Audition Information
The Diamond Circle Melodrama and Vaudeville hires professional actors from around the country. We begin the process every year in January and usually finalize our casting by the first week of April. We attend 2 major regional auditions to find our talent and technical crew. These include UPTA in Memphis in February and Straw Hat Auditions in New York in March.
We
can arrange auditions in Durango with advance notice. We also accept audition
packages by mail with video taped auditions. These auditions need to include
two contrasting monologues and 2 contrasting songs. The entire audition
can range between 2 and 4 minutes. The audition package should also include
2 letters of recommendations from directors; 2 additional references with
phone numbers and email addresses; and a headshot and resume. We accept
these audition packages from January - March.
We have several returning cast members each summer. Slots are open to them on an invitation basis. We hire a total of 6 men and 4 women for a typical season. We provide a weekly salary and housing for our company members. Specifics will be discussed with potential cast members. Play Season runs May through August with an extended season in September.
The format of the Diamond Circle is authentic turn-of-the-century Melodrama! We have been producing authentic Melodrama for 46 years and we perform to sold out crowds most evenings. The Theatre seats 250 people at Cabaret style tables. The shows are highly stylized and fast paced. Diction and movement are highly emphasized. The Melodramas are followed by a Vaudeville Revue. The Revue consists of 30 - 45 minutes of comedy acts, songs and dances. We are looking for talented people who can act as well as sing and/or dance. Actors and actresses age 21 and over serve cocktails and popcorn during the intermissions to earn extra money. Anyone under 21 years of age can either work as a cashier or usher to earn extra money. Bar staff is also hired from trained persons in the cast. We are looking for talented people who are energetic and enthusiastic. We prefer people who like the outdoors and want to spend their summer in the mountains of Colorado.
The rehearsal periods are long and demanding. Rehearsal days begin at 9:00 AM and run as late as 11:00 PM with breaks for lunch and dinner. The first show opens near Memorial Day in May after which rehearsals for the second show and Vaudeville begin. These rehearsals take up any free time until the opening of the second show scheduled to open the last week of June. As soon as both shows are up and running the company has its days free. The call for July - September is 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM house open, 8:00 PM show and clean up finished by 10:30 PM.
Information on how to audition for UPTA and Strawhat Auditions can be found in the Summer Theatre Directory. We cast about 90% of our company from those auditions. If you have further questions, please contact the Diamond Circle Melodrama directly by calling (970) 247-3400. It is a wonderful way to spend a summer in Colorado and work in a professional, high-energy historical theatre. If you are interested, let us know and we would love to have you audition for us!