Explore your zeal for the performing arts
Enthusiasm and creativity are the driving forces behind our talented performers. What better place to explore this magical energy than as a member of one New England’s largest theatre troupes?

If you are ready to take your performance to a whole new level of interactive fun, we invite you to learn more. Become a member of our talented team and discover yourself.

The Steps to Fun
Becoming an actor at The Connecticut Renaissance Faire is only a few steps away. Find out what you need to do to bring your talent to our stage. Start by preparing your resume.

STEP I - PREPARING YOUR RESUME

WE WANT TO KNOW YOU
This is your chance to shine and set a solid first impression. We’d like to see your resume and photos at our next audition.

YOUR RESUME
Your resume should tell us about:

• What experience you have: shows and roles you have performed in, musical parts you have done, etc. While experience is helpful, it is not the end-all-be-all as we are willing to train the right candidate.
• Tell us what performing skills you excel at: Are you a talented singer? Are you a stellar actor with strength for audience interaction or improvisation? What things do you do that stand out?
• Tell us what other skill sets you have or are familiar with.
• Any additional information you feel is relevant.

Be sure to include your address, phone number, email address and website (if you have one).

PHOTOS
Along with your resume, we encourage you to bring a headshot photo as well as other close-up shots that clearly show your face and body while exuding your personality. We realize not everyone will have a headshot so this is not a requirement.

STEP II – ARRANGE YOUR AUDITION

Once you have your resume and photos ready to go all you need to do now is make an appointment for our audition. Audition contact information below:

Actor inquiries should be directed to Faire Technical Director, Dan Desilets, at (860)928.0600.

STEP III - WHAT TO EXPECT AT AUDITIONS
Auditioning for The Connecticut Renaissance Faire is an enjoyable experience. Here you will not only be asked to impress our staff with your skills, but you may find you learn more about yourself. We are a highly audience-interactive performance so be ready to enthrall us with your talents, captive us with your creativity, and charm us with your personality

• Expect to perform a 2-3 long monologue.
• Expect to perform improvisation games with a group.
• Expect to sing a short song of your choosing acapella.

Auditions typically last about an hour and due to a rigid schedule callbacks could happen within a few hours. Everyone who auditions will be notified if they have been accepted or not within two weeks of their audition.

WHAT COMES AFTER AUDITIONS?

Should you be chosen to join our ranks you are in for an exciting adventure filled with camaraderie, learning, and fun. Not only is the faire an excellent way to learn invaluable theatre skills, but it is also a great place to sharpen your skills and make new friends. Best of all, training is provided at no cost to selected candidates.

Your experience with us may include one or more of the following training aspects based on your role:

Workshops
Our workshops are designed to take you from character concept to a living, breathing recreation of the past. With the help of professional trainers you will learn a variety of skill sets that may include one or more of the following based upon your role: character development, history, improvisation, period dialect, public interaction, stage combat, and voice.

Rehearsals
In addition to an enjoyable series of workshops selected candidates will attend all scheduled rehearsals in preparation for the show. These sessions prepare the performer for an incredible show allowing them to work on blocking, projection, and interaction with fellow actors.

The Show
The Connecticut Renaissance Faire is an experience unlike any other. This is where your dreams are realized and your efforts are shared with your admiring fans. It is here you will use what you learned in workshops and rehearsals to captivate your audience. These are the memories that will last a lifetime.

CAST - FAQ

So you want to be a member of the cast of CTRF? You probably have a lot of questions. If you are looking for specific information look for your question under the topic list. If you would like more specific information or if your question is not listed here contact us.

Auditions:

How can I help spread the word about auditions?
Let us start by saying thank you for your help. We greatly appreciate it. Simply download this PDF document of our Auditions Poster, print it, and put it up at your local theatre group, grocery store, or other high-traffic/relevant areas.

Do I have to audition to become a part of the cast?
Yes. Everyone who wants to be a member of the cast of the faire must audition for a role. This includes all those who have been involved in previous years as well as those interested in joining for the first time.

What roles will be available, and can I audition for a specific role?
Each year we re-cast every role in the faire, from King Arthur to the tavern wenches. There will be a rough list of what roles will be available, but it will in no way be a definitive list.

Though we recommend you audition with a type of role in mind we do reserve the right to cast you in the role the directorial staff think is most appropriate.

