KEEN TEENS AUDITIONS 2022

The Drama Desk and Obie Award winning Keen Company, in a partnership with Concord Theatricals,
is proud to announce the 16th Season of Keen Teens!

Keen Teens is a free production and performance opportunity for high school students interested in theater. Working with professional playwrights, directors, designers and technicians, students will perform in the world premiere production of three new short plays written exclusively for Keen Teens by C. Quintana, Bleu Beckford-Burell, and Stephanie Swirsky. The plays are then published by Concord Theatricals and made available to be performed in high schools across the country.

Students who are cast will rehearse once a week either on Tuesdays or Wednesdays or Thursdays after school. Rehearsals will run from February 14th through May 22nd including three all casts weekend rehearsals in late April/May. The exact schedule will be distributed during callbacks. The plays will be performed at Theatre One at Theatre Row for five performances May 19-22, 2022.

Auditions are open to ALL high school students in the NY area. You must be in grades 9–12 and be available for the rehearsal process and the full week of rehearsals leading up to the performances. If you can get to midtown Manhattan weekday afternoons and want to learn about how a professional production is created, then we want you!

Students of all genders, races, and abilities are encouraged to audition. No theatrical experience needed! 

COVID PRECAUTIONS: All students are required to be fully vaccinated to participate and must wear a mask at every rehearsal.

AUDITION PROCESS

The Keen Teens audition process will take place in two parts.

1. A video self tape audition. Anyone can submit! Chose your own piece or use one of the monologues provided, record yourself performing it, and submit!
** Submission deadline extended to Sunday February 6th at 10pm EST. **
2. In-person callbacks. Those that are selected for callbacks will audition again in-person.

If you have any questions about the Keen Teens program or audition process, please email keenteens@keencompany.org or call/text 646-470-5504.

PART ONE: SELF-TAPING

Watch an example of a self-tape audition above.

  1. Prepare a 1-2 minute monologue. We highly recommend that you memorize your piece. If you don’t have a monologue you like, you’re welcome to use any of the monologues on the pdf attached here:
    —> Download Monologue Options here!

  2. Record your self-tape.

    • Make sure your iPhone is horizontal / in landscape format (camera to the left, microphone to the right).

    • Film yourself against a plain blank wall or backdrop in a quiet space. 

    • Make sure you are well lit. The light source should be coming from behind your phone and shining onto your face. 

    • If you can, use a tripod or something that you can prop your cellphone on while recording.

    • Make sure that you are framed well. We should see the top of your head to mid chest/ just above your waist. Make sure there isn’t too much empty space above your head.  2-3 inches of blank space above your head in the frame is the max.

    • Say your name, preferred pronouns, school, and grade at the beginning of your self tape. Then share with us one of your favorite things you enjoy doing after school and why? Keep it brief. 1 minute maximum.

    • Tell us what monologue you are doing and where it is from. Take a pause. Look directly into the camera when performing your monologue. 

      —> Watch an example of a self-tape audition video here.

  3. Submit your video.

    • Upload your video to Youtube.

    • Make sure to save your video as “UNLISTED”.

    • Name your video using this format: YOUR NAME _ KEEN TEENS AUDITIONS 2022

    • Once your file is uploaded, copy the video link.

    • Complete this quick online form with your contact information and the unlisted Youtube link to your self-tape audition by Friday 1/28/22 at 5pm EST. Submission deadline extended to Sunday February 6th at 10pm EST.

      —> Click here to complete the submission form.


** Submission deadline extended to Sunday February 6th at 10pm EST. **

PART TWO: CALLBACKS

Once you have submitted your self tape and it has been reviewed, you may be contacted to audition in person on Wednesday February 2nd 4:30-6:30pm, Friday February 4th 4:30-8pm, and Wednesday February 9th 5:30pm-8pm.

In person call backs will be held at Theatre Row Rehearsal Studios West 41st Street between 9th and Dyer Avenues. Proof of vaccination and a valid photo ID will be required to enter the building. Masks must be worn at all times.

NOT AN ACTOR?

If you are interested in directing, tech (lights/sound), design (scenic/costume), stage management, or producing, we would love to have you! Students interested in other elements of theater have the opportunity to assist members of our production team. If you are interested, please email keenteens@keencompany.org to set up an interview.