Auditions! - Valley Youth Theatre

AUDITIONS

BE PART OF THE MAGIC

In this page you can find the in-person auditon dates for Valley Youth Theatre's mainstage performances. If you have any questions, check out our AUDITION FAQ below or join our Mailing List to get the latest announcements about upcoming auditions. We also announce our auditions in our social media.

*AUDITION DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Shrek The Musical

At Herberger Theater Center

THERE ARE NO AUDITION FEES AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT CHARGED A FEE TO BE IN OUR SHOWS.

Cast List Posted!

Valley Youth Theatre's mission is to inspire young people to be the best they can be through a variety of performing arts opportunities. All roles will be played by young people unless otherwise noted. Our performers are not charged fees to be in our shows. There are no ticket quotas, costume or script deposits, ad sales or financial requirements of any sort to be in our mainstage shows.

Valley Youth Theatre welcomes all young performers and artists (under age 20). All ethnicities, all gender expressions, and all bodies are encouraged to audition. In addition, VYT's live orchestra and deck crew are young people. We welcome you!

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Shrek The Musical

Director: Mathew Wiener
Music Director: Tristan Peterson-Steinert, VYT Alum
Choreographer: Lauran Stanis
Stage Manager: Morgan McCall

Performed at Herberger Theater Center, Center Stage
Run Dates: June 12 - 28, 2026

Cast List for Shrek: The Musical!

Erick Resendiz……………….....…………Shrek
Lucy Glow……………………….....……….Fiona
Shane Sedivy……………….....…………..Farquaad
Tayson Toledo………………....………….Pinocchio, Happy People
Ra’Jihya Givens………………....………..Dragon
Abby Baumbach……………………...….Teen Fiona
Noelia Castillo………………………....….Young Fiona
Carver Mollencopf……………………....Little Shrek
Abby Fleming…………………………...…Queen Lillian, White Rabbit
Jaden Sparkman……………………...…..King Harold, Captain/Thelonius
Shea Levine…………………………...…….Gingy, Sugarplum Fairy, Rat
Drake de Gennero-White………………Big Bad Wolf, Happy People
Lucas Stevens…………………………..…..Pied Piper, Guard
Isela Tovar………………………………..…..Mama Ogre, Wicket Witch
Isaiah Asmare………………………..……..Papa Ogre, Papa Bear, Guard
Jolie Grimwood…………………………..…Mama Bear, Happy People
Oliver Smith III………………………..….. Baby Bear, Dwarf
Josephine Taylor…………………….…....Fairy Godmother, Fiona Body Double
London Cairney……………………...……Ugly Duckling
Azella Casap…………………..………..…..Humpty Dumpty
Kaylah Magee………………………………Elf
Mahagani Carter……………………….…Peter Pan
Tommy Gray……………………….……….Pig, Knight, Happy People
Jacob Hammond…………………………..Pig, Guard
Colton Wilcher……………………………..Pig, Rat
Claire Calihan………………………………Blind Mice, Rat, Dulac
Grier Donnally…………………………..…Blind Mice, Mad Hatter
Nora Bermudez………………………..….Blind Mice, Dulac
Tommy Hebel……………………………....Knight, Bishop, Guard
Alex Paquin………………………...……….Rat, Dulac, Happy Person
Kyler Tilley……………………………..…….Knight, Rat, Dulac
Andrea Grace Morris………………….….Rat, Dulac
Ruby Crogan………………………………….Rat, Dulac, Dance Captain
Reagan Little…………………………………Rat, Dulac
Alyssa Ocean………………………………...Dulac, Happy People
Hanna–Catherine Smith……………..…Dulac, Happy People
Ellie Evans………………………………….….Dulac, Happy People
Ariella Gilbert……………………………..…Dulac, Happy People
Braydon Pruitt……………………………….Dulac, Guard, Happy

Donkey, Dragon Dancers and Puppeteers are still TBD and awaiting to be cast.

