Broadway Auditions: How They Work and How to Prepare

Where to Find Broadway Auditions

First, start with the sources that carry real notices. The Playbill job board lists theater work, with auditions under its Performer category. You can filter by state, by paid or unpaid and by union or non-union. Equity members also see Casting Call, the union’s internal board.

Our own pages also help. We track open calls on the New York castings page and the theater castings list. For the wider scene, read our guide to auditions in New York.

How to Read a Broadway Casting Notice

A notice packs a lot into a few lines. Go through it slowly, like a contract. For example, use this checklist.

• Type of call: EPA, ECC, appointment or open call.
• Date, time and room: note whether there is a lunch break and a holding room.
• Who is sought: roles, age ranges and voice types, plus any height limits for dancers.
• What to prepare: a song, a number of bars, sides or a dance call.
• What to bring: sheet music, a stapled picture and resume, and your Equity card.
• Pay: some notices state a weekly minimum or contract type.

The Lion King notice we covered, for example, asks for a brief standard R&B or rock song, warns you not to sing music from the show and promises a pianist. Details like these decide whether you walk in ready or stuck.

Musical Theatre Auditions: What to Prepare

Musical theatre auditions test three skills at once: singing, acting and movement. Casting teams usually give you a few minutes, so every choice counts. Prepare a short cut of a song that suits your voice and the show. Make it easy to accompany, and mark the cut clearly in your book.

The Phantom notice asked for 16 to 32 bars of legit musical theatre and said to avoid pop or rock. That tells you something useful, so choose repertoire that fits the show’s style. Also bring a second option in case the team asks for more. Keep your acting simple. Instead, pick a clear objective, play it to the person across the table and then stop.

Some calls hand you sides, which are short pages from the script. First read them for story, then for rhythm. Our guides on audition tips and monologues for auditions cover the acting side in more depth.

Singing Auditions: Songs, Sheet Music and the Pianist

Singing auditions at an EPA usually come with a pianist. That makes your sheet music the most important item in your bag. Bring clean, readable pages in your key, with clear markings for where to start and stop. Equity’s casting guidance includes “Bring sheet music in your key” as a sample instruction for notices.

• Pick songs that show your range without straining it.
• Have two or three cuts ready, in different styles.
• Tell the pianist your tempo in one short sentence.
• Skip songs from the show you are auditioning for when the notice says so.

Warm up before you arrive. Also read our vocal warm-ups if you need a routine.

Dance Auditions: What the Call Asks

Dance auditions also often start with a combination taught in the room. You learn it fast and perform it in small groups. Notices can be specific. The Phantom tour call asked for strong classical training and set height limits for each group. It also told dancers which shoes to pack.

Treat the shoe list as a rule, because the notice is the only guide you get. Wear clothes you can move in and that let the team see your lines. Even when singing is secondary, as that notice said, have a song of your own ready. It can decide between equally skilled dancers.

Broadway Auditions for Touring Productions

Tours are also a big part of the picture. The Lion King EPA we covered seeks actors for the Broadway and national touring casts, and the Phantom ECC is for the touring company. Both were held in New York, so a tour call may be closer than you expect. Both notices also state that the work is paid under weekly minimums, though you should always confirm terms in the official listing.

However, touring work asks for a different kind of stamina. You will rehearse in one city and perform in many. Read the notice for contract length and travel details, and ask yourself whether the schedule fits your life. A tour can also be a strong first step toward other stage work.

A Realistic Path to Broadway Auditions for Non-Union Performers

Most performers do not start on Broadway. Instead, they build credits first. If you are not an Equity member, think in steps.

• Regional and community theater: builds stage credits and teaches you how a professional rehearsal runs. See our guide to auditions near me.
• Tours and non-union productions: read each notice for the words non-Equity or non-union.
• Cruise lines: they usually post entertainment auditions on their own official pages, often through casting agencies. Check the source before you apply.
• Classes and coaching: training keeps your voice and movement sharp. Start with our list of acting classes in NYC.

Meanwhile, the union route is changing. Equity ended its Equity Membership Candidate program in 2023, and EMC audition priority ended on May 8, 2026, according to Equity’s announcement. The union’s Open Access policy lets anyone who can show professional work as an actor or stage manager within its jurisdiction join. Read the Join Equity page for current rules.

A Last Checklist Before Any Call

The night before, pack your sheet music, a stapled headshot and resume, water, and your Equity card if you have one. Confirm the address and the room. Then arrive early, sign in and stay polite with the monitor and the other performers. Enter the room, say hello, perform and leave on a good note. The team already knows you are nervous. They are hoping you are the one.