Common Casting

Common Casting is the HRDC’s process of open casting at the beginning of each semester. During this week of auditions, all interested actors are encouraged to attend available audition slots for the productions they are interested in participating in. Common Casting is the audition process used for all theatrical productions included in the announced HRDC season along with some productions taking place outside of the season.

Common Casting takes place the first week/weekend of every semester. Auditions will run from 6pm-Midnight every night of the audition period with different shows holding auditions for three hour slots (6pm-9pm or 9pm-midnight) at our different Common Casting locations. During the audition slot, you will sign up in the lobby of the given audition location (to save time create an HRDC account in advance here), and will soon be called for your 10-20 minute audition. Please note that the final call for actors is 20 minutes before the end of the audition slot. The detailed schedule of audition slots will be released in advance of Common Casting.

An info session is hosted before each Common Casting week for anyone new to the process. Pizza Q occurs every semester immediately following the Common Casting info session as a way for production staff to introduce their shows to the HRDC community and clarify any rehearsal requirements for actors interested in auditioning.

Sign up for the newsletter to receive updates regarding Common Casting, the Common Casting info session, and Pizza Q

Common Casting for Production Teams

What shows can participate in Common Casting?
The HRDC will always host auditions for all shows in the Loeb Experimental Theater, Loeb Proscenium, and the Agassiz Theater. If your show is not being produced in one of these theaters but you are interested in holding your auditions through Common Casting, please apply and we will do our best to accommodate you into the schedule.

How do I apply to hold auditions through Common Casting?
Contact our Campus Liaison at [email protected].

What is required of a production if it holds auditions through Common Casting?
The director, producer, and stage manager must attend the mandatory producer/director/stage manager meeting before Common Casting to hear procedures from the HRDC Board and ART/OFA professionals. Lead staff members that have never performed their staff role in a Harvard production are required to attend a workshop for their role.

Staff must be present through the entirety of your productions audition time. All productions must also provide staff members to assist HRDC board members in tabling during Common Casting. Productions in the Ex and Proscenium must provide staff members to assist with Workbee.

The Board highly recommends that all lead staff members participate in production workshops and that staff members be present during Pizza Q at the beginning of the semester.

Staff must also abide by all rules and guidelines set forth in the Common Casting Booklet.