Success Stories

The Southeastern Theatre Conference is known in the theatre world for nurturing individual's careers both on and offstage at all levels, from student through professional.  Many young people have excelled in auditions, design competitions, playwriting contests and more.  These individuals often attribute their success in part to the professional guidance and inspiration provided by the leadership of so many theatre 'giants' through the years and to the opportunities provided by SETC.  Below we tell some of their stories.

Emily Parks - Audition Success 2011

"I attended the Spring Auditions at the SETC Convention in Atlanta.  I received 8 callbacks and ended up being offered 3 jobs.  I decided to acccept a summer position with the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY.  I am also earning equity points for my 9 weeks in Ithaca!"

Emily will be appearing in 4 shows this summer, including: Beggar on Horseback as Mrs. Cady, a staged reading of Flying Leap as Aunt Crystal, a KIDSTUFF production of Goodnight Moon as the Old Lady, and The Rocky Horror Show as a Phantom.  She is also an understudy for Magenta in a 21 show run. 

Emily will be moving to Chicago this fall to pursue professional opportunities in theatre.

Jason Gillman - Career Success 2011

"Through professional auditions at SETC I landed my first professional theatre job out of college!  I have since gone on to perform throughout the country and as far away as Japan.  I have performed in seven Broadway shows, six National Tours, and countless regional productions.  Earlier this year, things came full circle for me.  At the 62nd Annual Southeastern Theatre Conference, my business, Gotham Headshots, was featured as one of the vendor booths and I spoke on a panel for SETC attendees about the transition from theatre student to theatre professional.  I can only hope my newfound association with SETC is as successful and life changing as the first!"

Jason has shared the stage with Broadway greats Carol Channing, John Lithgow, Jonathan Pryce and Bernadette Peters.  He has also appeared on Law and Order, the Kennedy Center Honors, The Today Show, as well as many national commercials and voiceovers.  He is currently a business owner and operates Gotham Headshots with his wife Jackie (also a Broadway performer) in New York City.

Rachael Swartz - Audition Success 2010

"I got a job last year and into my top-choice grad school (with a full tuition waiver and teaching assistant position/salary).  I'm definitely spreading the word of how well Fall SETC worked for me."

Rachael Swartz, an Ohio native who attended SETC's Professional Auditions and Graduate School Auditions in fall 2010, says they "shaped the direction I will be heading for years to come."

At the Professional Auditions, the graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College scored a job with the National Theatre for Children.  Swartz also came to the Fall Auditions looking for a graduate school, where she found a program that was just right.  She will begin a master's program in performance at the University of Southern Mississippi in the fall. 

Where Are They Now? Theatre greats such as Beth Leavel, Tituss Burgess, William Ivey Long, Terrence Mann, Kevin Adams and many more -  advanced through opportunities  provided by SETC. 

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