America's Oldest Summer Theatre, since 1927
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CASTING 2025
Gretna Theatre is seeking submissions for our 2025 MainStage Season for the following productions and roles:
The Seeker: A Dolly Parton Tribute Concert
Created by Dan Kazemi & Michael Philip O’Brien
Rehearsals: May 22 - June 4, 2025
Performances June 5 - 8, 2025 Gretna Theatre is seeking two performers (she/her), 20’s-50’s. Virtuosic singers with a welcoming stage presence and a genuine love of Dolly Parton. This is a musical event, not under AEA jurisdiction. Union and non-union performers are encouraged to submit. The Seeker celebrates the amazing career and legacy of musical and cultural icon Dolly Parton through her music. The show is performed by 2 singers. Repertoire includes songs like “Jolene”, “I Will Always Love You,” “9 to 5”, “The Seeker” and many more.
Complete Works Of William Shakespeare Abridged (Revised) (Revised Again)
By Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield
New Revisions by Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield
Directed by Leah Walton
Rehearsals: June 10 - 25, 2025
Performances June 26 - 29, 2025 Seeking the following roles: Jess - All actors are encouraged to bring themselves to the role, and that will shape the way the "characters" are portrayed. All characters require physical comedy, high vocal energy, and some audience interaction. Actors of all gender identities/expressions and ethnicities are encouraged to submit. Daniel - All actors are encouraged to bring themselves to the role, and that will shape the way the "characters" are portrayed. All characters require physical comedy, high vocal energy, and some audience interaction. Actors of all gender identities/expressions and ethnicities are encouraged to submit. Adam - All actors are encouraged to bring themselves to the role, and that will shape the way the "characters" are portrayed. All characters require physical comedy, high vocal energy, and some audience interaction. Actors of all gender identities/expressions and ethnicities are encouraged to submit.
Million Dollar Quartet
By Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux
Directed by Andrew Kindig
Musical Directed by Jon Rossi
Rehearsals: June 24 - July 9, 2025
Performances July 10 - 19, 2025 Seeking the following roles: Elvis Presley: (20s-30s, he/him) singer/guitar player. Elvis in his 20s at the beginning of his career. Must be familiar with his music; should sound and look somewhat like Elvis without being an "impersonator." Jerry Lee Lewis: (20s-30s, he/him) singer/pianist. Jerry Lee Lewis was rock & roll's legendary piano prodigy and celebrated "Last Man Standing." Fun, energetic. Actors with comedic skills who are superb piano players and able to play like Jerry Lee Lewis are encouraged to submit. Carl Perkins: (mid 20s-late 30s, he/him) singer/guitar player (lead guitar). Carl Perkins was the American pioneer of rockabilly music and best known for his song "Blue Suede Shoes." Actors who are excellent lead guitarists are encouraged to submit. Johnny Cash: (Late 20s-40s, he/him) singer/guitar player. This is Johnny Cash at the dawn of his epic career. I Must be familiar with his music. Actors should sound and look somewhat like Johnny without being an "impersonator." Sam Phillips: (Mid-30s-40s, he/him, Non-Singing Role) The "Father of Rock'n'roll" and founder of Sun Records who discovered Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and many others including Roy Orbison and B.B. King. A towering and charismatic figure in American music. Dyanne: (20s-early 40s, she/her) Excellent singer. Dyanne was an aspiring singer and Elvis's girlfriend. Ahead of her time and assertive, she's a great singer with a wide range. Jay Perkins: (20-40s, Male-Identifying) Jay is Carl Perkins' brother and bassist. He is loyal to Carl but also not interested (or willing) to get caught up in the politics of the record business. He is an extremely skilled bass player and performer, able to play at strange angles with other musicians leaning on, or even standing on, his bass. W. S. "Fluke" Holland: (20-40s, he/him mid 20s; onstage drummer. Fluke is Carl Perkins' drummer, who has accompanied him to Sun Records to record Carl's new album. He is loyal to Carl but also not interested (or willing) to get caught up in the politics of the record business. He remains silent in conversation, but performs as part of the ensemble numbers, and plays drums on all the musicians' songs. (Seeking Replacements Only)
2025 Auditions In-Person Auditions are as follows:
January 27 & 28, 2025 - Local Equity Principal Auditions from 10am - 6pm at Creative Pursuits in Lancaster PA. Gretna Theatre will run these local EPAs. Equity members may sign up in advance by clicking this link. Non-Equity actors will be seen on a walk-in basis as time allows.
January 29th, 2025 - New York EPA from 10am to 6pm at Studios 353 in NYC. Standard EPA procedures will be in effect for this audition.
February 1, 2025 - Local Open Call from 10am - 6pm at Creative Pursuits in Lancaster PA. Gretna . Actors may sign up in advance by clicking this link.
February 14th, 2025 - Philadelphia Open Call from 10am - 6pm at the Walnut Street Theatre (6th Floor Studio), Phila. PA. Actors may sign up in advance by clicking this link.
