Auditions

Auditions for actors for school assembly shows are held at the National CITA Conference in June (864) 271-2116, SETC Conference, OTA Conference, and various campuses and colleges throughout the country. Private auditions can be arranged at the Saltworks Office (412) 621-6150 x 201 located in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. Video taped auditions are accepted. Include two monologues, one dramatic and one comedic, a bio, recent head shot, and two professional references.

Company History

Our social issue plays for school assemblies have toured since 1983 and have played to over 2 million students. Each play is based on Judeo-Christian values. Saltworks is a faith-based, non-sectarian, educational organization and does not proselytize through its programming or school assemblies. Saltworks' other programming includes a Young Actors Studio, Community Impact Plays, and the Saltworks Players.

Touring Region

The primary touring area for school assemblies is Western Pennsylvania, with additional performances throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, West Virginia, New York, and Maryland. Approximately 200 school assembly performances are presented during the school year by a five member tour, consisting of three men and two women. They average two school assemblies a day.

Salary

Compensation is $1,700/month gross. Per diem and lodging is provided for all overnights. Approximately thirty percent of the school assembly tour travel involves overnight accommodations.

Work Hours

Employment is full-time from September through May with a mid-tour break. Touring actors work 40-50 hours per week with occasional weekend performances. The daily school assembly touring schedule varies widely, but most days begin and end at the Saltworks office in Pittsburgh, PA. A typical day begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.

Housing

Touring actors are required to live in the Pittsburgh area. We do not provide housing, but will assist an actor in finding housing if he/she is relocating. Saltworks will pay for one night at a hotel while the actor is exploring housing possibilities. If requested, Saltworks will mail apartment listings and suggest neighborhoods that are close to our office. However, the actor is ultimately responsible for finding his/her own housing. We recommend actors relocate one week prior to start of rehearsals.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals begin around Sept. 1, and will last approximately 3 weeks. Rehearsals are generally held from 8:30-4:30, and will include training on social issues, question and answer sessions, and non-performance jobs as well as participation in team-building activities and company Bible studies.

Non-Performance Duties

After the rehearsal period ends, the tour is on the road without a director or stage manager. School assembly shows and accommodations are booked through the office, but the actors serve as crew, driver, stage manager, etc. Each tour member is assigned a non-performance job, but all members work together as a team. They are responsible to maintain good working relationships with each other and communication with the office manager. Because of the physical and emotional demands of touring for school assemblies, all tour members must be in good health.

Student Interaction

After each school assembly performance, a brief question and answer time is held during which students are free to ask any question about the show or the actors personally. Actors are coached on how to handle difficult questions. If time allows after the school assembly is over, the tour is expected to seek opportunities to interact with the students (i.e. speaking individually to students, eating lunch with the students, asking to speak to a class). It is imperative that the actors have a heart for young people and that their personal lives match up with the values projected in the school assembly plays.

Personal Integrity

All perspective employees will be asked to sign a Statement of Integrity, stating their personal standards regarding alcohol and tobacco use, sexual abstinence, etc. They will also be asked to complete a Spiritual Life Questionnaire to help us understand the basis for their personal moral values.

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