Employment
2019 GRSF Company. Photo by Grace Hill.
Join Our Company
The Great River Shakespeare Festival is Minnesota’s largest professional equity theater outside of the Twin Cities and has enjoyed unprecedented success since its 2004 inaugural season. Employing over 70 people at the peak of the season, GRSF presents its five/six-week season of rotating repertory from late June through July in the 430-seat mainstage theater on the campus of Winona State University.
A professional acting company of 9 to 16 actors plus 55 designers, directors, technicians, apprentices, students and admin staff come from around the country to present mainstage productions in repertory, education programs, and a variety of festival events in Winona every summer.
GRSF is committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage everyone to apply regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender-identity, sexual orientation, or disability. Most positions are seasonal; employees that work well within the team are often asked to return for subsequent seasons. Commitment to safe work habits and shop practices is essential. Housing is provided for non-local seasonal employees and contractors.
current job openings
Positions have been filled for the 2025 season. Please check back in the fall for 2026. Scroll down for information about our apprenticeships and general auditions.
APPRENTICESHIPS
GRSF offers apprenticeships in props, lighting, lighting/sound, costumes, and stage management. Apprentices are paid $11.13 per hour plus housing and are eligible for overtime. Most apprenticeships are ideal for candidates at the third- or fourth-year undergraduate level. Apprentices who do not meet all qualifications are still encouraged to apply. Click here to learn more.
To apply, please fill out this form.
Auditions
2026 Auditions
General auditions for our 2025 season were on January 4, 2025 in Winona. Please check back on this page for auditions for the 2026 season. Equity rules require an in-person general audition in our home city of Winona after the season is publicly announced which means we will usually hold general auditions in December or January. Look for a signup form here and on the Equity casting website in November or December.
If you are traveling to Winona to see the summer productions, please reach out. We will make every effort to see an audition or at least say hello. Below is information from the the 2025 general auditions.
2025 Auditions
Please note that we are a repertory company, which means that all actors will be cast in two productions and may have understudy assignments. Please follow the submission instructions carefully and submit all materials as requested.
For both in-person and video submissions, please present two contrasting monologues totaling 4 minutes or less. Please include at least one Shakespeare monologue. The second piece may be Shakespeare or a contemporary piece. We encourage modern heightened language pieces including spoken word. Please perform in the vernacular that is most natural for you. We do not believe in “standard American” speech and value expressive use of language in every form. If you play an instrument, please bring it and present a sample of you playing. If you sing well, please present 32 bars in any style a capella.
GRSF is committed to inclusive casting. We encourage all performers to participate regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender-identity, sexual orientation, or disability. For productions where race or ethnicity is central to the show’s plot or themes, casting will reflect those requirements. Contract dates are May 20 to July 27, 2025. The Equity contract is LOA based on LORT-D with a minimum salary of $820/week.
Individuals of interest will be contacted directly via email regarding callbacks, which will also be held via video submission.