Audition for the 2026 Lawyer Show

Nightwood Theatre is a registered non-profit charity based in Toronto. As Canada’s preeminent feminist theatre, Nightwood cultivates, creates, and produces extraordinary theatre by women and gender-expansive folks. We believe feminist theatre makes the world better for everyone.

Founded in 1979, Nightwood Theatre has created and produced award-winning plays, which have won Dora Mavor Moore, Chalmers, Trillium and Governor General’s Awards. Each season, we present several full productions in Toronto’s most beloved mid-sized theatre venues, as well as producing our annual Groundswell Festival of new works. We provide training and support to next-generation artists, recognizing that those critical years after theatre training are the times that shape the theatre artist one becomes. For forty-five years we’ve been populating our industry with formidable talent and creating intersectional spaces that place our values – boldness, opportunity, inclusivity, integrity, and care – at the centre of all we do. 

Buy-in Contributions:
Each cast member is responsible for a $1,000.00 (CAD) buy-in participation, which includes:

• • • A charitable donation tax receipt worth $750.00
    • 10 tickets to the show, valued at $25.00 each ($250.00 total value)

Payment plans are available. Please reach out to us if you have any questions regarding the buy-in fee.

In exchange for your buy-in you will also receive many other benefits including participating in a professionally led three-month musical theatre process: professional voice and acting coaching; the opportunity to connect with your peers; and the opportunity to support Nightwood Theatre! The ten tickets for your buy-in are yours to distribute how you wish. You can resell the tickets or gift them to friends and family. Once public ticket sales begin, you or your guests can book directly through the Box Office using a code.

Fundraising:
Funds are raised through firm sponsorships, program ad sales, a 50/50 draw and a robust silent auction. We count on the Lawyer Show Cast to advocate and assist us in securing Sponsorship and Ad Sales for the digital programme, and to help solicit businesses for Silent Auction items. Please email Gaby at gabrielle@nightwoodtheatre.net to discuss fundraising initiatives.
Learn more about Sponsorship opportunities here.

Rehearsals Location: Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre, 877 Yonge St. (north of Yonge & Bloor)
Rehearsals Begin: Sunday, March 1, 2026

Rehearsal Schedule (subject to change):
Sundays 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesdays 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
*No rehearsal on April 5 and May 17 – A few additional rehearsals will be added on Tuesday/Thursday evenings as makeup nights

Tech Week Schedule (subject to change, mandatory attendance required):
Sunday, May 31 from 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Tuesday, June 2 from 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Wednesday, June 3 from 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thursday, June 4 (TBD) from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (plus performance time)

Performances (times subject to change):
Thursday, June 4, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Friday, June 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, June 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM & 7:30 PM

What Will Rehearsals Involve?
Rehearsal schedules will be sent a minimum of 2 weeks in advance. We do our best to schedule folks in 2 – 4 hour rehearsal blocks at a time, for up to 4 – 8 hours of rehearsal per week. For lead roles, you should expect to be scheduled 8 – 12 hours per week. In May, as we approach the end of the rehearsal process the entire cast is called at once, so please expect to be scheduled more frequently for rehearsals. 

We are willing to accommodate scheduling conflicts throughout the rehearsal period, especially when given advance notice. When you have to miss a rehearsal, we expect you to connect with another cast member to get caught up. 

Please note that repeated absences without advance notice may result in a conversation with to discuss show capacity going forward, out of fairness to the rest of the participants in the ensemble.

The week leading up to the performances is called “Tech Week” and it is the most vital time we need you present. During Tech Week (Sunday to Thursday), the cast is required all day on Wednesday, and potentially Thursday – this will be the only time we request you take time off from work, as attendance is MANDATORY (unless you have a court hearing/emergency scheduled outside your control). The show has four performances, including a matinee, Thursday to Saturday.

You might be saying to yourself “this sounds cool…. but I’m not a performer, I’m a Lawyer!” 

That means you’re perfect for the Lawyer Show! 

No prior acting, singing, or dancing experience is necessary. We’re looking for legal professionals that are passionate about theatre, have some free time to dedicate, and are willing to play and have fun. Nightwood takes care of the rest. After all, creating theatre magic is what we do! 

