AUDITION AT KISMET

Kismet holds general auditions every August for our 9-month season. We may also hold mid-season auditions in January. Read below for all the info you need about how to have a great audition.

General Auditions: August

We will be holding our annual General Auditions for next season on August 8 & 9, 2026! 📧 Email hello@kismetimprov.com to stay in the loop and get registration details.

Who, What, Where, & How It Works

Anyone interested in improv is encouraged to audition at Kismet! To feel comfortable and perform your best, it is ideal if you have completed Improv 301 at Kismet, an equivalent curriculum elsewhere, or have at least a year of consistent improv experience.

Auditions are designed to survey your skills and introduce you to the environment of being a Kismet performer. The process includes a warm-up, brief introductions, group games/exercises, two-person scenes, and an improv montage. For those interested in musical teams, there is an optional musical segment.

⚠️ A Note on Prerequisites & Casting:
Meeting the training or experience prerequisites for a specific night indicates you are eligible to be considered, but it does not guarantee a casting spot. Casting decisions are highly selective and depend on a variety of factors, including demonstrated skill level, individual growth, night-specific needs, and overall ensemble chemistry. Our goal is to place every performer in an environment where they can succeed and grow.

Location: All auditions are held at our theater space:

1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, R.I.

Newcomers to Kismet

We are always looking for fresh talent to join our community! Because casting at Kismet is heavily based on demonstrated skill and ensemble fit, we strongly recommend that newcomers enroll in a class or attend our community events before auditioning. Taking a class is the most direct way to immerse yourself in the Kismet style, meet our directors, and get on our radar for future casting.

👉 Check out our upcoming classes at www.kismetimprov.com/classes!

🎭 Our Weekly Shows: Requirements & Commitments

🗓️ Thursday Night Vibes Teams

Thursday is our home for bold experimentation, seasoning, and community integration. These teams are the foundation of Kismet. Here, we integrate new talent into the Kismet style and provide consistent reps for performers to grow. It is a high-energy space focused on mentorship, ensemble chemistry, and developing the "group mind" that defines our theater.

Training Prerequisite: Completion of Improv 301 at Kismet (or equivalent). No prior performance experience required.
Schedule: Teams perform on Thursdays and some Fridays (September–May).
Commitment: Attend at least 75% of biweekly rehearsals; perform twice a month.

🗓️ Friday Night House Party Teams

Friday Night House Party is our signature, fast-paced showcase. It brings together experienced performers with the confidence and versatility to carry a room using a mix of longform, shortform, and musical improv.

Training Prerequisite: Completion of Improv 401 (or equivalent), plus (preferably) at least one year of consistent improv performance experience.
Schedule: Teams perform on Fridays and some Thursdays (September–May).
Commitment: Attend at least 75% of biweekly rehearsals; perform twice a month.

🗓️ Saturday Night Productions

Saturday is for our most seasoned performers and specialized productions. These shows feature complex, focused formats, theatrical concepts, and disciplined players. Casting for Saturday is highly selective because the work is specific, demanding, and unique to each run.

Training Prerequisite: Typically a full longform curriculum, but exact requirements are determined by each production's director.
Schedule: Determined by show directors; cast members must commit to the majority of rehearsals and shows.
Contact: Email hello@kismetimprov.com for specific upcoming production info.

💰 Performer Compensation

All rostered Kismet performers participate in a revenue-share model, receiving a percentage of ticket sales paid out twice a year (December and May).

🚀 How to Prepare for Auditions

The best way to get to know us and sharpen your audition skills is to be active in our community before August!

Come to our Shows!
- Experience the stages you're auditioning for. Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, come observe the dynamics of Kismet sets, understand the flow of our shows, and meet our coaches, teams, and staff.
Join the Jam
- Stick around after the Friday House Party for our community jam. Teams, performers, and students all get a chance to play together. It’s an excellent, low-stakes environment to get comfortable on our stage.
Participate in Drop-in Practice Groups
- Practice essential skills and receive constructive feedback. Every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. is our standard drop-in, and every other Saturday at 2:00 p.m. is our bilingual drop-in group.
Enroll in a Class
- If you're new to improv or want to master the foundational tools vital for success on our teams, taking a class is the most comprehensive way to immerse yourself in the Kismet style.

📊 Our Evaluation Rubric

At Kismet, our coaching team uses a clear, skill-based rubric to make informed, objective casting decisions. We look for performers who demonstrate a balance of technical craft, professional discipline, and a strong commitment to the ensemble.

Think of these criteria as a roadmap for your growth. We use these specific markers to determine which team dynamic and show night will best support your current skills while challenging you to reach the next level.

🏫 Training Baseline:
- Thursday Night Vibes: Longform skills commensurate with Improv 301
  (or equivalent).
- Friday Night House Party: Longform skills commensurate with Improv 401 (or equivalent).
- Saturday Night Productions: Up to director discretion. (If you have questions about equivalent training outside Kismet, email hello@kismetimprov.com).
☑️ Community Engagement: Active involvement in the Kismet community (via classes, student showcases, drop-ins, or jams) within the past six months to show a dedication to continuous skill growth.
🏋️ Strong Choices: Initiating compelling, clear character choices, relationships, and premises from the top of a scene.
🙋 Confidence: Fearlessly and playfully initiating scenes,
characters, games, and songs.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Teamwork & Awareness: Maintaining acute awareness of the entire ensemble, actively integrating with teammates, and responding unselfishly to the needs of the set.
💁 Support: Actively saying "yes, and" by building upon a partner's ideas to shape and move the scene forward together.
🤝 Ease of Collaboration: Demonstrating coachability, adaptability, and an ability to work smoothly alongside all team members.
🌈 Inclusive Language & Choices: Using respectful language and steering clear of cheap stereotypes or punching down.
🏁 Establishing & Reinforcing Patterns: Discovering and establishing scenic patterns and "the game of the scene" using freedom, power, and responsibility.
⏰ Timing & Pacing: Understanding structural editing techniques to positively impact the rhythm and pacing of an entire set.
🤣 Tendency Toward Humor: "Finding the funny" in a scene and bringing your unique comedic voice to the stage. We look for your natural instincts for timing, your sense of play, and the individual flair that makes your comedy distinct.