Congratulations on getting cast in VYT’s Production of Shrek The Musical! We are so excited to see you all shine at Herberger Theatre Center’s Center Stage!

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT EITHER TODAY OR TOMORROW YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM MAYA@VYT.COM ASKING IF YOU ACCEPT YOUR ROLE. PLEASE GET BACK TO HER ASAP SO WE HAVE A HEADCOUNT OF WHO WILL BE OFFICIALLY JOINING OUR CAST

First Rehearsal and First Company Meeting will be held Monday, April 27th at 5pm. Each cast member must be there WITH A PARENT/GUARDIAN PRESENT.

Congratulations again and we are so excited to get started!

If you said you were interested in casting for Matilda, please look out for an email later in June stating whether or not you are called back for that. Thank You!

AUDITION INFORMATION

Valley Youth Theatre welcomes all young artists (age 20 and under). All ethnicities, all gender expressions, and all bodies are encouraged to audition.

SYNOPSIS:

Shrek The Musical

Music by Jeanine Tesori
Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire
Based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig

"Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek...." And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand... and his name is Shrek.

Shrek presents a treasure trove of creative opportunities, including costumes, sets, puppets (there is a fire-breathing dragon after all) and more! Irreverently fun for the whole family, Shrek proves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre.

CHARACTERS:

Name: Shrek
Gender: Male
Description: Our story's title character. A big, green, terrifying ogre who lives alone on a swamp. He embarks on a journey to rid his land of fairytale creatures and, along the way, falls in love with Fiona. Begins as a grumpy hermit, but reveals his layers and eventually becomes the hero.
High Note: G#4
Low Note: A2

Name: Fiona
Gender: Female
Description: The beautiful princess of Far Far Away, she transforms into an ogre every night when the sun sets. Rescued by Shrek and eventually falls in love with him. Quirky, blunt, and multitalented, she is not an ordinary princess.
High Note: G5
Low Note: F3

Name: Donkey
Gender: Male
Description: A talking donkey who joins Shrek on the run from Farquaad's guards. Quite the chatterbox, he is not deterred by Shrek's looks and practically forces himself into his good graces. Easily frightened and pushy, but also an optimistic with heart.
High Note: B4
Low Note: C3

Name: Lord Farquaad
Gender: Male
Description: The comically short, ruthless ruler of Duloc. He is in search of a princes to marry so that he can become king. Has an intensely unfair bias against fairytale creatures that stems from a resentment of his father. Self-absorbed, lonely, and cruel.
High Note: D5
Low Note: B2

Name: Dragon
Gender: Female
Description: A dragon that has been charged with guarding Princess Fiona in her isolated castle. She eventually falls in love with Donkey and attempts to keep him there forever. Imposing and flirtatious, but tired of her job as the glorified baby-sitter.
High Note: Eb5
Low Note: F3

Name: Gingy
Gender: Female
Description: A gingerbread man initially kidnapped by Lord Farquaad. His wit and resolution help him both avoid trouble and inspire the rest of the fairytale creatures. Puppet. May be operated by actress appearing as Sugar Plum Fairy.
High Note: C#5
Low Note: B3

Name: Pinocchio
Gender: Male
Description: The leader of the fairytale creatures. He is an animated puppet whose nose grows every time he lies. Plenty of sass with a penchant for lying.
High Note: F#4
Low Note: E3

Ensemble
The ensemble of this show include Fairytale Creatures (Big Bad Wolf, Three Little Pigs, White Rabbit, Fairy Godmother, Peter Pan, Wicked Witch, Ugly Duckling, Three Bears, Mad Hatter, Humpty Dumpty, Elf, Dwarf, Three Blind Mice); Angry Mob; Happy People; Guards; Knights; and Rats Dancers needed! Especially tap.

