San Francisco Opera presents Dead Man Walking in their Fall 2025 season and seeks actors local to the San Francisco Bay area with stage combat experience and comfort with onstage nudity.  

Dead Man Walking tells the story of the murder of two teenagers by Joseph de Rocher and his brother Anthony de Rocher. The opening scene of the opera portrays two young lovers in the woods. After coming back to their car after skinny dipping, the two teenagers are attacked and killed by the two men. The scene involves full nudity.

Pay Rate

AGMA Union Contract

$2,500 per performance, inclusive of rehearsal time. 

6 performances = $15,000 (total contract value)

Characters

- Teenage Girl: Female. Maximum height 5’4 and slim build. Long hair a plus. Looking for an actress in her 20s who can portray an older teenager. This role requires an actor with stage combat experience and comfort with nudity. (Note: Although the given scene for this character indicates that a rape occurs, the actress portraying the Teenage Girl is not seen or physically involved in that moment.)

- Teenage Boy: Male. Looking for an actor in his 20s who can portray an older teenager. The role requires an actor with stage combat experience and comfort with nudity. 

- Anthony de Rocher: Male. Actor in his 20s with stage combat experience.

** Additional context: The opening scene for these actors is very tightly choreographed to music. Experience with stage musicals or general musical knowledge/ability is a plus. **

How to Submit

Interested parties should email performance resume & current headshot to auditions@sfopera.com with DEAD MAN WALKING ACTOR AUDITIONS in the subject line.  Applications must be received by Friday, May 16, 2025.  No phone calls please.  

Selected candidates for audition will be notified by Friday, May 16. Please note auditions may be filmed.