Do you want to act in a soap opera? If so then read on. Soaps normally cast many people for various roles in the categories of extras/ atmosphere, under 5’s (speaking role with under 5 lines), day players (over 5 lines, single day) and recurring roles.
Soap Operas are shot in 2 main cities, LA and NY. Working on soap operas is not always easy. The days are long and new episodes are shot daily giving actors only minimal time to learn their lines. Due to the fast shooting schedule of soaps, there is little time for rehearsals and actors need to be skilled at rehearsing nightly on their own at home and memorizing pages of script every night. This is a huge commitment, not only do you have 12 hours on set every day, but you also have to work when you come home to prepare for the following day.
Most extras and under 5’s are hired locally. Those jobs do not pay well and there is no room in the budget to fly actors in from other cities. If soaps are your goal, then you would need to live in NYC or LA to get your foot in the door.
The usual avenue of getting into soaps is through your agent. If you do not have an agent, you can try doing your own leg work and occasionally send over, to the soap opera casting director, your resume and headshot. The list of soaps is below as well as the address to send your info. Before sending anything over, double check the address for accuracy as offices move and casting directors change.
When sending in your acting resume and headshot to the soap opera casting director, keep in mind that the casting agencies get dozens if not hundreds daily. Most acting resumes will get filed and not be seen again. It is important to occasionally send in updated resumes just to let the casting directors know you are still interested. Do not over do it with weekly mailings or anything like that. Set up a schedule that involves mailing in your resume and headshot to the various soap opera production once every few months. If you are a part of any productions or theater projects in town, add an invitation to your show. You never know, they may take you up on the offer and come see you perform.
Do not call the casting directors or come by the office. Thats a great way to get put on their s**t list. And lastly, always try to network and meet new people. You never know who knows whom… that just may be able to get you that audition you want so bad.
Soap Opera Casting in Los Angeles
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL – CBS
Bell-Phillip Television Prods, Inc.
CBS Television City
7800 Beverly Blvd.
Suite 3371
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 575- 4138
Casting: Christy Dooley
DAYS OF OUR LIVES – NBC
Corday Prods., Inc. with Columbia Pictures TV
NBC Studios 2 & 4
3000 W. Alameda Avenue
Burbank, CA 91523
(818) 840-4089
Casting: Fran Bascom (Director); Linda Poindexter (Atmosphere) at Columbia Pictures Television
GENERAL HOSPITAL – ABC
ABC-TV
ABC Television Center
4151 Prospect Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(310) 557-7777
Casting: Mark Teschner
PASSIONS – NBC
NBC Studios
4024 Radford Ave.
Studio City, CA 91604
Casting: Jackie Briskey (principals only), Don Philip Smith (under5 and extras)
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS – CBS
Bell Dramatic Serial Co./Corday Prods, Inc./Columbia TriStar TV
7800 Beverly Blvd.
Suite 3305
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(213) 852-2532
Casting: Meryl O’Loughlin (Director), Gail Camacho (Assoc.)
Soap Opera Casting in New York
ALL MY CHILDREN – ABC
ABC-TV
320 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023
Casting: Judy Blye Wilson (Director), Elias Tray (Associate) (Under 5’s & Extras).
Send photos, resumé, portcards.
AS THE WORLD TURNS – CBS
TeleVest Daytime Programming for Procter & Gamble
524 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019
Casting: Mikie Heilbrun (Carting Director) Tom Alberg (Under 5’s/Extras)
GUIDING LIGHT – CBS
TeleVest Daytime Programming for Procter & Gamble
222 East 44th St.
New York, NY 10017
Casting: Glenn Daniels (Casting Director), Melanie Haseltine (Associate)
Accepts postcards/showcase invitations
ONE LIFE TO LIVE – ABC
ABC-TV
56 West 66th St.
New York, NY 10023
Casting: Julie Madison (Director); Victoria Visgilio (Associate), Sheryl Baker (Assistant)
Send photos & resumé or porstards only to:
157 Columbus Ave., 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10023