REHEARSALS AND TIME COMMITMENT:

Approximate rehearsal dates can begin as early as the week of April 20th and run though June 4, 2026, Monday through Thursday evenings and Saturdays. Before tech, evening rehearsals will be 5p - 9p until the week of May 18th when they may go as late as 10p; tech rehearsals will be potentially until 12am. We understand that some students may have conflicts where they may miss rehearsals, must arrive late or leave early. However, cast members will not be able to miss rehearsals during tech week or the run of the show.

*Load-in is on Thursday, June 4th and tech rehearsals start June 6th.*

Opening night is June 12 and the show runs through June 28, 2026. There are several weekday matinees for schools in addition to the traditional evening and weekend performances.

DOWNLOAD OUR TENTATIVE SCHEDULE HERE TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY CONFLICTS

We will ask about the specific dates of your conflicts in the audition form.
Cast members will not be able to have any conflicts between June 5 and June 28th, 2026

WHAT TO HAVE READY FOR THE AUDITION:

A monologue. This should be around 0:30 to 1 minute and can be from any piece of media. We recommend something from a play or musical, but you can get creative. The monologue does not need to be memorized, but we recommend that it is prepared and you are very familiar with it. If you have the monologue in your hand, make sure you can keep the paper out of your face and connect with the people behind the table. We want to see you make choices and hear what you sound like! Need a suggestion on your monologue? Here are some options (which we will have available at check-in at the audition if you need it)
A headshot. It doesn't have to be professional. Just a good photo that looks like you! you can take it with a camera phone if you'd like. Make sure you have good lighting so we can see your face.
An acting or theatre resume. You don't have to have one all fancy and ready to upload (although you certainly can). We just want to know what you have done performance-wise and in a theatre. If you worked on the stage crew, put that in there too!
A song that will show off your voice and is appropriate for you and the character you are auditioning for. How long should the song be? Good question. The answer is: as long as it needs to be for you to feel that you have shown us how amazing you are! Chances are that's around :30 to 1 minute or so, but it may be longer or shorter. You may not get to sing the whole song either so make sure that you get to "the good part" sooner rather than later. You don't have to start at the beginning of the song. We just want to see how you sing!
Comfortable clothes that allow movement but are also professional.
A Water Bottle. This is Arizona! You need to stay hydrated and energized.

If you can, it's a good idea to pre-register. You will fill out the audition form online before hand so you won't have to fill it out when you get to the theatre. To pre-register, follow the link below.

AUDITION DATE, TIME AND LOCATION:

Tuesday, April 14th, 2026 at 4:00pm. Doors Open at 3:30 pm.
Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 at 4:00 pm. Doors Open at 3:30 pm.

You only need to attend one of these auditions. We hold auditions at our theatre:

Valley Youth Theatre
525 North First Street
On the Southeast Corner of First Street & Fillmore in Downtown Phoenix
Enter through the side door on Filmore and follow the signage.

Please note: The VYT parking lot is first-come, first-serve. Public paid parking is available in the lot across the street of the front doors on 1st st. and at various meters surrounding the theatre. Please plan accordingly.

If you or your child need assistance auditioning, and your answer is not covered in this page, please contact VYT's Production Stage Manager at stagemanager@vyt.com

NOTE FOR SHREK AUDITIONERS:

Valley Youth Theatre offers the auditioners for thier June show to also audition at the same time for thier August show. This year, anyone auditioning for Shrek can also choose to be considered for Matilda as well. Shrek auditioners who would like to be considered for Matilda will not have to attend the general auditions for Matilda.
In order to be considered for both shows, please check the box indicating you would like to be considered for both shows.

READY TO AUDITION? CLICK HERE!

AUDITION FAQ

Do I have to be a professional child actor to audition for a VYT show?

NO! VYT auditions are open to all young people of all skill levels. Young performers in our shows aren’t required to have any previous theatrical experience or formal training. We just strive to recognize each child’s potential and to match their talent and skill level with the needs of each role. That means, our open casting gives every child in the Valley an opportunity to participate in our shows!

