While we are relatively close, if you are called back, you will not be able to attend callbacks for both theatres on the same day.
Below is basic information about our auditions.
CRT AUDITION F.A.Q.s
What should I expect at a CRT audition? CRT strives to provide a safe, encouraging, and stress-free audition process within which you may show us your best work.
1) Please plan your time accordingly. Be prepared with water, snacks, dance clothes/shoes, your full music book and your headshot/resume stapled together.
2) Upon arrival, please proceed to the registration desk. You will be given a short form to complete, upon which you may list any conflict dates with our summer season and other information. When your name is called, please turn in this form along with your stapled headshot and resume to the monitors. You will then be lined up in the order called.
3) Unless directed otherwise, we ask that you come right into the audition room as soon as the person before you exits so that we can keep the day moving forward. If you are singing, go directly to our pianist and prepare your song. There will be an "X" taped on the floor, which is where we ask you to stand.
If you are doing a monologue, go directly to the "X" and please wait until we greet you before beginning your piece.
If you have planned both a song and monologue, do the song first. We will let you know if we need to hear the monologue at that time.
4) When your audition is complete, unless you have been told otherwise, please wait in the lobby until the dance callback list is announced. This should be about every ½ hour or so. If you have not been called back to dance, you are done for the day. If you have been called back to dance, we ask that you leave the building (so as to avoid overcrowding our small lobby) and come back at the designated time. If you are unable to come with your dance clothes underdressed, you may use the rest rooms to change. Folding chairs will be arranged along the back of the room for your personal belongings.
5) In between the audition and callback: there are a number of restaurants, pizza places, delis, a coffee bar and a bagel shop within easy walking distance of our audition location.
What should I prepare for a CRT audition? To be considered for our musicals, please prepare 16 bars of two contrasting songs (you must provide your own sheet music, clearly marked with cuts). Singing material from shows in our season is fine. We may ask for just one song, we may ask for both songs, and we may ask for more of the same song, or a different song. Please be sure to bring your full book of music.
To be considered for a non-musical play, please prepare a brief (1-2 minute) monologue. We prefer comedic monologues.
"I'm interested in your Performing Internship. Do I need to do anything different?" Not initially, other than check on our audition form (which our monitors will give you the day of your audition) that you are interested in our internship. All the above audition information applies to intern candidates. At the end of the day, if we are interested in speaking with you about an internship, we will let you know, after which you will be emailed callback material to prepare for a video callback. If we are interested in you for an internship following your callback, we may set up a Zoom interview to get to know you a bit better, and you can ask us any questions you have. Note that you must be available for the whole summer in order to be considered for the internship. Please find more info on the Internship Information page.
"I am not able to attend your auditions in person. Do you accept video auditions?" These locals are CRT’s primary auditions. Once completed, we will determine if we will be attending any audition conferences, if we will be accepting video auditions, and if/when we will be holding further auditions in New York City.
When will we be notified of a callback? While many callback notifications are given the day of auditions, we also may need a few days to put our heads together. If we need to see more, we will contact you soon, either by phone or email.
When is casting complete? When can we expect to be notified of a job offer? We may begin making offers early on but casting usually continues into the spring. While we usually only contact people we are interested in hiring, we encourage everyone to audition in the future - it might just not have been your year! Also, we almost never cast without a callback first so that's something to keep in mind.
If offered a job, is housing provided? Yes, if you are not a local actor, we do provide housing, at no charge to you. Our housing is in off-campus college apartments, with kitchens and single bedrooms, in 2- or 3-person shared suites. Employees and interns are responsible for their own meals and other necessities.
Do you pay your actors? Pay is offered for all performers. Interns are offered a weekly stipend.
Do you consider everyone who auditions for all the shows or just one? Unless noted, all roles in all shows are open at the time of auditions, to all actors.
Are there Equity Contract available? We may be considering Equity members for "Murder for Two" this year. The remaining roles are planned to be filled with nonunion actors.
