At NYT, auditions are an open casting call; nothing is precast.  Any student, 8-19 yrs. old, is eligible to audition.  Students have “1 minute to shine”.  We recommend preparing a 1-minute song highlighting your vocals and acting through song.  However, students may choose to do a monologue or dance if they prefer.  We recommend using a karaoke/backing track.  iTunes sells many options. Label your CD with your name. Or you may bring your music on a device (i.e., iPhone, mp3 player, etc.) with a cord to connect to our speakers. If using a song from the cloud, make sure you have access to wireless data for your device.

Students will be given a number and taken into the audition room in groups of approximately 10-12.  [It’s very important you make a note of, and remember, this number.]  Hand your CD or music device to the person at the table operating the CD player, and take a seat in numerical order.  As each student’s number is called, the student will come in front of the directing team, introduce themselves and their song, and perform.  Students will then take their seat until the entire group is finished, then they will be dismissed.  There may be a dance audition in addition to their 1-minute audition, but no preparation is required.   If the directing team wishes to see your child for a specific role, they will be called back – usually the following day. Callback notification will generally be sent late that night or early the next day.

Callbacks involve singing for a specific role(s) and/or reading for specific character(s) and/or for more advanced dancing roles. Songs from the actual show are featured at callbacks. Learn all the songs from the show for callbacks in advance, especially the ones you feel you could be called back for.  As a performer you should try prepare in advance for roles whenever possible. Sometimes the music is not available in advance as with shows like Narnia or other lesser-known works. But often the songs are easy to access online like Music Man or Peter Pan. 

If your child is called back, you will receive notification within 24 hours. The method of communication for this process will be given to you during the audition process. The number assigned to your student upon arrival will be the same number that callbacks will be referenced by; you will not see names on the callback sheet.

No. All students are considered for casting even after callbacks have been completed. And if a student is called back it does not automatically signify they will be cast in a featured role. In general, NYT’s goal is to cast all students that complete the one-minute audition and that do not have significant rehearsal or dress rehearsal conflicts. The number of conflicts allowed is at the discretion of each lead director for each show.  However, please be aware that if the number of children auditioning is very large (i.e., 90+), cuts are possible, and every child may not be cast; although this is something that the NYT directors will make every effort to avoid. If your child is not given a part, you will be refunded the production fee. although this is something that the NYT directors will make every effort to avoid. If your child is not given a part, you will be refunded the production fee.

Yes, you may submit a video audition to our production coordinator by email by the night of auditions to be considered. However, there are no video options for callbacks.