Frequently Asked Questions

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Actor FAQ

Production Personnel FAQ

Company FAQ

How much is the registration fee for Actors?

$75, with a deadline of 9/22/24.

How much is the registration fee for Production Personnel?

$75, with a deadline of 1/17/25.

Why do I need to submit a video if I meet the Qualified criteria?

All applicants must be screened, and therefore, need to supply a screening video. Also, should we have to “virtual” again, we will have everyone’s video to supply to companies.

I would like to attend both as an Actor and as a Production person. Do I have to pay twice?

No. Your registration fee allows you to do both assuming you meet the requirements of both. Click here for criteria. However, you must fill out both the Actor and Production Personnel sections of the registration form.

What are the requirements to attend as an Actor?

Click here for criteria.

What is the difference between Pre-Professional Auditions and Regular Auditions?

All actors must submit a 90-second screening video by 9/22/24.

Pre-Professional Auditions are for those folks who will have their undergrad degrees in Theatre by 9/1/25. All Pre-Professional actors must first be screened before attending. For more information about your video pre-screening, click here.

Pre-Professional actors are looking to build their resumes and are willing to accept chorus, ensemble, and intern positions. There are generally a few less companies in attendance for Pre-Professional Auditions. Check our current list of registered companies here to see who will be attending Pre-Professional Auditions.

Regular Auditions are for those folks who have more experience and/or training under their belt. In either case, you must be available for work year-round – in other words – not returning to school in the Fall or Spring.

Make sure you are aware of the criteria involved for attending either audition. Click here for the criteria.

Again, All actors must submit a 90-second screening video by 9/22/24.

What’s this about uploading a video?

All actors must submit a 90-second screening video by 9/22/24. For more information about your video, click here.

Can I register online if I don’t have an audition video ready for screening?

Yes, but your registration will not be complete. Click the button on the form which says “I do not have a video.” Your information will be submitted, however your application will not be complete until we receive a link to your video audition by 9/22/24.

I need an UPTA or TCG company validation in order to attend the Regular Auditions. Who is permitted to validate me for the UPTA and TCG member theatres?

You need to have somebody from the resident artistic leadership validate you. That includes Artistic Director, Executive Director, Executive Producer, Producer, Owner, Associate Producer, Casting Director, and the like. Every company is a little different in terms of their leadership titles. Validations from Guest Directors or folks a few levels down the leadership food chain are not acceptable. You must provide the name, email address, and position of the person validating you in your Registration Form. That person will then receive an email from us requesting a validation on your behalf. Once we have received that validation, your registration will be complete.

Must I have worked at an UPTA or TCG theatre in order to obtain a validation from them?

Some yes – some no. That answer varies from company to company. Contact the company to find out what criteria they might have in order to validate you. It’s possible the will not validate your registration.

I need to send in a validation form but I did not receive one, where can I find them?

Validation will be done by electronic communication. If a validation is required during registration, you will be asked to enter the information of the person validating you into the Registration Form. Validation requests are sent and received by email. If you have any questions about this procedure please contact Courtney Oliver for assistance.

Can I register online if I don’t have a headshot to upload?

Yes, click the button on the form which states “I do not have a headshot.” Your registration will be processed, but you must email your headshot to us by 1/17/25.

I’m filling out resume information online. Do I still need to bring headshots and resumes?

YES! Company reps will still want your real headshot and resume when you go to callbacks.

How many resumes and headshots should I bring?

Good rule of thumb is to bring twice as many as there are companies registered.

I’ve submitted the online form prior to 9/22/24. I’ve uploaded my headshot. I’ve uploaded a link to my audition video. Am I guaranteed an audition slot?

No. Just because you sent in all your materials by all the deadlines does not guarantee you an audition slot. Audition videos are adjudicated by 5 UPTA company reps. Those with the highest average ratings will be taken in the order they were received and given audition slots. For more information about video pre-screening, click here.

We will fill up all Audition slots on a first-come first-served basis and create a waiting list. The bottom line here is “the earlier you register, the better.”

Once I’m registered, am I assigned an audition number and/or time slot?

Once all videos have been adjudicated by October 13th, audition numbers will begin being assigned. Audition numbers are given based on video screening score. All actors will hear about their audition status no later than 12/1/24. Time slots are NOT given for various reasons. When planning travel, please account for attending the entire audition day you were assigned.

