Unfortunately it looks like you are using an outdate browser

Please upgrade to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge to improve your experience and security.

Cart Get Tickets Donate
Donate

YC Auditions

UPCOMING YC AUDITIONS

Along with our year-around classes, the Young Conservatory offers audition-based performance opportunities for students grades 3–12. Below are open auditions for YC programs and productions. Currently, audition submissions are open for the Spring 2026 Actors Ensemble, New Pages: A Festival of Commissioned Works (Learn more here). Auditions and Callbacks for our Summer 2026 Musical Twelfth Night will take place January 22–24, 2026. Audition information is below.

TWELFTH NIGHT

Conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah & Shaina Taub
Music and Lyrics by Shaina Taub

This summer, A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory is proud to present Twelfth Night, a musical adaption of the Shakespeare classic by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Tony-winning composer and lyricist Shaina Taub (Suffs). Directed by Dee Dee Stephens, choreographed by Meredith Joelle Charlson, and music directed by Amanda Dee, Twelfth Night will perform at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater August 7-16, 2026. The YC is looking for an ensemble of 16-20 young actors ages 14-19 from across the Bay Area with musical theater skills, classical text experience, and enthusiasm to dive into this joyful and hilarious musical.

ABOUT TWELFTH NIGHT

Named one of the best theatrical productions of 2018 by Time, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Washington Post, Twelfth Night is a rousing contemporary musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy about mistaken identity and self-discovery.

Twelfth Night tells the story of Viola, a young heroine who washes up on the shores of Illyria, disguises herself as a man, is sent to court a countess and falls hard for a Duke. As she navigates this strange and wonderful new land, she finds her true self and true love in the process.

Download the Twelfth Night Information Sheet to Learn More
Listen to the Cast Album on Spotify

Twelfth Night Audition Requirements

Auditions will take place on Thursday, January 22 and Friday, January 23 between 4:30-8:15pm. Callbacks will take place on Saturday, January 24 from 4:30-8:30pm. Auditions and callbacks are in-person at 30 Grant Ave, San Francisco.

To be considered for Twelfth Night, actors must submit the Audition Form (linked here) by Friday, January 16 at 11:59pm* with the following:

  1. Upload a current photo jpg or png. This does not have to be a professional headshot, but it should be a nice, clear photo of the actor from the shoulders up.
  2. Upload a resume PDF OR list the actor’s previous training and performance experience in the form.
  3. Sign up for one of the four audition groups on Thursday, January 22 or Friday January 23 from either 4:30-6:15pm or 6:30-8:15pm, and be available for callbacks on Saturday, January 24 from 4:30-8:30pm.

At the audition, actors will be asked for the following:

  • Present one 32-bar cut (no more than 90 seconds) from a contemporary musical theater song (21st Century) of the student's choosing. Actors must bring sheet music in their key, double-sided and 3-hole punched in a binder with markings for the start and end of the cut. There will be a live accompanist.
  • Participate in a movement/dance call. Please wear form-fitting clothes you can comfortably move in. Socks, ballet shoes, jazz shoes, or lightweight sneakers are fine as footwear.
  • Read sides from the show in an ensemble/group session. These do not need to be memorized, but actors should familiarize themselves with the materials beforehand. Sides can be found here.

SIGN UP TO AUDITION HERE

Frequently Asked Audition Questions

This production will have a total of 16–20 actors in the company.

PRINCIPALS: (up to 4 principal roles may be double cast for this production, with each actor performing in 4 of the 8 performances.)

  • VIOLA – a young woman (mezzo-soprano)
  • OLIVIA – a countess in Illyria (mezzo-soprano)
  • ORSINO – a duke in Illyria (bari-tenor)
  • FESTE – a busking musician (mezzo-soprano)
  • MALVOLIO – a servant to Olivia (tenor)
  • TOBY – uncle to Olivia (baritone/bass)
  • MARIA – lady-in-waiting to Oliva (flexible vocal range)
  • ANDREW – friend to Toby (bari-tenor)
  • SEBASTIAN – male twin to Viola (tenor)
  • ANTONIO – a young man, a friend to Sebastian (bari-tenor)
  • FABIAN – groundskeeper to Oliva (flexible vocal range)

FEATURED: (All actors playing these roles will also be in the ensemble.)

