Playhouse Series Auditions
Open to Ages 13 - High School
Playhouse Series productions are performed by teens and Community service hours may be earned through participation. There are no age exceptions. Please do not attend auditions if participant will not be 13 by the date of the auditions.
Audition dates have passed for the 2025-2026 Season. To be notified if additional auditions are scheduled later in the season (occurs only occasionally, if productions cannot be cast from the initial pool of actors), email childrens.theatre@paloalto.gov.
Be sure to read all audition information carefully below.
Additional Information
What To Expect at Auditions?
Playhouse Series auditions are held as a group, and last approximately 90 minutes. No prepared material is needed. Auditions typically consist of improvisation games, and participants may be asked to learn a short song.
How Does Casting Work?
Monthly Playhouse Series Productions are cast from a pool of eligible actors throughout the school year. Each production commitment lasts 2 weeks.
Where are Auditions?
Auditions are held at Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, part of the Lucie Stern Community Theatre at 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA.
You can also enter the community center from Harriet Street, via the alleyway located to the left of Palo Alto Children's Library at 276 Harriet St, Palo Alto, CA 94301.
What To Prepare for Auditions?
No prepared material is required for Playhouse Series Auditions. Participants will audition in a group and may be asked to learn a song.
Additional Information Needed at Auditions?
Parents should accompany their participant to the audition sign-up table, so that they can fill out basic contact information and the audition form. If participants arrive on their own, be sure that they can provide their name, age, parent/guardian’s name, phone and email address, as well as which months they are available to participate in productions (September through May).
What if I Can’t Attend Auditions?
In person auditions are required for the Playhouse Series. If a participant cannot attend and has been in a Playhouse Production in a previous season, they may email childrens.theatre@paloalto.gov, but there is no guarantee that an exception can be made, as directors vary each season.
How Does Casting Work?
Children’s Theatre staff work with directors to cast each production based on audition assessment and availability. Selected actors will be invited to participate throughout the school year.
Must be available for all ten Monday through Friday rehearsals and the full performance schedule.
When are Rehearsals?
Usually, rehearsals are held after school Monday through Friday from around 4 or 5 p.m. to around 6:30 or 7:30 p.m.
When are Performances?
Visit the Playhouse Series webpage for the full performance schedule. Performance times are 10 a.m. and noon (12 p.m.) on Saturdays and Sundays, plus 2 p.m. on Sundays.
Questions or Cannot Attend the Audition Dates?
Private Coaching Sessions
In a 3-session series of private coaching with a Children's Theatre Teaching Artist, participants will work on character development, and audition and acting techniques, including preparation of a monologue for a future auditions.
Open to Age 8+ | Three 45–Minute Sessions | 1:1 Coaching.
Residents: $225 Non-Residents: $258.75.
To request scheduling of a series of private sessions, email childrens.theatre@paloalto.gov. (Subject to availability.)