Do I have to have previous experience?
No, experience is not necessary, though it is useful. We provide all levels of training to perform as part of the cast, especially since performing at a Renaissance Faire is a unique form of entertainment and requires different types of training from that included in most performance backgrounds.

Do I have to prepare anything for auditions?
At auditions you will be asked to fill out an audition form so you will need all your vital information including your address, phone number, etc. You will be asked to list previous performance experience so it will be useful to bring along a list of shows you may have been in or performances you may have given, or you could bring a resume to attach to the form. A photograph of yourself is also nice but not necessary. Also on the audition form we will ask you about your availability to attend rehearsals and performances. This will impact our casting and is a necessary part of your form. Please bring your schedule for the upcoming summer and fall, a list of dates for rehearsals and performances will be available at auditions or can be acquired sooner by emailing dan@ctfaire.com.

At auditions you will be asked to perform a 2 minute monologue. Your monologue will be a better representation of your acting abilities if you have memorized it before attending auditions. Your monologue does not have to be historical, anything you are comfortable performing that will provide the directors with a good representation of your abilities will do. You will also be asked to perform a short song. Everyone will have to sing something in order to be cast.

After you present your monologue and song, you will be asked to take part in a few improvisational games. These allow the casting staff a chance to see your improv skills, but are also a fun way to stretch your imagination.

When are auditions?
Auditions are held on Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13, 2008 at the Hebron Lions Fairgrounds, 347 Gilead Street, in Hebron Connecticut.

Do I have to sign up in order to audition? How do I sign up?
We ask those planning to audition to sign up for a time slot. You do this by contacting Dan Desilets: dan@ctfaire.com or(860)928.0600. A slot will be assigned to you, if you require a specific time we will do our best to accommodate you.

Casting:

Do I have to be a certain age to join the cast?
In order to be cast in a role you must be sixteen years of age or older by the time rehearsals start (around mid-July). If you are too young to be a member of the cast, see the intern page about possibly joining CTRF’s TOPs program for youth participants.

We encourage adults of any age to join the cast of CTRF, ours is a diverse family and we would like to see that trend continue.

What types of roles might I be cast in?
There are several types of roles at the faire: street cast, stage cast, singing cast, and fighting cast to name a few. Not all of these are independent of each other (everyone will have street time, and most fighters are also stage performers) but some of them are (those who want to be a part of our singing cast will not have heavy fighting roles and vice versa).

Are members of your cast paid to perform?
Most roles are unpaid. Though a few roles will receive a stipend for performing, like most faires ours is a volunteer cast. However you will receive a lot in return for your participation.Compensation includes complimentary tickets, food and camping space during performances, and most important: professional quality training in singing, stage fighting, interaction, improvisation, dialect, history, and many other subjects. You will also become a part of the CTRF community, a close-knit family of like minded folks.

Workshops and Rehearsals:

When and where are rehearsals?
There will be 8-9 full weekends of workshops and rehearsals to prepare for performance at faire. These run both Saturday and Sunday from nine am to five pm in a location not far from the location of the faire.

What is the difference between a workshop and a rehearsal?
Workshops are lectures, discussions, and activities that help you to develop a character, dialect, and interaction skills, rehearsals work on specific shows that happen on stages during the faire day. Rehearsals for shows and character workshops will be intermixed on all rehearsal weekends and will hopefully keep you learning and growing as a part of our cast during the entire process.

Performances:

When are the performances?
Every member of the cast will be expected to perform at every day of the Connecticut Renaissance Faire, which is open four weekends starting on the last weekend in September. There will also be a school day performance and Columbus day. The faire is open all day from ten to five and cast will perform all day long with breaks as needed.

Will the faire provide my costume or do I have to buy my own?
For the most part your costume will be provided by the faire. If you have sewing skills you may be asked to help on your costume or others. If you have pieces you have bought or made that are appropriate to your character please let our costumer know. All members of the cast will be asked to provide their own footwear. Feet are unique, so we ask that you provide your own shoes for your comfort and health.

This sounds like a major commitment, is it really worth it?
We know this is a huge commitment, a large part of your summer and fall. It is also an amazing experience that is like no other. You will receive professional quality training, make tons of new friends, have tons of fun in the process and have plenty of great memories when we’re done.

What do I do if I’ve got questions that were not answered here?
If you still have unanswered questions please call: (860)928.0600 or contact us via email.