Audition
Shakespeare at Notre Dame provides multiple ways for you to connect with your community, onstage and off. Look through the audition information below for each summer opportunity, and visit our FAQ page if you don’t see what you’re looking for.
Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival Audition Information
Opportunities are available annually for directors, actors, stage managers, and technicians
At this time, auditions for the 2026 NDSF mainstage production of Macbeth are closed.
NDSF 2026 Key Dates:
- June 29, 2026 - Costume Shop Opens
- July 6, 2026 - Scene Shop Opens
- July 18, 2026 - ShakeScenes performance
- July 21, 2026 - First rehearsal of Macbeth
- July 24, 2026 - Shakespeare After Hours performance
- August 18 - 30, 2026 - Performance run of Macbeth
NDSF Core Company
The NDSF Core Company is a key component of the Festival. Core Company members work side by side with career professionals in a theatrical setting, and hail not only from our home campuses at Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College, and Holy Cross College, but also from other universities and colleges across the United States. Many former Core Company members enjoy careers in acting, design, production, and administration. Paid positions are available within the Core Company at both professional and apprentice levels.
Most Core Company assignments last six (6) weeks. Core Company actors receive training in voice, text, and movement. Core Company designers, stage managers, and technicians receive training in the design area of their choice. Each Core Company member is paid and will be provided housing (if needed).
To Apply for the Core Company (in a technical position):
- All interested candidates must complete an NDSF company application. Please include as much information about your experience, whether on stage or behind the scenes.
- There are many opportunities to work with NDSF, from acting to building to producing. You will need to prepare a resume and/or portfolio to highlight your work and experience. Interviews will be conducted by the Production Manager and/or the professional stage manager for the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, where your areas of interest and any questions you may have will be discussed.
To Audition for the Core Company (as an actor):
- To ensure a successful audition, actors are expected to arrive fully prepared. Having completed an NDSF company application and selected an audition time, please select and rehearse the provided sides prior to your audition. Check out the sides, pick one, make style choices, and be prepared to play! Physical printed sides will be available on the day of auditions.
- Strong actor-musicians should prepare 16-32 bars of a song of any genre that showcases their range and abilities. Please bring your instrument if available.
- We might take a digital photograph during your interview to help us with our selection process. If you have a photo and/or resume, please attach it to your application.
Helpful information on preparing for your audition from Backstage Magazine
Equity Performers
- We accept Equity applications for local Equity performers (within 50 miles of Notre Dame) for in-person auditions. Equity members outside of 50 miles from Notre Dame should follow the submission instructions posted in the Equity Audition Portal.
- As a focus of NDSF is engaging regional talent, a limited number of virtual submissions will be accepted on a case-by-case basis for Core Company members. We strongly encourage you to attend in-person auditions if at all possible.
To audition for and/or get involved in ShakeScenes and Shakespeare After Hours as either a director or actor, please contact our office at shakes@nd.edu.