YC Auditions
Along with our year-around classes, the Young Conservatory offers audition-based performance opportunities for students grades 3–12. Below are open and recent auditions for YC programs and productions.
2026-27 CABARET PROGRAM AUDITIONS
This pre-professional program offers the highest level of musical theater training offered in the Young Conservatory. This program is designed for dedicated students seeking a rigorous program with specific training around voice, acting, dance and the synthesis of these skills into the unique art of musical theater performance.
In the YC Cabaret program, students build more than performance skills and confidence. Through the rigor and scope of the program, we aim to create resilient and disciplined artists who:
- Understand how to collaborate
- Appreciate the history of the art form through exposure to material
- Take feedback constructively
- Advocate for themselves in a professional manner, and
- Develop the self-discipline and time management skills needed in competitive performing arts college programs and beyond in the industry
Audition sign ups for the 2026-27 Cabaret Program are now open! In-person auditions will take place Friday May 1, Sunday May 3, and Tuesday May 5 and will consist of individual vocal auditions and a 45-mintue group dance call. Complete the audition for and sign up for an audition slot by Friday, April 24 at 11:59pm to be considered.
Visit the Cabaret Program webpage to learn more and sign up for the 2026-27 auditions!
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 actors ages 14-19 and 3 actors ages 8–13from 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.
Limited principle and ensemble roles are being cast.
Email YoungConservatory@act-sf.org for more information.
Download the Twelfth Night Information Sheet here.
Frequently Asked Twelfth Night Questions
This production will have a total of 16–20 actors ages 14-19 in the company, along with 3 Young Illyrian ensemble actors ages 8-13.
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
- ILLYRIAN ATTENDANT
- FIRST OFFICER
- SECOND OFFICER
ENSEMBLE: ILLYRIAN TOWNSFOLKS
Principals and High School Illyrian Ensemble actors must be between the ages of 14–19 from June 22–August 16, 2026 in order to audition. Young Illyrian Ensemble actors must be between 8–13 by June 22, 2026. 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.
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:
- 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.