The University/Resident Theatre Association Announces Changes to the National Unified Auditions and Interviews

URTA is a consortium of 39 university, graduate training programs in theatre from across the nation and in the UK. Each year, the National Unified Auditions and Interviews (NUAIs) -- commonly known as the "URTAs"-- are conducted in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, allowing candidates in acting, design, directing, stage management, and theatre management the chance to audition and interview for all of its members programs, as well as invited guest recruiters, all in one place. This year, URTA is implementing several changes to make it an even greater experience for all involved.

In previous years, acting candidates were required to perform a screening audition before being passed on to the final auditions. Starting this year, there will no longer be screening auditions, with every acting candidate guaranteed to be seen by all the recruiters attending the NUAIs. URTA's goal is to produce a streamlined process that allows their member schools to see a broader range of actors and offers greater opportunities to registered acting candidates.

In addition, URTA has created the satellite auditions. All acting candidates will have the option of registering for the satellite auditions in addition to the primary URTA audition. The satellite audition will take place the day after the candidate's URTA audition, and will be attended by guest recruiters including training programs and theatres that are not currently pursuing membership in URTA.

Previously, candidates in all disciplines needed to be "nominated" for the NUAIs by a professor, director, or other theatre professional familiar with his/her work. That is no longer the case. Candidates are still required to have completed an undergraduate degree by the fall of 2014, but no other recommendation is necessary. Acting candidates are still strongly encouraged to seek the help of a coach or advisor in preparing their auditions, URTA says.

URTA announces that they have centralized all design, technology, and theatre management recruiting in Chicago to enrich the experience by adding an extra day and offering new seminars. URTA faculty recruiters in all the various design disciplines will be able to take advantage of the depth of candidates to be seen in a single location.

The seminar program will be expanded with more hands-on, workshop- and instructional-focused offerings. URTA says member faculty and distinguished guests have much to offer attending candidates in all areas and they are working to increase the seminar program.

URTA provides special consideration to members of Actors Equity Association and National Finalists (and their scene partners) of the KC-ACTF Irene Ryan Acting competition. This year, qualified applicants in those groups will receive $25 off the registration fee.

To register for URTA's 2014 NUAIs, visit URTA.com and fill out the online application. Deadline to apply is November 22 for actors and designers and November 1 for directors, stage managers, and theatre managers.