Worc at Play
Worc at Play: Tuition-Free Classical Actor Training and Professional Performance for Greater-Worcester Residents 18+
Offered in partnership with The Hanover Theatre Conservatory, Worc at Play runs each year in conjunction with a THT Rep mainstage production. Applicants of all backgrounds and skill levels are warmly encouraged to audition, including absolute beginners. Selected applicants form a small cohort that studies with Livy Scanlon, artistic director of THT Rep, for a defined training period. Students learn the fundamentals of acting classical text and, at the end of the training period, join the cast of a THT Rep production of Shakespeare.
Worc at Play is fully subsidized, meaning the program is available at absolutely no cost. Selected applicants receive professional, conservatory-style actor training and a professional performance opportunity, all tuition-free. Due to the professional nature of the program, trainees are required to meet rigorous standards regarding attendance and preparation.
Ideal Worc at Play candidates are:
- Residents of greater Worcester
- 18 or older
- Diverse in age, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, gender, sexual orientation, immigrant status and lived experience
- Not affiliated with or a member of Actors’ Equity Association
- Comfortable speaking and reading English as a first, second or subsequent language (accents welcome)
- Disciplined, rigorous and reliable
- Joyful
- Available for and eager to commit to a demanding schedule
Additionally, Worc at Play trainees receive:
- Full student benefits of The Hanover Theatre Conservatory
- Up to two private lessons with The Hanover Theatre Conservatory instructor of their choice
- Professional headshot
- $500 stipend (returning students only)
25/26 Audition Information
Date: Monday, September 22, 2025
Time: 10-minute appointments are available 6 PM – 9 PM
Location: Jean McDonough Arts Center
20 Franklin St, Worcester, MA 01608
jmacworcester.org
Audition Preparation
For your audition, please memorize and be prepared to act 10-20 lines of Shakespeare to the best of your ability, even if you’re an absolute beginner! We will not judge you. On the contrary, we want to see your natural instincts, talents, stage presence and potential for growth as a performer.
Please note: Your 10-20 lines should be in the form of a monologue, meaning all the lines appear in a row and are spoken by the same character. For a convenient listing of monologues, visit www.shakespeare-monologues.org/.
Additionally, please be prepared to share any other performance skills you may have, like juggling, singing, dancing, magic, mime, stand-up comedy or spoken word, etc.
Finally, please be prepared to share why you want to be part of this program.
Audition Scheduling
Please click here or copy and paste https://forms.office.com/r/kEh7VNeJi2 into your browser, then follow the instructions provided. If you have a question or need assistance, please email [email protected] with subject line Worc at Play Auditions. Thank you!
Dates and Production
The 25/26 training period is as follows:
- Weeks of November 10, November 17, December 1 and December 8, Mon/Wed/Fri nights from 6 PM – 9 PM.
All classes will be held on the campus of The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory, including the Jean McDonough Arts Center. Validated garage parking is available.
The 25/26 production is Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, adapted and directed by Dr. Kathryn Moncrief.
Scroll through to see Worc at Play students in class and on stage.
I was born and raised in Worcester and love everything to do with theatre. With Worc at Play, I had the chance to learn and perform alongside real, professional, working actors. It was quite literally a dream come true. Opening up the world of professional theatre to a wider group of aspiring actors is exactly what the art scene in Worcester needs. This opportunity was a complete game changer.
Cassie Tortorici, Worc at Play actor