Detroit Opera is an equal opportunity employer that complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination.
Detroit Opera is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, programs, and activities.
Auditions
Detroit Opera is looking for a bright, engaging Girl between the ages of 5 and 9 who possesses a natural talent for storytelling and a remarkable ability to focus to play the role of Offred’s Daughter. The ideal candidate will be able to embody a sense of seriousness and deep thought, conveying emotion through presence and expression.
Character Profile: Offred’s Daughter appears in flashbacks and dream sequences, representing Offred’s past and her profound longing for her lost child. This role requires a young performer who can convey a sense of innocence, intelligence, and the deep emotional connection to her mother.
Key Qualities We’re Looking For
- Age: 5-9 years old.
- Storyteller: Enjoys telling stories and has a vivid imagination.
- Focused: Able to maintain attention and concentration during rehearsals and performances.
- Serious Demeanor: Capable of portraying quiet intensity and thoughtfulness when required.
- Comfort with Thematic Material: Parents/guardians must be comfortable with the mature and challenging themes present in The Handmaid’s Tale, including its depictions of a dystopian society and its treatment of women. The production will handle these themes with sensitivity, but parental understanding and support are essential.
In addition to an unforgettable experience, extras receive free parking, 2 complimentary tickets to a performance, 2 passes for guests to attend the final dress rehearsal, and a small stipend.
THE DETAILS
If interested & available email the following to auditions@detroitopera.org
- Child Name
- Parent or Guardian Name
- Child Age
- Parent or Guardian Email Address:
- Any conflicts with the schedule as listed below
AUDITION
Monday, February 2 at 7:00pm at the Detroit Opera House
Auditions are informal and only require your attendance.
REHEARSALS
Monday, February 2 Audition: 7:00p
Thursday, February 5 Rehearsal 10:00a-1:00pm
Wednesday, February 11 Rehearsal 7:00-10:00p
Wednesday, February 18 Rehearsal 7:00-10:00p
Friday, February 20 Rehearsal 7:00-10:00p
Saturday, February 21 Rehearsal on stage 3:00-6:00p
Sunday, February 22 Rehearsal on stage 3:00-6:00p
Tuesday, February 24 Rehearsal on stage 6:30-11:00p
Wednesday, February 25 Dress Rehearsal #1 6:30-10:45p
Friday, February 27 Dress Rehearsal #2 6:30-10:45p
PERFORMANCES
Sunday, March 1 at 2:30p
Thursday, March 5 at 7:30p
Saturday, March 7 at 7:30p
Being an extra with Detroit Opera provides the perfect “backstage” opportunity. See how it all happens without any of the pressure the stars have! Detroit Opera is looking for extras in the upcoming production of The Handmaid’s Tale.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Typical supernumerary work
Extras work with the directing team & vocal artists to create a believable scene on stage. They become part of the scene and give a sense of credibility throughout the opera as Handmaids, Aunts, Jezebel Club Servers, Guardians, & Eyes. No singing is required.
At the audition the director will explain roles and cast people that fit the role (and the costume) the best. Auditions are VERY informal and only require your attendance.
In addition to an unforgettable experience, extras receive free parking, 2 complimentary tickets to a performance, 2 passes for guests to attend the final dress rehearsal, and a small stipend.
THE DETAILS
Detroit Opera is looking to cast 9 men & 6 women in our upcoming production of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Extras will perform throughout the opera as Handmaids, Aunts, Jezebel Club Servers, Guards, & Eyes. No singing is required. SEE SCHEDULE AND CHARACTER DETAILS BELOW.
If interested & available email the following to auditions@detroitopera.org
- Name
- Phone
- Email Address
- Any conflicts with the schedule as listed below
AUDITION
Monday, February 2 at 7:00pm at the Detroit Opera House
No experience necessary! Your enthusiasm & commitment to the schedule are enough. At the audition the director and their team will meet all interested extras and choose the individuals they feel will work best in the production.
REHEARSAL PERIOD
Monday, February 2 Audition: 7:00p
Tuesday, February 3 Rehearsal 7:00-10:00p
Saturday, February 7 Rehearsal 10:00a-1:00pm, 2:30-5:30pm
Sunday, February 8 Rehearsal 10:00a-1:00pm, 2:30-5:30pm
Monday, February 9 Rehearsal 7:00-10:00p
Wednesday, February 11 Rehearsal 7:00-10:00p
Thursday, February 12 Rehearsal 7:00-10:00p
Saturday, February 14 Rehearsal 2:30-5:30pm, 7:00-10:00p
Sunday, February 15 Rehearsal 7:00-10:00p
Wednesday, February 18 Rehearsal 7:00-10:00p
Friday, February 20 Rehearsal 7:00-10:00p
Saturday, February 21 Rehearsal on stage 3:00-6:00p
Sunday, February 22 Rehearsal on stage 3:00-6:00p
Tuesday, February 24 Rehearsal on stage 6:30-11:00p
Wednesday, February 25 Dress Rehearsal #1 6:30-10:45p
Friday, February 27 Dress Rehearsal #2 6:30-10:45p
PERFORMANCES
Sunday, March 1 at 2:30p
Thursday, March 5 at 7:30p
Saturday, March 7 at 7:30p
MEN
Detroit Opera is looking for men between the ages of 20 and 55 who possess a strong stage presence, experience and the ability to convey authority and menace through their physicality. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in being part of a powerful and thought-provoking theatrical experience.