Do you give Equity points? No, sorry - because we are on a Guest Artist contract, we are not allowed by Equity to give points. However, if pre-arranged with your learning institution, we can give college credit for your work with us.
Cortland Repertory Theatre is accepting resumes for our 2025 summer season. CRT is a professional theater located in upstate New York, a half hour south of Syracuse, on the edge of the Fingerlakes Region.
2024 Technical Intern Program
Cortland Rep has four technical interns in our summer program. In each department, knowledge of the basic skills is helpful, which our staff will work with the interns to refine over the course of creating 5 mainstage productions. Interns will learn the balance of working in a very quick paced environment while creating high quality and detailed theatrical elements.
The theatre is an intimate (30’ x 30’, with 10’ proscenium height) 250 seat, three-quarter round thrust stage, located on the second floor of a national historic building. Costume and scenic shops are located approximately 20 minutes from theatre.
A weekly stipend of $250 is provided. Travel expenses to Cortland are reimbursed up to $100. Housing is provided in single room/shared suite. We work 6 days a week; payday is Thursday of each week.
Please submit resume with cover letter and at least three references with phone numbers and email addresses to production@cortlandrep.org. Please include the position you are applying for in the subject line of the email. If possible, PDF versions of your resumes and cover letter are preferred. Interviews will take place via phone. NO PHONE CALLS, please.
At Cortland Repertory Theatre (“CRT”), a diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization is one where all employees and volunteers feel valued and respected whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, or disability. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement in all our productions, departments, programs, and volunteer opportunities. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard. We are committed to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all. We are further committed to considering applicants who are well-rounded but do not fulfill every qualification.
At this time, we are currently still looking for a costume shop intern and a scenic shop intern.
- Scenic Shop Intern: This intern will work with our professional Technical Director and Scenic Designers, as well as Assistant TD and two Carpenters. They will work building and installing all the sets for all productions. In this quick paced environment, this intern will learn how to build scenic elements that are sturdy, strong and safe, but are also quick to install and strike.
- Responsibilities include:
- Participation in the construction and maintenance of all scenic elements of the summer season, including basic scenic painting.
- Assist in the repair of above mentioned materials during run of current production;
- Participate in all load-ins and strikes.
- Requirements:
- Basic theatrical carpentry knowledge and experience.
- Basic knowledge and interest of props construction, modification and fabrication techniques.
- Excellent personal, organizational, time management and communication skills.
- Be an energetic, motivated, supportive, hard working and cooperative team member.
- Be able to climb a ladder, and lift/ carry 50lbs
- Must have driver’s license and clean driving record. Own car preferred.
- No pets.
- Responsibilities include:
- Costume Shop Intern: This intern have the opportunity to work with our professional Costume Designers and Supervisors, taking part in the build of all the costumes for our entire season. Our shop builds from scratch, pulls from our considerable stock and borrows from local community members. A good working knowledge of hand and machine sewing, patterning and fabric dying is helpful. We hire two (2) costume interns each summer.
- Responsibilities:
- Participate in construction of all costume plots under the direction of the Designers and Wardrobe Supervisor to assure execution of all production requirements in cooperation with directors(s) for all productions;
- Assist in the repair of above mentioned materials during run of current production;
- Take part in the running of mainstage shows and children’s shows, when required;
- Participate in all load-ins and strikes.
- Requirements:
- Knowledge and skill in costume construction and modification techniques.
- Prefer 1 - 2 years experience in costume construction, either professionally or the college equivalent.
- Excellent personnel, organizational, time management and communication skills.
- Driver's license with clean driving record. Own car desirable.
- No pets.
- Responsibilities:
- Properties Intern: This intern has the opportunity to work with a professional Props Designer and Artisan. They will work learn many “tricks of the trade” from our staff, assisting in the building / borrowing / pulling-from-stock all props and set decoration - from large furniture pieces and soft goods to smaller hand props, edibles, paper goods and everything in between. It is helpful to have basic working knowledge of upholstery, foam carving, scenic painting, machine and hand sewing, PowerPoint and other computer photo programs...and have a great creative instinct!
