FAQ

What to Prepare for Your Audition

Please write and perform an original audition piece that:

• Reflects who you are, how you express yourself, and/or how you experience the world around you. 

• Conveys a firm grasp of how we as Neo-Futurists create our work given our four guiding principles for making theater: we are who we are, we are where we are, we are doing what we are doing, and the time is now.

• Is memorized & no longer than 2 minutes 

• After your preliminary audition, we ask that you please e-mail the script of your audition piece to auditions@nynf.org.

• See the More on Neo-Futurism section below for guidance on writing your audition piece.

Please complete this Audition Application Form by January 16th, 2026. Audition slots will start going out on Friday, January 23rd. Due to limited capacity, everyone may not receive a slot. 

Please also submit 2 writing samples: 

• One in the Neo-Futuristic Aesthetic (See the More on Neo-Futurism section below for guidance on this)

• One of your choosing that best represents your artistic voice

If possible, include both samples in a single PDF. We will also accept video/audio (100MB max file size). If your samples aren't ready now, or are too large for the form, please e-mail them to auditions@nynf.org no later than January 16th. 

Additionally:

• We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the kind of work that we make. Come to The Infinite Wrench, listen to our podcast Hit Play, or watch some recordings of our past plays (many of which are available on our YouTube channel).

• See the More on Neo-Futurism section below for guidance on writing your audition piece, writing samples, and information about expectations & responsibilities of company members, including how Neos are paid, etc. 

• Of course, you will retain all of your rights to both your original audition piece and the writing samples you submit. We’d also like to acknowledge that we (along with other artists you might get to know if called back) may also explore ideas, themes, and theatrical devices, whether developed by us or used by other theater artists, that may be similar to those that you employ in your own piece(s) and submission(s).

More about Being an Ensemble Member

Who are you looking to cast?

We are looking to cast folks who will not just perform in The Infinite Wrench, but will become members of a working ensemble who will be artistic partners and NY Neo-Futurists for the foreseeable future. This means being in conversation with other company members, creating art collectively, and making decisions together.

What are you looking for in an artist?

We are looking for artists originating from a range of personal and professional backgrounds and life experiences. No theatre degree? No problem. We’ve had Neo-Futurists join our company with professional experiences ranging from music to law. We’re looking for anyone who can center openness and honesty, and likes to experiment with change, chance, and (controlled) chaos. If you’re excited to work in the Neo-Futurist aesthetic and believe that it has the capacity to change how people see theater, art, and even the world, we’d love to have you!

What sort of commitment is required in being a Neo-Futurist?

As a Neo-Futurist you are expected to:  

• Take part in the writing, production, performance, and direction of The Infinite Wrench 21-24 weeks per year (broken into “runs” of 3-7 weeks at a time). During those weeks you will be in rehearsal or performance Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights and can expect to spend approximately 15 hours/week on in-person rehearsals and performances, plus any additional hours you need to do on your own time for show-related work (writing new plays, memorizing lines, sourcing/making props, etc.). 

• Our scheduling process allows ensemble members to schedule their runs in the show around other commitments.

• Work with the rest of the company on artistic and organizational planning.

• Prepare for and attend monthly business meetings.

• Prepare for and attend scheduled company functions (e.g. benefits, conferences, workshops, retreats, etc.)

• Serve as an active producer and promoter of the company.

How do Neo-Futurists get paid?

The Infinite Wrench currently pays $225 per week for writing, rehearsing, and performing.  In addition, we pay $16.50/hour (and are on track to raise to $17.00 next year) for administrative work such as committee work and business meetings. There are also opportunities for paid performances outside The Infinite Wrench, including primetime Neo-Futurist shows, teaching workshops, and various gigs.

So does the schedule mean that I can’t perform in other productions?

Not at all! Many ensemble members engage in projects outside of the company, as well as Neo-Futurist projects beyond The Infinite Wrench. However, onboarding in your first year of being a Neo-Futurist in particular does take time, effort, and capacity. Because of this, we ask that you make Neo-Futurism a priority in your first year.

