AUDITION NOTICE
The Citadel Theatre is accepting applications from young actors in Citadel’s 2026/27 production of
The Comeback
By Trish Cooper and Sam Vint
Directed by Eric Coates
Shoctor Theatre at the Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, AB
All parents/legal guardians should read all information before deciding to audition to ensure this opportunity is a good fit for your family.
We are looking for 1 young actor. Please see the information below for age range.
Youth Role in The Comeback
We are looking for a youth actor to play Finn. Here are the details:
Finn (He/Him; plays 6-8, Metis lineage)
Son of Jesse and Adam. He is an infant for the bulk of the show and only referred to offstage. In the final scene when he is 7 years old, he appears in person and delivers a speech directly to the audience. Bright, lively, articulate and very comfortable in his skin and his Metis roots.
A strong speaking voice is an asset.
The Comeback Rehearsal, Tech Rehearsal and Performance Schedule
Youth Actor must be available for the following dates:
Rehearsal: March 16 to 21, 2027 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Actors may not be called every day but must be available to come when needed. We rehearse every day except Monday.
Technical (on-stage) Rehearsal: From March 23 to April 1, 2027. These are intense days of rehearsing and performing, potentially lasting from noon to ten pm. We rehearse every day except Monday.
Run of the show: April 1 to 18, 2027; eight performances per week, Tuesday to Sunday with matinees on some school days.
APPLYING FOR AN AUDITION
All youth actors under the age of 18 require parent/legal guardian permission to participate. All audition requests must come directly from parents/legal guardians, not the youth actor.
While we try to ensure that Citadel Theatre auditions are a rewarding experience for all actors, it is each family’s responsibility to ensure your youngster understands that an audition or callback is not a guarantee they will be offered a role. Directors base their choices on many factors including age and size. Please be very sure that your youth does not have unrealistic expectations about being in our show.
If you would like to have your youth audition:
- Read the FAQ for Youth Actors below and note the commitment dates above. If your child is not available for all dates, please do not request an audition.
- Submit your request to auditions@citadeltheatre.com with “Youth Auditions – The Comeback” in the subject line and the role or roles of interest in the body of the email.
- Obtain and fill in the audition application form, which can be downloaded below or requested from auditions@citadeltheatre.com.
- Please fill out the audition application form and, along with a short resume of their relevant theatre experience and a recent photo of the youth, please email the form, resume and photo to auditions@citadeltheatre.com.
AUDITION DATES AND DEADLINES
- The audition dates will be April 21 and 22, 2026. Auditions will potentially be during school hours.
- The deadline to apply is April 14, 2026.
- Each youth will be given the date, time, and location for their audition. They will be given instructions for material to prepare.
- Some of the youth who attend the first audition will be invited to attend a callback. Information for the callbacks will be confirmed.
FAQS FOR YOUTH ACTORS
Yes. It is our firm expectation that your youth 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 Mondays, 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 schedules for the entire rehearsal period.
Typically, we have 8 performances a week. There is nothing scheduled on Mondays. There are usually no understudies for most roles, so our expectation is that each actor will appear in each performance.
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.
No. There is no provision in the budget to pay for travel or parking. The expenses incurred to bring your youth to the Citadel are paid by you. We appreciate the families who do this very much, but do not have the resources to pay the expenses ourselves.
No. Unlike hockey and dance programs, the Citadel provides costumes. Our professional wardrobe people will measure your youth and will custom build costumes and provide all footwear and show underwear. All we ask is that you bring a designated pair of indoor shoes for your youth to wear during rehearsal until the show shoes are ready.
Yes, this is a Canadian Actors Equity contract.
Rehearsal is a time for the actors and the directors to focus on the work they are doing, so overall, we don’t invite parents into 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 accepted.
Yes, that is a certainty. There are school matinees that your youth will be performing in. There will also be rehearsals during school hours. We ask parents to speak to your youth’s school and make sure the school is aware (and supportive) and will give us a letter indicating that the school supports participation. There may be school concerts, field trips, birthday parties, and other events that your youth will have to pass up while in a show, so it is a good idea to discuss this thoroughly with your family.
This is an excellent question; it is certainly a big commitment for a youth actor and their family! Depending on how many years each of us has done this, we have seen hundreds of young people audition. We receive cards, emails, and verbal thank-yous from families, and consistently the message is: my youth has grown and flourished in many ways while being in a Citadel show. Youth who appear in our productions love the experience and want to be asked back. Parents have noticed their youth’s school marks actually go up over the course of a show – we think this is because the youth is so motivated and wants to succeed. Additionally, a youth 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.
Wayne Paquette, Citadel’s Artistic Coordinator. He will be happy to answer more questions and respond to emails sent to auditions@citadeltheatre.com.
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 the treaty signatories – Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Stony and Cree-Iroquois – as well as other Indigenous peoples, such as the Blackfoot and Métis. We extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live, create and perform on this territory.
The Citadel Theatre is in the heart of amiskwaciwâskahikan (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 professional artists who self-identify as members of under-represented communities. For more on Citadel Theatre’s Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity commitments, please visit the link below.
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. Our building is equipped with elevators and numerous accessible washrooms. The Shoctor Theatre stage and backstage are accessible to artists that have mobility access needs; the backstage area includes elevator access, accessible washrooms (including roll in showers), and an accessible dressing room. Please let us know if you have any questions about the physical layout of our spaces, or other access needs. For more information, please visit the link below.
For more audition information, please visit: https://citadeltheatre.com/artists/auditions/
Contact Name: Wayne Paquette
Contact Email Address: auditions@citadeltheatre.com