A Quick Guide to NYC Audition Studios for Non-Equity Actors

Are you a non-equity actor wanting to audition for musicals and plays in New York City?

Unlike television and film, most “open call” auditions for theatrical productions are held in midtown Manhattan. There are 6 different studios actors should be aware of - Pearl Studios 500, Pearl Studios 519, the Actors’ Equity Building, Ripley-Grier 305, Ripley-Grier 520, and The Growing Studio.

As a non-equity actor, it’s important to keep track of each studio’s location, hours, and rules for starting and signing up on an unofficial list. An unofficial list is used at many open calls as a way of an making an informal line of non-equity members. Think - a piece of white lined paper with names penciled in numerical order.

Ready to audition in NYC with confidence? Here’s your Quick Guide to NYC Audition Studios for Non-Equity Actors.

Pearl Studios 500

Pearl Studios 500

500 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018

• Auditions are held on the 3rd, 4th, and 12th floor.

• Pearl Studios 500 opens at 7AM.

• Actors aren’t allowed upstairs til 8AM.

Pearl 500 has an “official” unofficial non-equity list that they provide at the security desk. The security guard doesn’t let actors in to the lobby til 7AM and doesn’t want lists posted before then. They monitor a nonunion list at the front desk starting at 7am, but anything posted earlier will get ripped down by the doorman.

For any call at Pearl 500, two lines (EMC/Equity and nonunion) form before 7AM. The nonunion line transfers to the list inside at 7AM. The EMC/equity line waits outside until 8AM.

This is ONLY true for Pearl Studios 500.

Pearl Studios 519

Pearl Studios 519

519 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018

• Auditions are held on the 12th floor.

• Pearl Studios 519 opens at 6AM.

• Any unofficial lists get taped outside before the building opens.

Actors’ Equity Building

Actors Equity Building 4th floor sky lobby

165 West 46th St., New York, NY 10036

• Auditions are held on the 16th floor.

• The Actors’ Equity Building opens at 6AM.

• Once the building opens, everyone must sign up on an official list. EMC and equity get on the list with the person monitoring the sky lobby (4th floor), whereas non-equity actors have a list on the other side of the room.

Ripley-Grier 520

Ripley-Grier Studios 520

520 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018

• Auditions are held on the 10th, 16th, and 17th floor.

• Ripley-Grier 520 opens at 8AM.

• Any unofficial lists get taped outside to the marble (not the glass) of the building before it opens.

Ripley-Grier 305

Ripley-Grier Studios 305

305 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018

• Auditions are held on the 2nd and 3rd floor.

• Ripley-Grier 305 opens at 8AM.

• Any unofficial lists get taped outside before the building opens.

The Growing Studio

The Growing Studio

344 West 38th Street, New York, NY 10018

• Auditions are held on the 4th floor.

• The Growing Studio opens at 8AM.

• Any unofficial lists get taped outside before the building opens.

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Maggie Bera is an actress, entrepreneur and founder of Actor Aesthetic.