Casting for

ACTOR THERAPY sings

THE WEDDING SINGER: IN CONCERT
at 54 Below

is now open for Submissions!

On Thursday, November 20th at 9:30pm, Actor Therapy students will take the 54 Below stage to sing the fabulous score of THE WEDDING SINGER: IN CONCERT. This will be a huge event, with a 5-piece band, rehearsals and direction, and heavy promotion. This production will be directed by AT’s Mathieu Whitman, with Musical Direction by Jason Wetzel.

Interested in joining us?

ELIGIBILITY

PLEASE read the entirety of this submission information form before submitting.

Anyone who has completed 2 or more 5-week sessions or 2-week intensives of Actor Therapy is eligible, but one of those two MUST include at least one class during the recent Session 77 (September—October 2025), upcoming Session 78 (October—December, 2025), or the recent 2025 AT Summer Intensive (July—August 2025.) These do include one-off Casting Classes, Rehearsal & Performance classes, single-class drop-ins, etc., but folks who have been in consistent 5-week courses will receive casting priority. Our Musicals in Concert are a perk for students currently enrolled and participating in classes on an ongoing basis, and a way to take the work they're doing in the classroom and learn how to apply it in a rehearsal/performance format.

NOTE: If you've only taken/completed one class/session but are enrolled in an upcoming class/session, you're eligible to submit

NOTE: If you haven't been in class in a bit, but you'd still like to throw your hat into the ring-- feel free to submit below, but please understand that we will give Casting Priority to currently/recently enrolled students, and we may not be able to include you in this one!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

If you are cast, it will be your responsibility to learn, work on, and coach your assigned material ON YOUR OWN TIME before our Sing-Through Rehearsal (more on this below.)

The main characters will ALL be split up among multiple performers, so you're welcome to indicate if there is a specific song you're interested in.

While the casting will be overseen by the AT folks who know you all well, and have been present for much of the work you’ve done in class—IF you’d like, you are welcome to SELF-TAPE a SHORT cut from the song(s)/role(s) you are interested in, and send them to actortherapy@gmail.com once you’ve applied (and before the deadline.) While the choice to include (or NOT to include) this step will not affect your application whatsoever, we do realize that some folks may be interested in songs/roles outside the scope of what they’ve presented in their previous Actor Therapy classes and may want to supplement their application in this way.

Unlike our Readings, not everyone who submits will be cast in this concert.

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

  1. The first sing-through rehearsal with the musical director will be on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, in the evening from 7pm-10pm.
    The sing-through rehearsal is just to put everyone in the same room and sing through the score for the first time, and it is NOT a “music rehearsal.” All of the parts and harmonies will be pre-assigned with casting offers...so you'll need to be completely off-book and performance ready by this date. THIS MUSIC IS HARD and the harmonies are difficult. This is an incredible opportunity to show us what you're made of: hard work and preparation will be key. If you do not honestly think you can learn this music on your own time, and be completely off-book (holding very challenging 4+ part harmonies), this may not be the ideal show for you.

  2. There will be a staging rehearsal with the director in Midtown Manhattan on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH, tentatively scheduled from 6pm-9pm.

  3. There will be a band rehearsal/sitzprobe with our 5-piece band at Michiko Studios in midtown Manhattan on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH from 7pm-10pm.

  4. There will be a sound-check/tech rehearsal onstage at 54 Below on the day of the concert, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH from 2pm-4pm.

  5. The performance will be onstage at 54 Below on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH at 9:30pm (call time will be a half hour before, at 9.)

We expect you to be available for the entirety of all four of the rehearsals above.*

*It is possible, if we are unable to find the correct person, we may make an exception to this. You are welcome to email Mat Whitman to discuss conflicts, or make a note in your submission, and we may consider you.

**Please note: if you are currently scheduled to be IN ANOTHER AT CLASS during one of these rehearsal times, we will work with you to schedule a make-up class OR schedule the rehearsal that evening in a way that allows you to attend a portion of both. We’ll work it out!

CASTING CONSIDERATIONS

How will we be casting this? What goes into our decision making process? In order of importance to us:

  • FIRSTLY, APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE ROLE. First and foremost, we are casting as we feel would be done in a professional setting, honoring general casting practices related to this show, which include DIVERSITY, AGE-APPROPRIATENESS, and TYPE requirements — your vocal skillset, your energy, etc.

    *******note: In THE WEDDING SINGER there are a couple of roles aged 40s-70s, and the Actor Therapy community leans younger. SO, because this is a concert version, we will be leaning toward ENERGY and ESSENCE OF THE CHARACTER when we cast this particular production. If you’re down to clown and want to play Grandma Rosie, feel free to indicate this in your submission!

  • SECONDLY, COMMITMENT DEMONSTRATED IN PREVIOUS AT READINGS/CONCERTS. Have you attended Actor Therapy readings? Have you proven to be reliable? Have you worked hard to prepare material and demonstrated you can be trusted with featured material despite limited/no rehearsal? Does your work ethic speak for itself?

  • THIRDLY, SENIORITY IN ACTOR THERAPY. We respect commitment to our community.

  • THINGS WE’RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT: If you’ve played the role(s) before; if it’s your dream; if it’s your mom’s dream; whether or not you’re Union; if you *really* connect to the material; if you’ll bring all of New Jersey to see it. Those things are perks but they’re not what we’re focused on.

You MAY be cast as a back-up singer, or in ensemble numbers without any extended or featured solos. However, if you'd prefer not to participate unless you are cast as a featured soloist, you may indicate this on the submission form.

READY TO SUBMIT? All you have to do is answer a few questions!

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE on

Friday, October 24th at NOON

Casting will be announced in the days following this deadline. Out of respect for all those who submit, everyone will receive an email notification about our casting decisions, whether or not you have been cast in the show.

SUBMIT HERE