Auditions help us to get to know you and your performing comfort-level, and help us to decide what role(s) to cast everyone in. We promise not to bite! If your nervous coming into auditions, be honest about it! Our team is incredibly supportive and can help guide you.

When the audition call opens, there will be a submissions form to complete and instructions for live auditions will be provided. In your audition form, you can tell us about yourself and your comfortability with acting, singing, and dancing. You can also mention what type of role you’re interested in (lead, supporting, featured, and/or ensemble). We will also ask questions about your comfort with fundraising, as everyone in the cast is expected to help Nightwood in achieving our fundraising goals for the event. 

Once applications close, our team will then reach out to schedule your audition. During live auditions, you can expect to meet some of Nightwood’s team, along with the Director and Musical Director of the show, and other people auditioning, some of whom are Lawyer Show Alum. It’s a chance to get to know one another, so don’t feel too nervous! Ask questions, and show us the theatre-kid living deep inside. 

After auditions, our team will send out specific invitations for Callbacks at a later date. If you don’t receive a callback, don’t panic! Callbacks are meant to pair characters together in different combinations to see what works. Due to time constraints, we don’t host callbacks for every role, especially for ensemble parts. When we invite you for callbacks, we will specify the date/time, character(s) we’d like to see you perform, and will provide you with any script or music materials you’ll need in advance. You don’t need to memorize materials, just familiarize yourself with them and come ready to play with others.

After auditions & callbacks are complete, the creative team will finalize roles and then casting offers are sent out. You always have the option to accept or decline the role(s) you’ve been offered. We try to work with everyone to ensure they feel good about the casting decisions, and are open to feedback afterwards. Please note, we don’t typically offer leading roles to first time lawyer show performers. The show is a big commitment already, and the lead role(s) come with their own unique challenges and responsibilities. If you want to audition for a specific role in mind, please let us know during auditions.

All participants will be provided with, and must follow NIGHTWOOD THEATRE ILLNESS POLICY. This Policy addresses how our space(s) and productions respond to any form of infectious illness, whether COVID-19, colds, flus, or other maladies. Our Illness Policy is available upon request. Nightwood has the right to change, modify or revoke all or part of this Policy and protocols, including by enhancing the protections in place and implementing supplementary policies which may be applicable to specific venues or activities at any time.

Broad Guidelines include:

• • • Masking – No individual shall be discouraged from wearing a mask.
    • Symptom Monitoring and Prevention – If you are feeling any COVID-19 or cold/flu symptoms, please do not come on site without first conferring with your supervisor and/or the Executive Team for condition assessment and to determine actions. Actions could include staying at home, masking onsite, distancing, restricted on site presence, and increased sanitization.
    • Return to rehearsal protocols include symptom screening and assessment, and return protocol specific to unmasked performers and musicians, as well as protocols for all other personnel.

We like to work hard but also want to leave time for fun! These outings are opportunities for you to socialize and network with other theatre-loving lawyers throughout our season. While attendance is optional we hear every year that connecting with others is one of the highlights of the lawyer show! You might like to place a soft hold for the dates below in your calendar.

Tuesday, Sept. 30 – Meet and greet + Lawyer Night for Enormity, Girl, and the Earthquake in Her Lungs
Join us from 6:00 – 7:00 PM for a pre-audition meet and greet, where you can meet our team plus lawyer show alumni. At 7:30 PM, the show will begin!

February 2026 – Meet & Greet event for 2026 Lawyer Show Cast
Details TBD! This will be a fun opportunity to connect as a cast before rehearsals begin

April/May 2026 – Lawyer Night for How to Catch Creation
Exact date TBD – get together for pre-show drinks and then see the show at Soulpepper’s theatre

ABSOLUTELY! If you’re not feeling up to performing, but want to support the Lawyer Show, there are other ways to help…. 

– If you play an instrument, talk to us about potentially joining the band!
– Volunteer time to help with fundraising (sponsorship/donation requests, marketing the show, etc.)
– Tell your friends! Share our audition call and invite everyone you know to buy a ticket to the show in June