Take the next step in launching your theatre career
beyond college.

Next Steps is your opportunity to make a strong first impression and pave the way for connections that could shape your future. Students will have the opportunity to present their work to artistic representatives from theatre companies, potential summer employers, and graduate schools in our region. For our actors, you will get the opportunity to hone your audition skills and present monologues to both Equity and non-Equity theatres. For our design, technology, and management (DTM) students, you will sharpen your interview skills and portfolio preparation.

All students interested should register by filling out the form below. Actors will be assigned audition times. Design, Technology & Management students sign up at the DTM desk at the festival. Our schedule for the Festival in Bloomington is:

• Friday, Jan. 8, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Next Steps auditions for actors
  Auditionees will be given 3 minutes to perform a monologue or song, or both.
  There will be no piano available. Please bring music on your phone or other device.
• Friday, Jan. 8, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Next Steps Interviews for design, technology and stage management. Drop-in coordinated through DTM. Sign up sheets available at the DTM desk at the Festival. There will be 20-minute time slots for each interview.

Deadline for Next Steps registration is midnight December 31, 2026. For those registering for MTI &/or for Irene Ryans who might also want to audition in the Next Steps program, it is strongly recommended that you register early for Next Steps in order to secure priority scheduling. You may also cancel your Next Steps audition if necessary, so register if you are even considering auditioning.

Please contact Kim (kinstenes@carthage.edu) for DTM questions or Adam (astjohn@lssu.edu) for actor questions.

All students interested in interviewing or auditioning please submit your Headshot/Resume/Portfolio HERE by Jan. 7, 2027. You may still audition/interview if you have not uploaded at the time of your interview, but it is very helpful to the theatre/university reps to do so ahead of time.