Sterling Renaissance Festival
Sterling, NY
US

CONTACT NAME

Gary Izzo

DESCRIPTION

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The Wyldewood Players are the resident acting company of the Sterling Renaissance Festival, now entering its 50th season. Set on 35 wooded acres, the festival is a disciplined yet playful recreation of the Elizabethan village of Warwick, circa 1585—conceived not as a backdrop, but as a fully realized world.

The Wyldewood Players bring that world to life. Actors portray townspeople, rogues, vagabonds, and members of Queen Elizabeth’s court through roaming improvisation, interactive encounters, and staged plays across village lanes and open-air stages. Performers remain in character throughout a nine-hour performance day, sustaining the reality of the village through wit, humor, and focus.

This is immersive, interactive theatre in its fullest sense: collaborative, physical, demanding, and deeply human. It is ensemble work, practiced daily, over the course of an entire season.

Working with the Wyldewood Players is unlike almost any other acting experience. It is a place where creativity is not an occasional requirement, but the daily currency of the work—sharpened through a rehearsal process that functions as a master class in immersive performance. Actors don’t simply perform roles; they learn to live characters, to listen deeply, to collaborate generously, and to respond in the moment with confidence and humor.

The long performance days in the village forge a rare sense of trust and shared purpose. Many who join the company leave not only as stronger artists, but with friendships that last well beyond the season—formed through shared effort, shared humor, and the uncommon experience of building something meaningful together.

NEW YORK AUDITIONS

We are seeking professional actors interested in long-form character development, ensemble collaboration, and the uncommon experience of sustaining a shared theatrical world together over the course of a summer.

Ripley-Grier Studios
520 Eighth Ave., New York, NY (16th Floor)
Between 36th & 37th Streets

Sunday, March 8
12:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Room 16Q

Monday, March 9
3:30 PM – 8:00 PM | Room 16K

AUDITION DETAILS

Arrive at the start of open call time to receive instructions and your group slot
Headshot and résumé required (professional credits expected)
Audition application will be provided at audition
COVID-19 vaccination required for employment
Auditions will be held in groups of 4–5 per 30-minute session

You will be asked to present:

One comic monologue (1 minute or less)
Contemporary monologues are welcome. Choose material that best reveals your comic intelligence and character work.
You may be asked to return later the same day for a group improv callback.

Please be present and courteous while waiting. Dress to move. Only auditionees are permitted in the holding room. As an improv-based show, both Union and Non-Union actors are welcome.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We seek actors with professional experience and excellence in one or more of the following:

Comedic acting
Shakespeare
Improv and sketch comedy
Street performance
Interactive and immersive theatre

Ideal candidates are:

Confident, sociable, and self-directed
Comfortable performing outdoors for extended periods
Curious, generous collaborators
Interested in ensemble-based work built on trust and play
Professional, emotionally self-regulated, and respectful

Casting is conducted by Gary Izzo, Artistic Director.

Casting calls typically begin within one week of auditions, with final offers issued no later than April 6. If you are not contacted by that date, please accept our sincere thanks—and do not count us out for future seasons.

ROLES, PAY & BENEFITS

Casting 25 character roles (varied ages and types)
10-week contract (9 pay periods)

- 2 weeks rehearsal stipend: $400/week
- 7 weeks performance pay: $500/week
- Total for season $4,300

Housing provided (single-occupancy loft-style rooms)
NYS Workers’ Compensation & Unemployment Insurance provided

THE COMMITMENT

Contract Dates: June 12 – August 17, 2026
(Arrival on site: June 11)
Rehearsals:

4 weeks of intensive, on-site workshop and rehearsal
5-day rehearsal weeks, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Master classes include:

- Ensemble improvisation
- Interactive character development
- Shakespearean dialect and language
- Elizabethan history, customs, and manners

Performances:

Saturdays & Sundays, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
7 performance weekends
Midweek brush-up rehearsals as scheduled

Transportation for promotional outings is provided. No other travel expenses are reimbursed.

HOUSING

Housing is provided for all cast members, and takes the form of lofts above Festival buildings and stages, which meet all State and local fire and safety codes. (Lofts have electricity and utilize separate access to hot and cold running water, showers, bathroom and cooking facilities). Rooms are single occupancy only, and lockable. A personal vehicle is helpful, but informal shared rides among the cast are often arranged.

This isn’t just an audition — it’s an invitation to work inside something rare. If that resonates, we look forward to meeting you.

DURATION

Jun 12, 2026 - Aug 18, 2026

SALARY

$400.00 – $500.00 per week