RENT - Open Auditions and Production Volunteer Opportunities

Name: RENT - Open Auditions and Production Volunteer Opportunities
Start: 2026-03-15T18:30:00-04:00
End: 2026-03-16T18:30:00-04:00
Location: 4333 Gunn Hwy, Tampa, FL, United States, Florida 33618

Schedule

Sun, 15 Mar, 2026 at 06:30 pm to Mon, 16 Mar, 2026 at 06:30 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

4333 Gunn Hwy, Tampa, FL, United States, Florida 33618 | Tampa, FL

Carrollwood Players Theatre announces open auditions and offstage production opportunities for:
RENT
Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
A Mainstage Musical
Directed by David J. Valdez
Musical Direction Lisa Chase
Choreography Devan Bittinger
Producer Krista Virga
Stage Manager Alex Rios
La Vie Boheme! Jonathan Larson's iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning musical that shaped a generation of audiences and taught us all to measure our life in love.
Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon. with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Based loosely on Puccini's La Boheme, Jonathan Larson's Rent follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.
How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.
Presented with the support of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.
Rent is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI.) All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
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AUDITION DATES:
Sunday, March 15th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
AND
Monday, March 16th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Callbacks: Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Auditions will be at Carrollwood Players Theatre, 4333 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL, 33618
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CONFIRMED PERFORMANCE DATES:
June 5th - 27th, 2026
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Sundays at 2 p.m.
Saturday 2 p.m. matinee on June 13th
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POSSIBLE ADDED PERFORMANCE DATES:
Subject to demand, one or more of the following performance dates MAY be added:
Saturday 2 p.m. matinee on June 20th
Saturday 2 p..m. matinee on June 27th
Sunday 2 p.m. matinee on June 28th
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Tech Week:
May 31st - June 4th, 2026
Performers and some production volunteers/crew MUST be available for all tech week rehearsals and all performances including the possible added performances. There are no exceptions!
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You MUST complete the online sign-up form in advance to attend this audition or be considered for production volunteer opportunities. PLEASE LIST ALL POTENTIAL DATE SCHEDULE CONFLICTS ON THE ONLINE FORM.
Complete the form at:
https://forms.gle/RTbcKfJfgncsPzmZA
IMPORTANT: If you have SIGNIFICANT conflicts between auditions and tech week, please carefully consider whether or not you are in a position to participate in this production. We are looking for performers who are AVAILABLE and COMMITTED to this production.
Please take care to complete the conflict section of this form accurately and completely. Casting and staffing decisions and rehearsal schedules are based in part on information you provide about potential conflict dates.
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Rehearsals:
The exact rehearsal schedule is to be determined, as it depends on who we wish to cast and when they will be available.
Rehearsals are usually 3-4 days per week, mostly weekday nights, but there may be rehearsals on Saturdays in the daytime and/or Sundays in the evening. Weekday evening rehearsals generally begin between 6 and 7 p.m. and can last as late as 10 p.m. (possibly later during tech week) Sunday evening rehearsals generally begin at 5 or 6 p.m. and can last as late as 10 p.m. Not all cast members will be called to every rehearsal. There will be a total of approximately 30 rehearsals for this production, plus tech week.
The rehearsal schedule intensifies as opening night draws closer. Tech week rehearsals often run later into the evening.
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No experience is necessary. All roles are open and available. This is a non-paid opportunity.
Carrollwood Players Theatre is committed to inclusive, authentic casting that reflects the full spectrum of the world of RENT. We strongly encourage performers of all races and ethnicities, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, and body types to audition. We also welcome and encourage performers with disabilities and other abilities, as well as neurodivergent performers. If you connect with this story and can sing, act, and move with truth, we want to see you.
Headshots and resumes are encouraged but not required. You may send these in advance to [email protected]