PLEASE PREPARE:
For The Seeker and Million Dollar Quartet: Auditioners should prepare 1 short song (32-64 bars) in the style of the show. Instrumentalists are encouraged to bring and play their instruments.
For Complete Works: Auditioners should prepare a brief comedic monologue in the style of the show.
2025 Acting Apprenticeship: Auditioners should prepare 2 contrasting short songs (32 bars)
Gretna Theatre will also be accepting virtual submissions for all projects as well. Virtual submissions should be sent with headshot/resume, and brief email to casting@gretnatheatre.org. The deadline for all virtual submissions is Friday, February 14th, 2025.
As a professional theatre, Gretna Theatre engages both union and non-union actors. The theatre operates with an Actors' Equity Association agreement that references the COST contract.
2025 Professional Apprenticeship Program
Gretna Theatre, America's Oldest Summer Theater in the heart of Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania, is seeking current students and recent graduates interested in pursuing theatre professionally for its summer apprenticeship programs. This year's programming runs from May 28 through August 3, 2025, and offers paid apprenticeships in the areas of Acting, Costumes, Properties, Scenic Design, Stage Management, Company Management and Marketing.
Acting Apprentices will be featured as lead roles in our three Family Series productions as well as a musical theatre cabaret as part of the MainStage Series. While working alongside industry professionals, acting apprentices also participate in a series of masterclasses curated by Gretna's Producing Artistic Director Michael Philip O'Brien. See information above for audition details. The Costumes, Properties, and Scenic Design Apprentices will serve as the lead designers for Gretna's popular Kids Series under the mentorship of Gretna's Production Manager and visiting artists. When not in production meetings and technical rehearsals, these apprentices assist with the MainStage series as needed. Stage Management Apprentices serve as the production stage managers for Kids Series productions, and will each act as an assistant stage manager for at least one mainstage production. Stage Management apprentices will also have additional opportunities to assist with seasonal operations and mainstage productions as needed. Company Management Apprentice serves as the liaison between the Administrative staff and the artists for the season. Duties include coordinating artists' housing and travel accommodations from out of town as well as while at the theatre. Setting up and maintaining rehearsal spaces and assisting the Associate Producer and Producing Artistic Director on admin and production tasks as needed. Marketing Apprentice works alongside Gretna's Director of Digital Marketing to strategically and effectively promote Gretna's multiple lines of programming throughout the summer. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to creating and scheduling social media content, flyer and poster distribution, rehearsal b-roll and photos and other tasks allocated by the Director of Digital Marketing.
All apprenticeships positions are paid with limited housing options available. Acting Apprentices: please fill out this virtual form and attend in person auditions or submit headshot/resume, a virtual audition, and a brief email to casting@gretnahteatre.org.
All Other Apprentices: To apply, please fill out this virtual form and email your resume along with a brief email introducing yourself to jobs@gretnatheatre.org
EMPLOYMENT
*PAID OPPORTUNITY* Gretna Theatre is seeking a local, non-union stage manager for our touring outreach production. Rehearsals are the week of 1/14/25, and the tour runs between 1/20/25 and 3/20/25. If interested, please send your resume to Producing Artistic Director, Michael O'Brien, at michael@gretnatheatre.org.
Gretna Theatre employs both part time and full time seasonal staff each summer for operations.
For consideration, please forward a resume and cover letter indicating position of interest to: JOBS@GretnaTheatre.org
VOLUNTEER
GRETNA THEATRE BRANCHES is our theatre's volunteer troupe. The trees of Mt. Gretna can only go as far as their branches allow, and as a nonprofit organization, Gretna Theatre relies on your help for us to stretch our mission out in the community. Get involved today! Complete follow PDF > PDF and email it to housemanager@gretnatheatre.org with the subject VOLUNTEER.
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Usher Volunteers - Assist our front-of-house staff as an usher before curtain time and during intermission, greeting patrons, taking tickets, and seating our theater guests. And see the show for free!
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Cast & Crew Dinner - Tech Rehearsals are long 12 hour days, and after constructing the set on stage and hanging all of the lights, volunteers have set up hot food/dinner/drinks/snacks for our team. This happens the Tuesday evening before each new production opens.
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Special Events Volunteers - Support our fundraising department with setup, greeting, and service at our annual gala each October and at other special events that are so essential in supporting the outreach at Gretna Theatre.
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Administrative Volunteers - Work alongside our daytime staff in Marketing, Development, or Education doing data entry, phone solicitation, or providing general clerical assistance. Help keep Gretna Theatre growing!
LITERARY
Script Submission Policy - If you have written a play or musical that you feel is appropriate for Gretna Theatre, please send the following:
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1-2 page synopsis
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5-10 page excerpt from the script
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a character breakdown
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bios for the playwright, composer, lyricist, and any other artistic collaborators
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Demo CD with tracks clearly labeled (musicals only)
Hardcopy submissions should be mailed to the attention of the Producing Artistic Director.
Please do not send the full script unsolicited. If, upon reading the synopsis package we find that your show is a good fit for Gretna Theatre programming, we will request a full script at that time. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope or postcard for response, and please allow up to 6 months for review.