- Responsibilities:
- Assist Props Designer and Artisan in the construction, fabrication, and acquisition of all props (furniture, set dressing, hand props, perishables, etc.) for all shows.
- Particularly seeking someone with soft goods/upholstery knowledge and experience.
- Work with Designer to ensure that all shows are completed on schedule and on budget.
- Assist in the supervision of pre-set, running, maintenance and repair of props for all performances.
- Assist in the maintenance of props construction and storage areas.
- Assist overseeing the safety and well-being of all.
- Requirements:
- Basic knowledge and interest of props construction, modification, and fabrication techniques.
- Basic knowledge of executing designer’s needs through construction, shopping, renting and/or borrowing.
- Ability to motivate self and others.
- Previous experience in props construction and design on a college level.
- Excellent personnel, organizational, time management and communication skills.
- Some background in scenic design or scenic art preferred.
- Driver's license with excellent record required. Own car desirable.
- No pets.
- Responsibilities:
Please see more information about the theatre and our intern programs on the information page for our Performing Intern Program. CRT's Intern Programs are supported, in part, by The Triad Foundation and The Tiger Baron Foundation
2025 Performing Intern Information
CRT is proud of our performing intern program, which offers significant performance experience. We look for strong performers, hard workers, and excellent company members who can handle a busy schedule. Our interns work with different actors, directors and choreographers in each production, to expand your experience with industry professionals. This is a performance-based internship; the only tech work required is to assist on all summer strikes and changeovers.
To be considered for a CRT Performing Internship, you must have graduated high school and be available for our entire summer dates (May 19 - August 15, 2025).
Workshops and masterclasses are planned with industry professionals in specific areas of performance over the course of the summer.
Audition Information
Please visit the "Audition Information" tab to sign up for an audition time slot, starting on December 11, 2024. There is not an initial application for a CRT internship - the audition is the first step.
These will be CRT’s primary auditions. Once completed, we will determine if we attend any audition conferences, if we will be accepting video auditions, and if/when we will be holding further auditions in New York City.
NOTE: If you plan on auditioning for The Rev in Auburn on the same weekend, please plan your auditions for different days. While we are relatively close, if you are called back, you will not be able to attend callbacks for both theatres on the same day.
If you are planning to come as a group of 10 or more, please email us at auditions@cortlandrep.org with contact information so that we may schedule you together. Please have the confirmed names of all who are attending in your group when you email.
At Cortland Repertory Theatre ("CRT"), a diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization is one where all employees and volunteers feel valued and respected whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, or disability. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement in all our productions, departments, programs, and volunteer opportunities. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard. We are committed to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all. We are further committed to considering applicants who are well-rounded but do not fulfill every qualification.
Thank you!
CRT Performing Intern Success Stories!
Above: Caroline Kane, a 2016 Performing Intern in CRT's A Chorus Line, made her Broadway debut in Water for Elephants. Michael Ivan Carrier, also a 2016 Intern in A Chorus Line, made his Broadway debut in ...and Juliet, after touring with Once on This Island. Three 2015 Interns in CRT's children's show The Jungle Book, left to right: Daniel Wisniewski made his Off-Broadway debut in The Inbible and completed an acclaimed performance as The Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast at Walnut Street Theatre. Jared Goldsmith made his Broadway debut in Dear Evan Hansen as Jared Kleinman, and Lukas James Miller completed two national tours, Tootsie as Max Van Horn and Cinderella as Prince Topher. 2018 intern Christian Henry (in CRT's Saturday Night Fever) toured with Pretty Woman, 2011 intern Shawn Smith (in CRT's Chicago) toured with Come From Away and Waitress, 2013 Intern Danny Burgos (in CRT's 1940's Radio Hour) made his Broadway debut in On Your Feet, toured with The Band's Visit, and is currently touring with Moulin Rouge as Santiago.
Another notable former CRT intern Ephie Aardema, at CRT in 2007, recently played Emma and understudied/performed as Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl.
CRT's Intern Programs are supported, in part, by The Triad Foundation and The Marsted Foundation.