How long will the audition process take?

The audition process for you will all happen in one day. Your 90 second audition will be during the day. Your dance callbacks and acting callbacks for the companies will hopefully occur that afternoon and evening.

How do I get to Memphis and around Memphis?

All of the information you need can be found on our Travel Information Page.

When should I arrive for my audition, and when should I leave?

If we meet in person in February, we suggest you arrive at least a day before your audition to get your bearings, and leave no earlier than the day after your audition. Don’t leave the day of your audition – your call backs may go late into the night. Of course you’re welcome to come earlier and stay longer!

When will the next UPTAs take place?

We plan to be around for quite some time, and we’d like you to be with us. Next year UPTA will take place February 7 – 10, 2025.

Production Personnel FAQ

What are the requirements to attend Production Personnel interviews?

Click here for criteria.

What is the interview process for Production Personnel?

All Production Interviews will be conducted online or by phone.  Company reps will receive a digital copy of your resume and portfolio and will be invited to contact you at their discretion via email or phone.

When can I expect to hear from Company Reps?

Once the Companies have all of your information at the conference in February, they will be free to reach out to you anytime from the beginning of February and throughout the rest of their season.

Company Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the registration fee for my company?

$175.

I’m interested in having my company attend. Is the registration fee per person, or per company?

The fee is for your company. That’s it. No per-person fee, no other fees.

What are the requirements to attend as a company?

Click here for criteria.

How do callbacks work?

You will see approximately 200 actors each day. They’ll have 90 seconds onstage at Playhouse on the Square. After every group of 25, we’ll collect your callback sheets for those you would like to further interview or have do more monologs/songs. If you choose to have interviews/callbacks, you’ll need an interview table or callback space at either the Sheraton Memphis Downtown or the Renasant Convention Center. These spaces are secured through either the Sheraton directly, or through Michael Detroit (Audition Coordinator) for the Renasant Spaces. Michael will send you this information with availability and prices in a separate email once your company is registered.

If you have interviews/callbacks, you will determine what timeframes you would like those to be each day. You might see one person every 10 minutes, you might see folks in groups of 5 every 20 minutes, etc., – you decide the timeframes, and the actors will go to your interview/callback space to sign up for a time that works in their callback schedule.

You should plan to have your interviews/callbacks each day for the folks you see that day because the next day, you’ll see 200 more people, some of which will need interview/callback time on that day. Many of the actors leave the day after they audition.

If you have more than one rep with you, you can start your interviews/callbacks during the day when auditions are still occurring at Playhouse on the Square. If you are the only rep in attendance, you will want to wait till after 5p or so, when auditions end at Playhouse, or perhaps even later after dance call, which should finish up by 8p each day. You will also have the option to interview/callback talent after you see them at dance call.

You will have access to all talent screening video links. In addition, we will provide you with links to talent video reels and websites for you to follow up. If you would like to see more from them, it will be up to you to contact the talent directly for additional materials.

How do Production Personnel interviews work?

We will no longer have in person production interviews. They will be virtual only. Production talent will have uploaded a PDF of their resumes and associated materials to us which will then be forwarded to all companies. You would then contact each other directly for follow-up interviews.

I’d love to have my company attend, but we can’t. Is there still a way for us to participate?

YES!

You register as normal with as much info as you can provide (you’ll be able to update your info through mid-Jan), not clicking any of the attendance dates, and then pay. Your company would be listed on our website as “Not In Person.”

A few days before the auditions, you’ll receive an email with download links for all 850 or so folks who made the cut to attend UPTA in person. In addition, you’ll receive information for the many other folks who are not in attendance. Some are unable to attend, while others simply didn’t have high enough scores.

Those links will bring you to a DropBox where you can download all the talent headshots and related resume info.

With that resume info will be included links to talent screening videos (all actors are screened 5 times and scored), talent reels, dance audition (if not in attendance), and other related information.

You will also have the option of purchasing video of their Memphis live auditions and dance call.

If you’re interested in tech folks, we’ll send you download links for that, too.

Once the auditions are over, you can contact any of the talent directly for more materials, discussions, or job offers.

There is no live streaming of any kind for the auditions. You won’t have to Zoom in to watch the auditions at a specific time. You’re downloading information and videos directly to your computer to watch at your own pace.

You’ll also receive a company booklet (pdf) with information on all the other registered companies.