The Citadel Theatre is accepting applications for the role of YOUNG TALA for our production of Almost A Full Moon directed by Daryl Cloran
Parents and youth actors should read the following information before deciding to audition. We are looking at Edmonton-area actors only.
Character Description
Young Tala (she/her): 10 years old. Filipina. Recently moved to Edmonton and having a hard time adjusting. Must be a strong singer. While the character is 10 years old in the play, we will see actors between the ages of 8 and 12.
Commitment Dates: October 11 to November 27
Actors must be available for the following dates:
Rehearsal: In the rehearsal hall from October 11 to 30, 2022. The rehearsal week is Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Actors will not be called for the entire time, but must be available to come when needed.
Technical (on-stage) Rehearsal: From November 1 to 4, 2022. These are intense days of rehearsing and performing, potentially lasting from noon to ten o’clock.
Run of the show: November 5 to 27, 2022. We do up to eight performances per week, Tuesday to Sunday with matinees on some school days.
Applying for an Audition
We try to ensure that Citadel Theatre auditions are a rewarding experience for all actors, however, it is each parent’s responsibility to ensure your child understands that an audition is not a guarantee they will be offered a role. We only accept audition requests from parents/legal guardians. If you would like to have your child audition:
- Read the Young Tala FAQ below and note the commitment dates above. If your child is not fully available from October 11 to November 27, do not request an audition.
- Submit your request to auditions@citadeltheatre.com with “Young Tala” in the subject line, and attach a short resume of her/their relevant theatre experience and a recent headshot or photo of the child (a cell phone photo is just fine).
Audition Dates and Deadlines
- The deadline to apply is Friday, June 17, 2022.
- We are not doing in-person auditions. Auditions will be by video. Details and material to prepare will be given to applicants.
Working with Citadel Theatre
We wish to acknowledge that the land on which we live and work is Treaty No. 6 territory and a traditional meeting ground and home of the First Nations, including both the treaty signatories – Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Stony and Cree-Iroquois – as well as other Indigenous peoples, such as the Blackfoot and Métis, who occupied this land. We extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live, create and perform on this territory.
The Citadel Theatre is in the heart of amiskwaciwâskahikan ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Edmonton, AB), and we are proud to call Treaty 6 territory home. As a regional theatre, it is integral that we ensure that the stories we tell, as well as the composition of our artists, board, staff, students, and audience are reflective of the diverse lived experiences in this dynamic city. We encourage submissions from artists who self-identify as members of under-represented communities. For more on Citadel Theatre’s Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity commitments, please visit: https://bit.ly/CitadelEDIDetailsAuditions
If there are any potential barriers (language, disability, or any other considerations) preventing you from applying to audition please let us know and we will work with you to overcome them.
Accessibility: Citadel Theatre’s rehearsal facilities are accessible to artists that have mobility access needs. Our building is equipped with elevators and numerous accessible washrooms. The Maclab Theatre stage and backstage areas currently have reduced accessibility to artists that have mobility access needs. The Maclab is a unique thrust stage with multiple stairs, risers, and steep ramp entrances and the backstage area does not currently have accessible washrooms or dressing rooms; we are working to correct these issues in the space and are very open to discussing potential workarounds and solutions. Please let us know if you have any questions about the physical layout of our spaces, or other access needs.
Citadel Theatre's COVID-19 Returning Safely Policy
Citadel Theatre’s COVID-19 protocols (such as masking, screening, testing, vaccinations) are a part of our “Returning Safely Policy,” and will be prepared in advance for each production to ensure everyone is safe in the creative process. PLEASE NOTE – Citadel Theatre’s vaccination protocol will be in place for this production: everyone working in the building is expected to be fully vaccinated (if they are medically able). Please be aware of this requirement before you submit a request for an audition. For Almost A Full Moon, all COVID-19 protocols will be included in a rider to the contract.
Young Tala FAQ
Yes, we do. The actors and the crew (not to mention an audience of 700) are all counting on your child to be present when needed. It is our firm expectation that your child will be available when called to rehearse and will be on time and ready to perform for every show.
There is rehearsal every day of the week except Monday but not all actors are called to every rehearsal. We ask everyone to be available for the entire rehearsal period, so it is very important to clear your schedule for the entire time that rehearsal is possible.
Typically we do 8 performances a week. There is usually nothing scheduled on Monday.
Yes and no. You will get the performance schedule when a role is offered, but you will only get a potential rehearsal schedule. The daily rehearsal schedule is drawn up at the end of each day, based on input from the director, the stage manager, choreographer, music director and designers. The stage manager emails the daily schedule to the actors as soon as it is prepared.
The Citadel Theatre is bound by the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement (the CTA) which is an agreement between PACT (the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres – of which the Citadel is a member) and CAEA (Canadian Actors’ Equity Association). The CTA allows a Children’s Chorus of youth who are all under the age of 16. In the CTA those young actors are referred to as “child actors”. We find it more consistent to use the terminology of the CTA, even though we know teens hate to be referred to as children.
No. there is no provision in the budget to pay for travel. The expenses incurred to bring your child to the Citadel are paid by you. We appreciate the parents who do this very much, but do not have the resources to pay the expenses ourselves.
No. Unlike hockey and dance programs, the Citadel pays for costumes. Our professional wardrobe people will measure your child and will provide the costumes. All we ask is that you bring a designated pair of indoor shoes for your child to wear until the show shoes are ready.
Young Tala will be paid $809 per week for 7 weeks. Deductions will be taken from the fee and remitted to the actors’ union.
Rehearsal is a time for the actors and the director to focus on the work they are doing, so on the whole, we ask that parents stay out of the rehearsal hall while the actors are working. We do realize that it is very meaningful for parents to be able to watch some of the rehearsal process, and to that end, we will open specific rehearsals up for parents to attend. We will give more information about these opportunities to parents when a role is offered.
We hire a Children’s Supervisor, whose sole duty is to be responsible for the care of young actors while they are working at the theatre. Parents and young actor will have an opportunity to meet the supervisor before rehearsal starts.
Yes, that is a certainty. There are school matinees that your child will be performing in. There will also be rehearsals during school hours. We ask parents to speak to your child’s school and make sure the school is aware (and supportive) and will give us with a letter indicating that the school supports participation. There may be school concerts, field trips, birthday parties, and other events that your child will have to forego while in a show, so it is a good idea to discuss this thoroughly.
This is a question that I asked when I started doing this job 20 years ago. In the intervening years, hundreds of children have auditioned and many have been cast in our productions. Children who appear in our productions love the experience and want to be asked back. Some parents have noticed their child’s school marks actually go up over the course of a show. I think this is because the child is so motivated and wants to succeed. Additionally a child interested in theatre gets a rare insight into the workings of a large professional company and gets to work with some of Canada’s best directors, actors, choreographers and music directors.
Yes, everyone who auditions will be notified one way or the other.
We commit to ensuring the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone we work with. Everyone working on the show must be fully vaccinated. COVID-19 protocols are prepared in advance for each new production, in collaboration with staff and artists. While protocols will be unique to each project, elements such as mandatory N95 mask use (when not on stage), rapid screening, and daily symptom checks will be included in each production’s protocols.
Peni Christopher, Citadel’s Company Manager. Peni contributes to this FAQ sheet and will be happy to answer more questions. Peni will respond to emails sent to auditions@citadeltheatre.com.