CRT Audition F.A.Q.s
What should I expect at a CRT audition? CRT strives to provide a safe, encouraging, and stress-free audition process within which you may show us your best work.
1) We do not currently have any Covid restrictions. Facial masks are welcome but not necessary. If you do plan to wear a mask, please also be prepared to remove it to sing or perform your monologue in the actual audition.
2) Please plan your time accordingly. Be prepared with water, snacks, dance clothes/shoes, your full music book and your headshot/resume stapled together.
3) Upon arrival, please proceed to the registration desk. You will be given a short form to complete, upon which you may list any conflict dates with our summer season and other information. When your name is called, please turn in this form along with your stapled headshot and resume to the monitors. You will then be lined up in the order called.
4) Unless directed otherwise, we ask that you come right into the audition room as soon as the person before you exits so that we can keep the day moving forward. If you are singing, go directly to our pianist and prepare your song. There will be an "X" taped on the floor, which is where we ask you to stand.
If you are doing a monologue, go directly to the "X" and please wait until we greet you before beginning your piece.
If you have planned both a song and monologue, do the song first. We will let you know if we need to hear the monologue at that time.
5) When your audition is complete, unless you have been told otherwise, please wait in the lobby until the dance callback list is announced. This should be about every ½ hour or so. If you have not been called back to dance, you are done for the day. If you have been called back to dance, we ask that you leave the building (so as to avoid overcrowding our small lobby!) and come back at the designated time. If you are unable to come with your dance clothes underdressed, you may use the rest rooms or the private changing areas set up in the audition room to change. Folding chairs will be arranged along the back of the room for your personal belongings.
6) In between the audition and callback: there are a number of restaurants, pizza places, delis, a coffee bar and a bagel shop within easy walking distance of our audition location.
What should I prepare for a CRT audition? To be considered for our musicals, please prepare 16 bars of two contrasting songs (you must provide your own sheet music, clearly marked with cuts). Singing material from shows in our season is fine. We may ask for just one song, we may ask for both songs, and we may ask for more of the same song, or a different song. Please be sure to bring your full book of music.
"I'm interested in your Performing Internship. Do I need to do anything different?" Not initially, other than check on our audition form (which our monitors will give you the day of your audition) that you are interested in our internship. All the above audition information applies to intern candidates. At the end of the day, if we are interested in speaking with you about an internship, we will let you know, after which you will be emailed callback material to prepare for a video callback. If we are interested in you for an internship following your callback, we will set up a Zoom interview to get to know you a bit better, and you can ask us any questions you have. Note that you must be available for the whole summer in order to be considered for the internship. Please find more info on the Internship Information page.
"I am not able to attend your auditions in person. Do you accept video auditions?" As stated above, these are CRT’s primary auditions. Once completed, we will determine if we will attend any audition conferences, if we will be accepting video auditions, and if/when we will be holding further auditions in New York City.
When will we be notified of a callback? While many callback notifications are given the day of auditions, we also may need a few days to put our heads together. If we need to see more, we will contact you soon, either by phone or email.
When is casting complete? When can we expect to be notified of a job offer? We may begin making offers early on but casting usually continues into the spring. While we usually only contact people we are interested in hiring, we encourage everyone to audition in the future - it might just not have been your year! Also, we almost never cast without a callback first so that's something to keep in mind.
If offered a job, is housing provided? Yes, if you are not a local actor, we do provide housing, at no charge to you. Our housing is in off-campus college apartments, with kitchens and single bedrooms, in 2- or 3-person shared suites. Employees and interns are responsible for their own meals and other necessities.
Do you pay your actors? Pay is offered for all performers. Interns are offered a weekly stipend.
Do you consider everyone who auditions for all the shows or just one? Unless noted in the character descriptions below, all roles in all shows are open at the time of auditions, to all actors.
Do you give Equity points? No, sorry - because we are on a Guest Artist contract, we are not allowed by Equity to give points. However, if pre-arranged with your learning institution, we can give college credit for your work with us.
