Los Angeles Performance Opportunities

Trio of Los Angeles performance photos: Entwined dancers being filmed; dramatic couple onstage; passionate singer against graffiti set backdrop

An important component of AMDA training is the multiple and diverse performance opportunities offered to our students. The “curtain goes up” more than 150 times a year — from plays to musicals, dance concerts, readings, and more. AMDA students, regardless of their semester level, can audition for all AMDA productions, providing students a wide array of genres, styles, and venues to fulfill their passion for performance. Casting for productions is most often determined by audition. Students are welcome to audition for all roles. This means that gender, race, body type, and ethnicity of performers will only be considered if germane to the character or story. AMDA embraces diversity-conscious, inclusive, community-reflective casting.

Full-Scale Productions

Each semester, AMDA mounts a full-scale, professionally produced production in each of our three primary disciplines: acting, music theatre, and dance. AMDA maintains a schedule of productions that is intense and purposefully demanding. Students cast in any production commit to a full rehearsal and development process designed to culminate in one or more performances. AMDA offers multiple performance opportunities within each semester, three semesters per year. All productions hold a series of auditions and are open to all students.

Full-Scale Play and Musical
A full-scale play and musical are offered each semester. Students enrolled in any AMDA undergraduate program are eligible to audition for all full-scale productions. Students are cast based on the audition and callback process. Those who are cast ultimately perform sustained characters within the arc of a fully realized production. Scenic, costume and lighting designs are created to help establish and fortify the visual world in which the productions’ characters exist. Students are guided by a professional artistic team that includes any or all of the following: director, choreographer, musical director, stage manager, lighting designer and costume designer. Depending on the needs of each production, coaches in combat, dialect, or other specialty performance areas may be added to a production’s artistic team.

Full-Scale Dance Production
AMDA’s Dance Production provides students the opportunity to work with professional choreographers in the development of original works, culminating in a stage and/or film performance. Each semester’s show is based on a theme; styles may include Contemporary, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap, Cultural, Period and/or Street Dance styles. The dance works are created by guest artists, faculty and, in select semesters, may also include student and/or alumni choreographers. Dance Production provides intermediate and advanced-level dancers the chance to perform a variety of works that span theatrical, commercial, and concert aesthetics. All current AMDA students are invited to audition. Within the development phase, a panel of faculty and creative staff members conduct a screening of all works in process. Based on the screening, select pieces move forward toward final performance.

Film Performance

Each BFA and AOS program offers opportunities for students to learn how to generate and edit digital media. Students complete their program with sample performance reel content. This content is designed to help students successfully promote themselves and their work as they enter the professional performing arts industry.

Readings: Plays/Musicals

Readings provide unique and rich experiences for performers. Published works are performed in their entirety without extensive use of props, detailed costuming, complex blocking, or elaborate scenic elements. The use of scripts and scores by actors is usually incorporated within each presentation which allows for shorter rehearsal processes and helps create compelling and engaging theatre through insightful interpretations of text, character, and story. This performance opportunity is available to students in all programs.

Studio Sessions

Studio Sessions provides a platform for students to showcase diverse performing arts genres in an intimate black box studio setting. Performances may include spoken word, original choreography, instrumental performance, stand-up comedy, cover songs, student directed scenes, or original music. Studio Sessions serves as a celebration of all performing arts mediums, offering a unique opportunity for students to audition and perform performance-ready material for the AMDA community.

Capstone Productions

AMDA Capstones are designed to provide students in their final semester of AOS and BFA degree training an original and full production experience. Each Capstone is crafted based on individual cast members assigned to work together as a company. Capstone productions include a casting process (which may include performers auditioning assigned material, presenting material that they would like to “pitch” for consideration or a combination of both), a rehearsal process and technical rehearsals (including set, wardrobe, lighting, designers, and other artistic team members as needed), all culminating in performances open to public viewing. Students are guided by a professional artistic team that may include any of the following: director, choreographer, musical director, stage manager, cinematographer, editor, lighting designer, and costume designer. Depending on the needs of each production, coaches in combat, dialect, or other specialty performance areas may be added to a Capstone production’s artistic team.

Industry Showcases

The AMDA Industry presentations provide opportunity for students in their final semester of AMDA’s BFA and AOS programs to present select performance skills to current industry professionals.

Digital Industry Event Showcase
Students present their marketable Acting or Musical Theatre performance strengths by submitting their sample performance reel. This is an extremely competitive event designed for students who are viewed as “industry ready” and “industry-driven.” There will be a final selection process to determine which sample performance reel material will be provided to industry viewers.

In-Person Industry Event Showcase
This in-person Event is presented to select AMDA-invited industry professionals. Participation is by audition/assessment of each performer’s work within the Digital Event process. Those cast in the in-person event will perform one two-person scene or musical duet. Participation is limited and competitive.

Dance Industry Presentation Showcase
BFA and AOS students participating in Dance Theatre Capstone performances will have an opportunity to be seen by invited industry guests during their Capstone performance run. Industry guests include dance agents, working choreographers, artistic directors, and creative directors. In addition, a digital media package that includes student reels, website links, and select Capstone performance excerpts representing all pending Dance Theatre graduates will be sent to industry contacts.

Performance Opportunities

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Performance Opportunities