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GRADES 8+
A student-run, professinally-managed production company
In December 2024, the Off Square Players will produce Ian McWethy’s comedy: Bad Auditions by Bad Actors. See below for more production information and to get your tickets!
Every year, Off Square Theatre opens applications to join the Off Square Players production team. From our applicants, we select a production team (including a director, a stage manager, a producer, and designers like set, lighting, and costumes). From there, we will select a full-length straight play (that means not a musical) for the students to cast and produce.
The students will spend 6-8 weeks rehearsing their play, creating costumes, building sets, designing posters, and more. What makes this program unique is that the Players are responsible for every aspect of the play.
With professional guidance and advice from Off Square’s education and technical directors as well as from professional theatre artists in our community, the Players will be set up for success but will have the autonomy to execute their own artistic vision. They’ll make mistakes, they’ll fix them, they’ll learn a ton about how to work together and create a collaborative work of art.
The 2024 application period has passed, but to get an idea of how this works, see below for details of our application and production process in 2024. Stay tuned for details of 2025!
2024 Details
Students grades 8+ are invited to apply for a position in our 2024 Off Square Players creative and production team. Students should apply to join the creative/production team if they are interested in one or more of the following roles:
- Directing
- Stage Managing
- Design (scenic, costume, lights, and/or audio)
- Producing/marketing
Students selected to direct will work alongside OST staff to determine the 2024 Off Square Players production. The creative/production team will all participate in workshops to learn about their various roles.
Open auditions for students interested in acting will take place at the end of September. Students with roles on the creative/production team are welcome to audition to act. As in years past, designers and stage managers are eligible to double as actors.
Students will rehearse for six weeks in a “student-produced, professionally-managed” format. All this leads up to a weekend of shows for the public in Off Square’s Black Box Theater!
See below for dates & details – we look forward to seeing your applications.
Off Square Players is tuition-free for all participants.
Key Dates for 2024
June 25 | Application period begins for creative/production team members
August 1 | Application period ends
August 9 | Applicants notified with results; directors begin play selection process
August 26 | Play selection and audition details announced to the public
Week of September 30 | Auditions and cast selection
October | Workshops (to be scheduled) for creative and production team
October 28 | First week of rehearsals for cast, creative, and production team
Week of November 25 | Thanksgiving Break – no rehearsal
December 13-14 | Performances in the Black Box Theater
Application Guidelines
Students will (1) indicate their area(s) of theatrical interest and (2) provide a brief summary of their theatrical experience.
We encourage everyone to be open to any role that interests them, even if they have no prior experience. Remember that a role on the production team does not mean that you will be ineligible to audition as an actor.
To outline your theatrical experience, you may choose to upload a resumé or write a few brief sentences. Experience is not required to apply! If applicable, we would also love to hear a brief summary of any professional experience that you have.
FOR DIRECTORS ONLY:
Aspiring directors will be asked to share details of two (2) plays that they would be interested in producing with the Off Square Players ensemble. You will be asked to provide a synopsis, casting breakdown, and brief description of your directorial vision for the production. Students interested in assistant directing are not required to submit play proposals. Students interested in co-directing as a team should submit the same play proposals.