Performance Company Auditions
What is the High Desert Playback Performance Company?
We are a multi-racial, multi-lingual and intergenerational professional theater ensemble. We perform in theaters, community spaces, education spaces and meet-ups where the work of collective liberation is happening. Using playback theater as our primary art form, we listen to real stories from the folx in our audiences and “play them back” on the spot using theater, dance, music, ritual and spoken word.
Learn more about High Desert Playback here>>>
Company Culture, Values + Goals
Equity
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Courage
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Creativity
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Trust
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Appreciation
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Care
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Equity + Courage + Creativity + Trust + Appreciation + Care +
In our inaugural year, High Desert Playback Performance Company will:
Work to embody antiracist and disability justice practices in our rehearsals, performances and admin systems
Practice living into the values of equity, courage, creativity, trust, appreciation, and care
Devise strategies to deal with conflicts before they arise
Interrupt perfectionism when it shows up and focus on accessibility for our artists and audiences
Have regular business meetings to ensure decision making is collaborative and transparent
Sign contracts so expectations and agreements are clear in advance
Devise processes for giving and receiving feedback in all directions
Engage a variety of skilled trainers to build our skills and learn best practices for making the highest quality playback theater
Partner with organizations who share our values to use our artistry in service of community building and social justice initiatives throughout the state
The Process
Step 1:
Submit an online application. We will ask you to share your experience as an artist as well as your commitment to social justice work. You have the option to submit your answers via written text or video, depending on your learning style.
Step 2:
If selected, we will contact you about the next audition opportunity.
Step 3:
Our next round of auditions will happen late summer/early fall 2024.
The Details
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Actors, poets, dancers, and musicians who are also activists, community leaders, and/or healers. We cast folks of all genders, centering Black, Indigenous and artists of color, queer and trans folx and disabled/chronically ill creators.
The art of playback theater is a trauma-informed practice that requires a wide capacity for holding stories, managing triggers and caring for stress. While company life can feel therapeutic and create a deep sense of belonging, our main goal is to show up in service of our audiences. This means we must show up with the skills, resourcing and regulation to care for ourselves well as we do this deep work.
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The High Desert Performance Company rehearses approx 8-10 hrs per month, working toward monthly and eventually weekly paid performances. New company members will have a 6-month “try it on” period to decide if it’s a good fit all around. Artists must attend the majority of (collectively scheduled) rehearsals in order to perform.
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Company members will be paid $75- $300 per show, depending on performance length and type. Our goal is to pay a stipend for rehearsal time as well, starting Season 2: September 2024.
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Artists who are not invited to join the Performance Company can stay connected to High Desert Playback in multiple ways. You may choose to attend one of our monthly community workshops, “A Taste of Playback Theater.”
We also have opportunities to volunteer as part of our Community Ensemble that performs in free/low-pressure shows in the community.
Join Us
Our next round of auditions will happen late summer/early fall 2024. If you are interested, let us know and we’ll be sure to let you know when those dates are announced.