How much money does it cost to be in a VYT show?

Zero. Nothing. Nada. You do not pay upfront to audition. VYT performers don’t have to rent or purchase costumes or scripts. There are no ticket or program ad sales requirements. We believe that money should not be a barrier to a transformative performing arts experience.

How old should I be to audition for a VYT show?

Typically, because they need to read and memorize lines, main stage performers are at least 7 and not more than 19 years old. Younger people aspiring to the stage are encouraged to consider our performing arts camps and classes. Sometimes, however, due to the nature of a production, there are age restrictions and those will be noted in the show's audition notice.

Do I have to audition? I've done a ton of shows.

Yes. You have to audition. The number of shows you have done does not matter. Everyone has to audition!

How do I audition for VYT?

First, check out our auditions page to see which show VYT will be auditioning for. Pay attention to the roles listed and the age suggestions if any. If you think you fit who we are looking for great! Second, you will see a link so you can pre-register for your audition. This means that you will fill out all of the important information we need before you come to the audition. If you pre-register, you don't have to take your time filling out all of the information in person. We will have it printed out for you. You don't have to pre-register, of course, but it will save you some time.Third, come to the audition! We audition in-person on the dates listed on the audition notice. Our auditions usually start at 4pm and we open our doors early so people who did not pre-register have time to fill out their information.

What if I can't make it at 4pm when the auditions start?

If you are there when doors open, you will be in one of the first groups to audition (sometimes people will line up outside the building before the doors open). If you come after 4:00pm, you will be in one of the later groups to audition. We have no guarantee we can get you out by a certain time, so if you need be somewhere in the evening, please arrive early so we can get to you as soon as possible. We stay at the building until we have seen everyone that has arrived at the audition. This can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours to see everyone depending on how many people show up. Please understand that if you arrive later than 4:00pm, there is a possibility that we have seen everyone and auditions will be closed for the day. However, if we are still seeing people, you are welcome to check-in and audition!

How long will the audition take?

Well, the short answer is it depends. Auditions are done on a first come first seen basis. We open the doors at 3:30 pm on audition day and start auditions at 4 pm. The auditioners are taken into the audition room in small groups where they audition. Each group can take between 5 - 10 minutes. One you are finished auditioning, you are finished. The callback list will be posted on the auditions page of our website.

What is pre-registering?

Pre-registering is a way that you can fill out all of the information we need before you get to your audition. We will then print out your audition form and have it for you at the theatre when you check in. You will still need to bring your headshot with you to the audition, but you won't have any paperwork to fill out.

What do I need to prepare for an audition?

First of all, it's really important to look at the audition information to see if there is anything specific you are asked to prepare for that audition. Make sure you follow the guidelines in the audition info.
Otherwise, here's what we suggest you have in order to make your audition run as smoothly as possible: 1) A headshot. It doesn't have to be professional. Just a good photo that looks like you! you can take it with a camera phone if you'd like. Make sure it is relatively close up and you have good lighting so we can see your face. 2) An acting or theatre resume. You don't have to have a fancy one (although you certainly can). We just want to know what you have done performance-wise and in a theatre. If you worked on the stage crew, put that in there too! 3) (If you are auditioning for a musical or a play) A short monologue that is appropriate for you and the character you are auditioning for. 4) (If you are auditioning for a musical) A song that will show off your voice and is appropriate for you and the character you are auditioning for. We preferthat you bring sheet music with you as we will have an accompanist, but you can also bring a background track you can play from your phone. 5) A list of conflicts you will have with the rehearsal schedule. This is super important to be honest with us and yourself if you can not make it to a rehearsal. We need to know. Theatre is collaborative and we can not move forward together if people are missing. Please let us know your conflicts when you audition.

How long should the song be?

Good question. The answer is: as long as it needs to be for you to feel that you have shown us how amazing you are! Chances are that's around :30 to :45 seconds or so, but it may be longer or shorter. The Director may stop you while you are singing, but that's ok. Just get to "the good part" quickly so you can show off your skills!