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Production Team Opportunities: Let us know what you are interested in helping with!
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CASTING:
RENT transcends time and audiences because it still speaks to what people do when time feels uncertain and the world feels expensive. It is a portrait of chosen family and a reckoning with love and loss, grounded in a community that refuses to disappear. Beneath the score is a simple challenge. Measure your life by the people you love and the truth you choose to live. Carrollwood Players Theatre is seeking a dynamic, diverse ensemble of 12–14 actors with excellent singing voices.
Available Roles:
Principals:
Mark Cohen (Tenor): A2–G4; Reads 20-30
Roger Davis (Tenor): F2–A4; Reads 20-25
Tom Collins (Bass-Baritone): F#2–A4; Reads 25-35
Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III (Baritone): B♭2–F#4; Reads 25-35
Angel Dumott Schunard (Tenor): C3–A4; Reads 20-30
Mimi Márquez (Mezzo-Soprano): E♭3–E5; “I’m 19.” Reads 18-21
Maureen Johnson (Mezzo-Soprano): C4–F5; Reads 20-25
Joanne Jefferson (Mezzo-Soprano): G3–E5; Reads 25-40
Ensemble:
An ensemble of 4–6 actors will also be cast to cover a range of supporting roles, including Mrs. Cohen, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Marquez, Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson, Alexi Darling, The Man, Paul, Gordon, Steve, Ali, the Squeegee Man, the Waiter, and the Woman with Bags, among others.
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What to Prepare:
Auditions will consist of vocal, and possibly acting components. (Due to time constraints, any acting component may be reserved for call backs only.)
Vocals:
Please prepare 32 bars of a song in the style of the show (contemporary musical theatre or pop-rock) Please bring an instrumental backing track (mp3 or YouTube track) cued up on your phone/smart device, preferably a blue tooth enabled device. No A Capella or sheet music auditions. An accompanist will NOT be provided.
Acting:
Any acting portion of the audition may include readings from the script. The acting component may be reserved for callbacks only.
Callbacks:
In addition to the possibility of reading from the script, callback candidates will be asked to "test" specific songs from the show.
Helpful materials for this can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Bk3vWoieX0oe1vng1qCiI2ZxcJyJYhps?usp=sharing
Some tips and reminders:
Please do not prepare a full song. You may be asked to stop after 32 bars.
Practice starting your track at the correct spot before you arrive, so you can begin quickly and confidently.
Bring your best, most authentic self. We are rooting for you and we want you to have a great audition experience.
If you do not receive a callback, it does not mean you are no longer being considered.
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VIDEO AUDITIONS - While we strongly prefer to see all auditions in person, video submissions will be accepted for this production if you cannot attend in person.
Your video submission must be received by Monday, March 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. for consideration.
Note: You must be available to attend callbacks in person on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Email the following to [email protected] by Monday, March 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.:
Subject line: RENT Audition – [Your Name]
An unlisted video link (YouTube or Vimeo preferred) of 32 bars of a song in the style of the show
Headshot (PDF or JPG attachment, if available)
Resume (PDF attachment, if available)
If you submit a video audition, you will be notified of a callback request no later than the evening of Monday, March 16, 2026.
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ALTERNATE AUDITION DATES: We regret we are unable to schedule any auditions outside of the planned dates.
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What to expect on your audition date:
We expect a LARGE turnout for auditions, and space is LIMITED. We regret we cannot admit any guests, companions, or observers.
Auditions begin at 6:30 p.m. and doors will open at 6:15 p.m. IMPORTANT information is covered at the beginning of each session, therefore it is imperative that you are prepared to begin on time. No auditioners will be admitted after 6:35 p.m.
While not required, if you have a headshot and/or resume and did not send it in advance, please bring with you to leave with the team.
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You MAY apply to audition AND apply for offstage opportunities (in the event you are not cast), though some offstage positions may be filled prior to the audition dates. If you apply to audition AND to volunteer offstage, we will assume your first preference is to perform.
Questions may be directed to [email protected]