Broadway League and Actors’ Equity Launch Audition Initiative

Studio B, the smaller audition room at the Equity Building in NYC. (Photo courtesy of Actors Equity Association)

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May 27, 2026 American Theatre Editors Leave a comment

Broadway League, Actors’ Equity Create New Audition Initiative

The new initiative is designed to provide Equity actors the opportunity to be seen by top creative talent and casting professionals outside of typical production-specific auditions.

By American Theatre Editors

NEW YORK CITY: Actors’ Equity Association and The Broadway League have announced the creation of the League-Equity Audition Program (“LEAP”), a new pilot initiative designed to give Equity actors the opportunity to be seen by creators and casting professionals outside of the typical production-specific audition process.

According to the organizations, unlike standard auditions, LEAP is not intended to cast any particular production or project. Instead, LEAP is designed to give writers, directors, choreographers, casting directors, and other theatre professionals who develop new work the chance to see performers in the audition room so they can build relationships for future projects.

“Broadway has always thrived with the discovery of new talent,” Broadway League president Jason Laks said in a statement. “As our industry continues to think about access, opportunity, and how creative teams meet performers, it’s important that we continue exploring new approaches. We’re always proud to partner with Actors’ Equity Association on programs that invest in the future of Broadway.”

In 2025, Actors’ Equity Association and the Broadway League ratified a new Development Agreement which included the seeds of LEAP, creating a working group with the aim of holding industry-wide auditions for creators and performers to meet outside the traditional audition process.

“Development work is so important in our industry, because that’s where the next generation of hits are born,” said AEA president Brooke Shields in a statement. “And more often than not, a huge percentage of the cast that introduces new work on Broadway has been working with the creative team as they’ve brought that project to life. LEAP creates a new on-ramp for performers to work on the kind of projects that can change the course of a career.”

The first auditions held as part of LEAP will take place at Equity’s Audition Center in New York on June 29 and 30, with one day devoted to dancing and the other to singing and monologues. Additional information about the process will be shared with Equity members in the coming weeks.

Since the introduction of Open Access in 2023 , the path to joining and staying in Actors’ Equity has been a huge question mark for young and emerging performers. Over the past year, the Equity Membership Candidate program has been officially phased out, with EMC status no longer being honored at Equity Principal Auditions (EPAs). New policies regarding signups for non-union actors who would like to be seen at EPAs have also been instituted, as unofficial waiting lists are no longer honored .

Recently, Actors Equity members voted to prioritize Gen Z voices in their 2026 elections, as all 27 members of the Stage Left coalition prioritizing equity, solidarity, and a stronger union base were voted into Equity’s National Council. In an Instagram post, one member, Ellis Gage, noted that this full sweep brings a hope of seeing “AEA become as liberal, progressive, and forward-thinking as possible.”

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Actors Equity Association auditions Broadway League Showcase

_Originally reported by [American Theatre](https://www.americantheatre.org/2026/05/27/broadway-league-actors-equity-create-new-audition-initiative/)._