  • ILLYRIAN OFFICIANT
  • ILLYRIAN MAIL-PERSON
  • ORSINO – a duke in Illyria (bari-tenor)
  • ILLYRIAN ATTENDANT
  • FIRST OFFICER
  • SECOND OFFICER

ENSEMBLE: ILLYRIAN TOWNSFOLKS

All actors must be between the ages of 14–19 from June 22–August 16, 2026, in order to audition. Actors must be available for all tech rehearsals and performances, and all conflicts must be cleared by the creative team. Participation in a previous Young Conservatory class or project is not required.

Invitations for callbacks will be sent out no later than 1pm on Saturday, January 24, 2026. After callbacks, casting updates will be sent out no later than January 31, 2026.

The tuition for participation in the production is $1,500*, payable in one or two installments. Tuition is due at the Meet and Greet/First Read Through on June 25, 2026, with full payment and 50/50 payment options available. With the 50/50 payment option, families can pay for half of the tuition at time of registration, with the remaining half due on June 25. Tuition payments can be made online or over the phone with a YC team member. If you select the 50/50 option, you must elect to save your card on file when registering online. 

Please note that that casting offers in the YC are not contingent upon financial ability. Scholarships are available, and requests for scholarship applications can be sent to YoungConservatory@act-sf.org after a student is cast in the production. Scholarship requests must be received by email by March 1, 2026 before midnight.

* American Conservatory Theater is a not-for-profit company, and the cost of the tuition helps pay up to just 30% of the production expenses. (The remaining funding comes from donors, grants and ticket sales for A.C.T.) Expenses include artist fees for our professional team: director, vocal and music director, musicians, choreographer, stage managers and designers as well as technical elements, front-of-house staff, concessions, marketing, security, box office and other facilities costs.

A.C.T.’s Young Conservatory fosters a learning environment that helps students transition into the expectations of the professional theater industry. As such, we implement a policy that states that students are responsible for reading and responding to all communications within 24–48 hours of receipt. These communications will be directed to the students own accounts (if they have them) and cc'd or bcc’d to parents. It is imperative that students provide an email address that they and their family check frequently. 

A full rehearsal and performance calendar can be viewed in the Twelfth Night Information Sheet. This schedule is subject to change.

Key Dates:

  • Auditions: Thursday, January 22 and Friday, January 23 from 4:30-8:30 p.m., in-person at 30 Grant Ave, San Francisco 
  • Callbacks: Saturday, January 24 from 4:30-8:30 p.m., in-person at 30 Grant Avenue, San Francisco
  • Rehearsals: June 22–July 29 (Tuesdays–Saturdays, approximately 11am–4 p.m. There will be no rehearsal on July 3 & 4.
  • Meet and Greet/First Read Through: Thursday, June 25
  • Tech Rehearsals (including Photo and Dress Rehearsals): Wednesday, July 29–Thursday, August 6, approximately 12 p.m.–8 p.m. There will be no rehearsal on August 2.
  • Pick Up Rehearsal: Wednesday, August 12, approximately 5 p.m.–8 p.m.
  • Performances:
    • Fridays, August 7 & 14 at 7 p.m.
    • Saturdays, August 8 & 15 at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.
    • Sundays, August 9 & 16 at 2 p.m.

Rehearsals (approximately June 22–July 28, 2026) will take place at either of the following A.C.T. locations in downtown San Francisco: 

  • The Garret 5th floor theater/rehearsal space in the Toni Rembe Theater at 415 Geary Street. The nearest BART/Muni station is Powell/Montgomery, and the nearest parking garage is the Mason O’Farrell Garage.
  • The Rueff stage in the Strand Theater Complex at 1127 Market Street. The nearest BART/Muni station is Civic Center, and the nearest parking garage is Trinity Garage (entrance on Mission Street).

Tech rehearsals and performances (approximately July 29–August 16, 2026) will take place in the A.C.T. Strand Complex at 1127 Market Street, San Francisco.

More detailed info about the venues and specific dates will be provided to the cast.

Given the accelerated rehearsal calendar, you should expect to be called to all rehearsals, but if there is a rehearsal or two where you are not needed, the director will let you know. All actors must be available for all tech rehearsals and performances, including those in double cast roles. All conflicts must be cleared by the creative team.

Yes. Tickets will go on sale for this production in late May/early June, and tickets range from $20–$50. Cast members will receive a select number of comp tickets to use for friends and family. 

For any other questions, please reach out to the Young Conservatory Team at youngconservatory@act-sf.org.