Musical Theatre Audition Workshop with Jimmy Smagula and Frankie Ramirez
New York, NY
US

DESCRIPTION

MUSICAL THEATRE AUDITION WORKSHOP WITH BROADWAY ACTOR JIMMY SMAGULA AND INDUSTRY GUEST FRANKIE RAMIREZ, CASTING DIRECTOR AT THE TRC COMPANY

$395. April 30, May 4 and May 6, 2026. Midtown west location. 6pm to 9pm.

Email: [email protected] - 12 students max.

This class is for educational purposes only.

WORKSHOP THEME: CURRENT LANDSCAPE OF BROADWAY

Each actor will be up on their feet working on audition material at all three sessions.

The workshop consists of THREE 3 hour classes:

Class One: CONTRASTING 16 BAR AUDITION PIECES- Sing what YOU do BEST. Two contrasting 16 bar pieces that you feel makes you step in with your best foot forward. Expect to find new ways to make your cuts fresh and exciting, but still your own. Many times, “cuts” of songs are the way casting is first introduced to you. Let’s make sure your cuts pop! Jimmy will also take a look at your picture and resume and give his thoughts. This class is with Jimmy Smagula only.

Class Two: ONE FULL SONG - You will collaborate with Jimmy on one full song to bring in and work on this week. This song will not only play to your strengths as an actor and singer, but be a smart choice that shows the people behind the table that you know your type. A great way to continue to build a process in which to work on material, and get that one special song in your book absolutely ready to go. This class is with Jimmy Smagula only.

Class Three: PRESENT MATERIAL TO FRANKIE RAMIREZ. Now that you’ve done the work, each actor will individually perform material from the previous two classes for Frankie Ramirez of The TRC Company, who is currently casting multiple projects including Broadway shows and national tours. Frankie will immediately give his feedback on each of your pieces. Frankie’s insight will be invaluable to helping you book your next job! Q&A to follow. This class is with Frankie Ramirez and Jimmy Smagula.

During the course of the three classes you can expect to learn/work on:

--How to create a diverse book that covers all the bases

--Every aspect of the audition, from what to wear, the first 10 seconds in the room, to leaving the room having satisfied and impressed everyone behind the table

--Taking direction and making strong choices on the spot

--32 and 16 bar auditions

--The business of auditioning. Agents, pictures and resumes, sheet music, what to wear, who casts what shows and what to do if you aren’t being seen!

--Incredibly honest and constructive feedback that will ultimately make YOU a better performer and help you book jobs!

Our former students credits include the Broadway and National Tours of HADESTOWN, SIX, CHICAGO, ELF, THE LION KING, SUSTER ACT, THE BOOK OF MORMON, OKLAHOMA and FIDDLER and in regional theaters like PAPERMILL PLAYHOUSE and LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE.

What’s the industry saying about our class?

"Smagula leads an insightful, engaging class which provides actors with the tools and advice that help them to have successful auditions." -Craig Burns, Casting Director, The Telsey Office.

"Even though I have worked on Broadway, that credit doesn't guarantee future work. I've been telling all my friends and I will tell you too- you need to take this class. I dare you not to learn more about yourself personally and professionally while taking this class. Work!" ---Zakiya Young, Original Broadway Company, The Little Mermaid.

$395, 3 classes total

Thursday, April 30th, Monday, May 4th and Wednesday, May 6th. Evenings from 6pm to 9pm. Midtown west location. Length of class subject to change depending on number of students in class.

A $195 deposit is due by April 23rd to hold your spot, and will be applied towards the total fee. Deposit will only be refunded in case of class cancellation or change of industry guest and is otherwise not refundable.

Email [email protected] to reserve your spot today.

***JIMMY SMAGULA is a veteran of 9 Broadway shows. He most recently starred on Broadway as Joe Glaser in A Wonderful World, The Louis Armstrong Musical and as Sir Bedevere in the 2023 revival of Spamalot. He has also been seen as Harry the Horse in The Kennedy Center’s acclaimed production of Guys and Dolls opposite Rachel Dratch, with Phillipa Soo, Steven Pasquale, Jessie Mueller and James Monroe Iglehart and as Mr/Billy in Sunday in the Park with George at Pasadena Playhouse, directed by Sarna Lapine. Prior to that he starred as Jacey Squires in The Music Man at The Kennedy Center with Norm Lewis, Jessie Mueller and Rosie O’Donnell. Other Broadway: Billy Elliot, The Little Mermaid, To Be or Not To Be, Damn Yankees (Encores), Phantom, Man of La Mancha, The Full Monty. National Tours: Les Miserables (Thenardier), Phantom (Piangi). Television: The Terrors of Jordan Mendoza (upcoming on Adult Swim), Doom Patrol, Black Monday, Oh Jerome No, Erase (opposite Denis Leary), The Sopranos, Better Things, Corporate, Oh Jerome No, Brooklyn Nine Nine, Greys Anatomy, Bones, Rizzoli and Isles, Parks and Recreation, Hot in Cleveland, SVU, Sam and Cat, Jessie. Film: Nonnas, Joker: A Folie a Deux, Almost Popular, Rebel in the Rye, The Island, Step Up 3, The Producers Movie Musical. As a director, Jimmy directed A Comedy of Tenors at Millbrook Playhouse, Underwater for the Gallery Players in Brooklyn and Confessions of a Character Actor at the Take Ten Festival and Manhattan Repertory Theater in New York City. Jimmy regularly teaches at the Lee Strasberg Institute at the Tisch School of the Arts and coaches actors in both NYC and LA and all over the country and the world via zoom. His 30 year history as a working actor in the musical theater business will surely be invaluable to helping you get the job.

***FRANKIE RAMIREZ transitioned from a career as a Music Director and Musician to a career in Casting when he joined NBCUniversal’s casting department in 2016. There, he contributed to the casting of over 60 series and pilots across NBC, Peacock, SYFY, USA, and Peacock Kids, including Good Girls, Saturday Night Live, Young Rock, Chucky, This is Us, and the Law & Order franchise.

In 2022, Frankie joined Tara Rubin Casting (now The TRC Company), where he has had the privilege of working on a wide range of high-profile theatrical projects. Broadway/Touring credits include Buena Vista Social Club (Artios Award winner), Death Becomes Her (Artios Award nomination), Dead Outlaw, Back to the Future, Water for Elephants (Artios Award nomination), Here Lies Love (Artios Award nomination), ALW’s Bad Cinderella, and The Phantom of the Opera. Off-Broadway and regional credits include The Gardens of Anuncia (Lincoln Center), The Preacher’s Wife (Alliance, world premiere), Like Father (Alliance, world premiere), and Stompin’ at the Savoy (DTC, world premiere). New York workshop credits include August Rush: the Musical, Diana: the Musical, Ella, and Signs of Life, among others.

Frankie brings a distinctly musical and naturalistic lens to his work, pairing artistic rigor and truthful storytelling with a tenacious commitment to discovery and collaboration. He is known for designing and executing expansive, deeply targeted casting searches that reach beyond traditional pipelines - identifying singular talent through digital platforms, grassroots outreach, and various other nontraditional avenues. His work proudly and consistently champions historically excluded communities and emerging talent, introducing bold, one-of-a-kind artists whose presence brings specificity, authenticity, and cultural resonance to the stage and screen.

Frankie is a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory, where he studied Musical Theatre and Musical Theatre Accompanying, and is a proud member of the Casting Society (CSA).

DURATION

Apr 30, 2026 - May 6, 2026

APPLY BY EMAIL

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