Spend a season on the Dock Street stage in six mainstage productions and our family series, while training as a teaching artist and bringing theatre to thousands of Lowcountry students. An 11-month, non-Equity program for emerging theatre artists.
Charleston Stage is the State Theatre of South Carolina and has been in residence at the Historic Dock Street Theatre since 1978. Each season, it produces mainstage musicals and plays, a family series, and education programs that reach thousands of students.
The Resident Acting Company is Charleston Stage's training program for emerging theatre professionals. Resident actors are the core of the acting company: they perform in the season alongside community actors, then take theatre into schools as teaching artists and arts ambassadors. The 2026–27 company (Season 49) has nine resident actors, a mix of first-year and returning second-year residents.
Residents spend 11 months as working actors and teaching artists. A typical season includes:
Season calendar: May 24, 2027 to April 23, 2028.
| Pay | $450 per week |
| Housing | Provided: a private bedroom with a shared bathroom. The apartment complex is less than 10 miles from our education facility and 15 miles from the theatre. |
| Transportation | Residents must have their own vehicle. |
| Professional Development | Teaching-artist training, free dance classes, and a free gym membership. |
| Time Off | 2 weeks paid over the holidays, and 4 PTO days to use during the year, when not in production. |
We're looking for early-career, non-Equity performers who love working with young people as much as they love the stage.
Charleston Stage encourages performers of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, abilities, and body types to apply.
Apply through our online form. Your application should include:
Application window: November 16 – December 4, 2026.
Virtual callback requests go out on a rolling basis as applications are reviewed.
Casting takes four steps from application to offer, and we send all offers by the end of February 2027.
| Step | What Happens | When |
|---|---|---|
| Online application & video | Application form, headshot and resume, and video (two songs + monologue). | Nov 16 – Dec 4, 2026 |
| Virtual callback | Recorded video of sides and songs from the upcoming season, plus a dance combination. | Rolling, through early January 2027 |
| Interview | A conversation with the artistic and education team. | Rolling, alongside callbacks |
| Offers | Offers and contracts sent. | Casting complete by end of February 2027 |
Charleston Stage will also be attending UPTA's in February.
Residents live and work in one of the country's most historic cities, a short walk from the waterfront.
Questions? Email auditions@charlestonstage.com. Please send all questions to this address only, and do not contact individual staff members or other Charleston Stage emails.
Charleston Stage is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.