Aside from UPA’s theater program, drama classes and a few clubs, not every student interested in theater pursues it at school. It could be daunting to risk embarrassing oneself in front of peers, or to step outside of one’s comfort zone with unfamiliar people. Contrary to popular belief, there are many opportunities outside of UPA for theater such as acting and improvisation troops and companies to get involved with. Applying to outside companies may seem intimidating, but learning about the process may lessen anxiety.
One of many local theater companies is Silicon Valley Shakespeare (SVS), mainly geared toward San Jose and other neighboring cities in the South Bay. Silicon Valley Shakespeare focuses on bringing a new life to the classic shows of Shakespeare. SVS performs at the Montalvo Art Center, two shows at Sanborn County Park and one show in Willow Street Park throughout the year. The youngest actors are about 10-12 years old, while the majority of actors are older teens or college-aged. According to their website (svshakespeare.org), their “casting philosophy” is to ensure diversity when casting. This means striving for at least 50% of casting to represent the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) community, 50% representing genders and a show dedicated to representing 100% of minority groups. SVS also has activities geared to younger age groups, including summer camps, storytimes with interactive actors, stage combat and more.
Amanda Nguyen is the current Education Manager, which includes reaching out to schools to engage students with the theatre, at Silicon Valley Shakespeare. Nguyen has a B.A. in Drama with an emphasis on Performance from the University of San Francisco. Nguyen has directed multiple junior shows and currently focuses on youth classes as well as storytelling and musical theater classes.
Upcoming auditions for SVS include “The Two Gentleman of Verona” on Jan. 31st from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition, there will be auditions for both, “The Importance of Being Earned,” and “Much Ado About Nothing” on Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (all auditions must have an appointment beforehand).
Those who hope to audition can often look at SVS’s social media for regular posts for updates on shows or auditions.
“..in our social media..our newsletters that our marketing team sends out monthly…,” Nguyen said.
Additionally, the SVS website has updates on all show related news. In Nguyen’s opinion, even if a resume or audition isn’t extraordinary, if enthusiasm is shown, SVS will be more likely to hire the applicant. They hope for auditionees to be excited, friendly and energetic when auditioning which encourages a positive atmosphere.
“The moment you come in, big smile that you have, the warm, welcoming, friendly, ’I’m ready to work’ attitude,” Nguyen said.
The process of auditioning usually consists of picking a time slot to perform two monologues, depending on what character one chooses to audition for.
“Come in with two contrasting monologues, preferably one of them at least be Shakespearean text,” Nguyen said.
For SVS’s acting and technical training programs, professional headshots for trainees, crash course in stage make up and performances are free. Most programs that are offered are free, with a select few being reliant on purchase (these include performances brought to schools, workshops, and residency performances).
“[Tech] can work every night behind the scenes in the show, depending on what element they’re interested in,” Nguyen said.
SVS offers positions such as sound technicians, assistant stage manager, lighting technician, board operator, set building and backstage support, all of whom are guided by professionals. The sound and lighting technicians are in the booth across from the stage, where they manage the light and sound boards during the show, while backstage support helps with quick changes, props and moving set pieces between scenes. Assistant stage managers manage everything from calling lighting and sound cues to fixing a costume during a show. Set building is mainly done on building days rather than during the show. Usually, requests for volunteers are spread by word-of-mouth and from people participating in the show.
Since the Los Altos Stage Company’s (LASC) founding in 1995, they have produced over 150 productions. Los Altos Stage Company is located in Los Altos, CA with both the Los Altos Youth Theatre (LAYT) and an adult-based group. All shows are performed at the Bus Barn Theater which neighbors the Los Altos Community Center. Most of the yearly youth theatre shows revolve around 12-18 year olds, with LAY also offering summer camps for children from the ages of 5-18.
Kristin Walter is a playwright and currently the Education Director of LAYT. Walter graduated from Santa Clara University with a B.A. in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Acting. Walter’s first job out of college was in Sunnyvale with California Theatre before she went on a year-long tour with Missoula Children’s Theatre. She has also performed in numerous plays since her time in college and worked in children’s theatre for over 35 years. Walter has written iconic interpretations of plays like “The Elves and the Shoemaker,” “The Last of the Dragons,” “Rapunzel,” “The Selfish Giant” and “Hansel and Gretel,” all of which are performed for younger audiences both at individual schools or in a theater.
In contrast to SVS, word-of-mouth is typically how people learn about new LAYT productions.
“A lot of it is word of mouth at the moment. Anyone who has seen a show is automatically on our mailing list, so they get advance notice of auditions,” Walter said.
Walter knows many educators in the area, sharing audition notices and casting potential amongst each other. If she knows that a specific person will be suitable for a role, she will contact them personally. Walter also notes that LASC’s website (losaltosstage.org) holds most information about upcoming productions. Through Walter’s personal experience, Walter has her own personal things she looks out for during auditions.
“They need no experience at all,” Walter said. She enjoys watching an actor’s progression from the beginning to the end of the production process. She recalls an actor in a previous production of Freaky Friday, who later developed into a leader throughout the productions they participated in.
Depending on the type of show an actor is auditioning for, the audition process differs.
“If it’s a musical, we ask them to sing a song or a piece of a song and do part of a monologue. If it’s a play, then just the monologue,” Walter said.
Alternatively to SVS, LASC does charge a fee to participate in shows in order to fund costumes, professional directors, designers and sets for the actors. The price fluctuates depending on the show, starting at about $650 per head (including costumes, food on show days and props).
However, LASC also offers alternative roles such as assistant directors, assistant designers, stage managers, assistant stage managers, backstage support and choreographers. Assistant directors help the director during production, and assistant designers help the costume professionals. Backstage support helps with moving props, quick changes, and assisting actors if anything goes wrong. Each role assists a paid professional, or is trained by an experienced adult. Though volunteers are not mandatory, there are opportunities to be one for those involved in the production, or others by reaching out through the website. High schoolers can also work as assistant teachers for one to three weeks at summer camps offered by the company.
Both of these companies are located a short drive away from UPA. For something fun, free and personal, Silicon Valley Shakespeare may be a good option. Silicon Valley Shakespeare is mainly focused on classic plays and musicals with a new interactive twist. Alternatively, when looking for something fun and with a professional tech crew and seasoned directors, Los Altos Youth Theatre company could be a viable option. Aside from these two companies, there are also many other options for everyone in San Jose.
