Do I need acting experience?

No! Community theatre is all about the amateur player - the one willing to take the chance to go out there on the stage and give it his/her all! All you need is a positive "can do" attitude and a willingness to commit your time, your energy and your memory. And above all, be prepared to HAVE FUN and meet some great people!

In most instances, you will be required to read a few lines of the play based on the character you are auditioning for. This will give the director an opportunity to imagine you as that character and to determine if your voice, general appearance and demeanor can be molded into their vision of what your character would be like. Remember that this is the stage and there are no microphones to amplify your voice so speak clearly and project your voice. The audience in the back row needs to hear you clearly. Be as animated as possible and have fun!

It's always helpful if you have some familiarity with the play and the character you are auditioning for. Copies of each play are made available for reading in some fashion prior to the audition dates. Usually the director will make these available to interested parties at the public library. If you can "bone up" in advance then you can project more emotion into your character during the audition reading. If you come to the audition cold, you can ask the director for some ideas as to what he or she is looking for and go from there. At the very least, demonstrate that you are articulate by speaking clearly and with good volume. Feel free to exaggerate the tone of your voice and the emotions behind them. Chances are, you will still seem quiet and reserved from the director's point of view, but he or she will be encouraged by your enthusiasm. And of course, have fun! What you feel on the inside will shine through on the outside.

This depends on several things - including the complexity of the play - and will vary from director to director. As a rule of thumb, you should anticipate rehearsing 4 to 5 nights a week, usually Monday through Friday, with weekend rehearsals scheduled at the director's discretion. Rehearsals will usually last a minimum of 1 ½ to 2 hours per night and major parts may require more time than minor parts. Ideally, rehearsals will begin 5 to 6 weeks prior to the first performance.

No. This is strictly a volunteer endeavor by those who donate their time for the sake of providing quality theatrical entertainment to the community. Everyone involved leaves feeling richer and with a deep satisfaction derived from whatever role they play - on the stage or off.

If you don't care to act, you can always help out backstage with props, costumes, lights, sound or as stage manager. Every production needs at least four crew members - and there are never enough to go around!

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Costumes for period pieces will usually come from the Civic Theatre Guild's collection of costume pieces or from a specialty shop. Plays set "in the now" can often be costumed more easily from the contents of our own closets. The director may appoint a costume coordinator to help you with your costuming needs.

Almost always, yes. Because of the small venue, most plays do not require heavy stage makeup. But almost every face requires some enhancement in order to stand out under the harsh stage lights. If prosthetics, hair coloring or other major makeup is required, the director will let you know.

Most Carriage House productions run for three weekends, usually Friday and Saturday evenings plus a Sunday afternoon matinee. Some directors will shorten the run by a week, but add a Thursday night performance. CTG productions at the WYO Theater tend to last one four-day weekend.