Where are the auditions? And where do we park?

Valley Youth Theatre: 525 North First Street On the Southeast Corner of First Street & Fillmore, in Downtown Phoenix. Please note: The VYT parking lot is not very big and has a tendency to fill up quickly. Please do not park in the area reserved for the staff or the parking space for Bobb Cooper. Do not park in the disabled parking spaces without proper identification even if lot is full. Public paid parking is available on the south west side of First & Fillmore and at meters surrounding the theatre. Please plan accordingly.

I can not come to the auditions. What do I do?

Auditions for VYT shows are really best done in person. We get to meet you, you get to meet us and it lets the Director see you at your best! On the rare occasion that a young person truly can not attend any of the scheduled auditions, please contact our Production Manager, Bobby Peatman, at productionmanager@vyt.com and let him know of your conflict. This does not necessarily mean you will be able to audition online, but if there is an available solution, he will let you know.

What are your COVID safety protocols?

We are currently encouraging but not requiring masks to be worn at our theatre. However, we do reserve the right to change our protocols as the situation changes.

What happens after auditions?

The next step is called "Callbacks". Callbacks are when a certain number of performers are asked to come to the theatre in-person to continue the audition process. The list of callbacks will be listed on the auditions page of the website. Look for your name and the day and time you will need to come to the theatre. Again, it is important to be prepared! So come dressed to move -- no sandals or skirts -- and bring water to remain hydrated and energized! Usually during callbacks, you will be put into small groups, you will be asked to read scenes, sing and possibly learn a dance. You may be asked to read for a couple of different parts. Each callback experience is different!

Why didn't I get cast or called back? Was I that bad?

No! This is part of being an actor. Sometimes you get the part and sometimes you don't. Auditioning is a matching process and sometimes your talents aren't a match for what is needed for that specific production. That doesn't mean your talents aren't needed in the future! Rejection isn't great, but it's a big part of being an actor. Not getting cast in a VYT performance doesn't mean "no", it just means "not for this specific show". Like Bobb always says, "you may have been the best mouse we saw today. You may have been the best mouse we've ever seen, but today, we are casting for an elephant." So don't give up! Remember: Auditioning takes practice, too! The more you audition, the more comfortable you will be, and the more you will learn. Besides, there are a ton of ways to be involved other than just being on stage. We also need young people for our tech crew, our orchestra and other behind-the-scenes positions. If you are interested in working behind the scenes, contact the stage manager at stagemanager@vyt.com

What are the expectations if I am cast in a VYT show?

We have to be honest, being in a VYT show is a time commitment. That's what makes our shows so great. When you are cast in the show, we expect you to have fun and try your best. We also expect you to treat the show as the professional show it will be. That means attending all scheduled rehearsals, memorizing lines and blocking and being attentive when the Director, Stage Manager, Musical Director, Choreographer or any other person is talking. We expect honesty and responsibility and will show that respect right back to you. Rehearsals are generally Monday through Thursday evenings and most of the day on Saturdays, beginning as early as the week of callbacks. The weekend before the show opens is the beginning of tech week and Saturday and Sunday are 8- to 14-hour days, so it can be a lot. But it is also the most fun you will have! Because Valley Youth Theatre does not charge a fee for young people to participate in our mainstage productions, parents are required to volunteer by helping with set and costume construction, and front of house during the run of the show.

THEATRE
525 North First Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004

OFFICE
1001 North Central Avenue
Suite 700
Phoenix, AZ 85004

(602) 253-8188

boxoffice@vyt.com
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Valley Youth Theatre is a registered 501(c)(3).
Since 1989, we have inspired children to be the best they can be through the magic of the performing arts. Our alumni include Oscar® winners, Grammy® award-nominees, Broadway stars, rocket scientists, doctors, lawyers, parents, and community leaders from all walks of life.

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