Do I need to quit my day job if I am cast?

Please don’t! While we pay artists while they perform in the show, all members still hold other jobs and pursue other interests while being Neo-Futurists. 

More on Neo-Futurism & Writing for the Audition

What exactly is Neo-Futurism?

Check out this primer on the Basics of the Neo-Futurist Aesthetic, summarized below:

While there are many components to Neo-Futurism, the one rule that we hold ourselves to is that every aspect of a Neo-Futurist performance must be REAL.  

• Neo-Futurists do not play characters. We tell true stories and express honest feelings in our work.

• Neo-Futurists do not pretend to do anything; all tasks are real. Failure is an option.

• The only ‘time’ and ‘place’ in a Neo-Futurist play is ‘here’ and ‘now.’ 

• There is no fourth wall in a Neo-Futurist performance. The audience is acknowledged, addressed, and involved.

I have a monologue that I wrote in which I reveal to my sister…

Whoa – your sister’s coming to your audition?

Well, no.

You’re going to call your sister during your audition?

No.

Sounds like what you’ve written is probably not in the Neo-Futurist aesthetic, which will make it difficult to assess your work. Call your sister and put her on speakerphone for us instead!

What sort of writing samples should I bring?

We ask that one of your writing samples be in the Neo-Futurist aesthetic. If you don’t have any other Neo-Futurist writing experience beyond what you’re preparing for this audition, that’s okay. Do your best given the guidance we’ve provided here, what you understand from coming to the show, or interacting with Neo-Futurism otherwise. Your writing samples should, above all, showcase your patently unique voice as a writer!

The review committee will only be reading the first three (3) pages of each sample or watching only the first two minutes of each video, so please edit mindfully toward what you want us to see. Excerpts/segments of longer work are great!

How will my audition be evaluated?

Several members of the ensemble (in fact, most!) participate in auditions and bring a range of creative backgrounds and perspectives to the evaluative process. We’ll be looking at:

• Writing: Is the writing of your piece vivid and captivating? Does it have a unique voice (i.e., something only you could write) and a clear beginning/middle/end?

• Directing: Is there a clear vision around the staging of your piece? If you use technical elements, do those elements serve and support the play well? (If your play has no technical elements because it doesn’t need any, that is also a strong directorial choice.)

• Performing: Are you fully present, audible, magnetic, and well acquainted with the beats of the play? Are you fully prepared and memorized? If your play calls for parts or all of it to be un-memorized, this should be clear in the performance. 

• Grasp of the Neo-Futurist aesthetic: Does your piece sit firmly within the 2-minute time limit? Does it convey a firm grasp of how we as Neo-Futurists create our work (as described above under “What exactly is Neo-Futurism?”)

What will the audition space be like?

Your audition will take place in a rehearsal space. One thing to note: you will be auditioning for most of the artistic and technical ensemble of the company, so there will be anywhere from 12-20 people watching you and rooting you on.

I auditioned before and I wasn’t cast. Can I audition again? 

Absolutely, and we encourage you to do so! Many Neo-Futurists have auditioned more than once before being cast. Give us another chance, and we’ll gladly give you one too. Feel free to solicit advice or feedback in advance of your audition if you need guidance on your piece.

When will you hold auditions again?

TBA. We hold auditions most years, but not always.  Usually, they happen in the first half of the year.

I don’t know if I’m ready for this, but I really want to be involved. How else can I get involved in Neo-Futurism?

You’re not alone! We have a wonderful network of supportive theater lovers who graciously help us do what we do, namely, our interns and the board of directors. If you’re interested in getting involved, come chat with us after the show, and we’ll try to figure something out with you. If you’re a student, we are often looking for new candidates for our internship program, for which you can also receive school credit. Or consider taking a class with us to see what making Neo-Futuristic work is like, and what we’re like as a group.