Role Profile: The Eyes / Guardians The Eyes and Guardians are the enforcers of Gilead’s totalitarian regime. They are silent, watchful figures who represent the constant surveillance and oppressive control within this dystopian society. Their presence on stage contributes significantly to the tension and fear experienced by the characters. They will also lead most scene changes in the transportation of furniture and characters around the stage
Key Requirements: Age: 18-55 years old.
Physicality:
- Must be able to move comfortably and with purpose, often standing for the duration of a scene (approximately 3 minutes) without fidgeting or distraction.
- A commanding and disciplined posture is essential.
Stage Presence:
- Ability to convey a sense of authority, intimidation, and unwavering presence through non-verbal communication.
Comfort with Thematic Content
- Crucially, applicants must be fully comfortable with the mature, disturbing, and often brutal thematic content of The Handmaid’s Tale. This includes depictions of violence, oppression, and the subjugation of women. While all staging will be handled with artistic integrity, the roles of the Eyes/Guardians may involve being present during intense and potentially violent stage action.
WOMEN
Detroit Opera is looking for women between the ages of 18 and 60 who possess strong stage presence, discipline, and the ability to convey emotion, tension, and character through focused, controlled physicality. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in contributing to a powerful and thought-provoking theatrical experience.
Role Profiles
Handmaids
Handmaids are central symbols within the world of Gilead—silent, regimented, and constantly scrutinized. Their uniformity and controlled presence embody the regime’s grip on reproductive women. As supernumeraries, Handmaids participate in stylized group movement, ritual tableaux, and processions that form the visual core of the production. Handmaids may also assist in structured scene transitions involving coordinated movement.
Aunts
Aunts are the authoritarian overseers of the Handmaids, tasked with enforcing obedience and indoctrination. They are commanding, stern figures whose presence communicates discipline, fear, and absolute control. Supernumerary Aunts appear in key ritual scenes and may support transitions or orchestrated movement sequences that demonstrate their authority within the hierarchy of Gilead.
Jezebel Servers
Jezebel Servers appear in scenes set within the secret, illicit world of the Jezebels club. These performers portray individuals forced into roles of hospitality and entertainment under oppressive circumstances. Their presence should communicate poise, restraint, and the unsettling glamour of Gilead’s underground elite spaces. Servers will engage in choreographed movement patterns, offering drinks, guiding characters, or contributing to the scene’s atmospheric tension.
Key Requirements
Age: 18–60 years old (all roles).
Physicality:
- Ability to maintain stillness, controlled posture, and focus for extended moments (approximately 3–5 minutes).
- Comfort with structured, stylized movement and working in sync with an ensemble.
- For Handmaids and Aunts: ability to project discipline and precision through minimal physicality.
- For Jezebel Servers: ability to move gracefully, fluidly, and with composure while maintaining character.
Stage Presence:
- Strong non-verbal storytelling skills.
- Ability to convey authority, fear, oppression, or emotional restraint depending on the assigned role.
- A clear, intentional physical point of view that enhances the production’s atmosphere and tension.
Comfort with Thematic Content:
- Applicants must be fully comfortable with the mature, disturbing, and often brutal thematic material of The Handmaid’s Tale. This includes depictions of oppression, coercion, violence, and sexual exploitation. While all staging will be handled with artistic integrity and professionalism, performers in all three categories may be present for scenes involving intense emotional or violent action.
Detroit Opera Chorus auditions are completed for the season.
Audition dates for the upcoming 2026-2027 season will be announced in late winter 2026. If interested in receiving notice of upcoming audition dates send your vocal resume to auditions@detroitopera.org.
The Detroit Opera Chorus is a professional group of diverse classical vocal artists of all professions and backgrounds. Vocalists of the Detroit Opera Chorus are members of the American Guild of Musical Artists.
Open Positions
Department: Safety and Security
Classification: Part-Time, Non-Exempt
Work Schedule: This position maintains a flexible work schedule, and is part of a pool of Crowd Managers, who work various performances/events at the Detroit Opera House.
Salary: $18.00 – $19.00/hr.
How to apply: Qualified applicants should submit their resume by email to employment@motopera.org. Please include how you learned of this position.
Position Summary
Detroit Opera (DO) is southeast Michigan’s premier venue for opera and dance, and is a contemporary cultural-corner stone of the City of Detroit. Located in the heart of downtown, near Comerica Park, Detroit Opera offers a dynamic work environment. DO Crowd Managers work with the Security Team to provide services designed to ensure the safety of Detroit Opera and the Detroit Opera House patrons, visitors, performers during performances and other events. Through working cohesively with the DO Security and Events teams Crowd Managers work to secure the safety of patrons, visitors, and performers by regulating traffic control, maintaining access to entrances and emergency exits, and performing security screenings—when required.
Responsibilities
- Regulate traffic by managing the movement of activities and guests
- Monitor entrances and exits to ensure proper egress, in accordance
- Observe crowds in order to keep vigilant watch for signs of danger
- Correspond with the Manager on Duty, Director of Security, and the Manager of Venue Operations to adequately provide emergency care within the existing security plan framework.
- Ensure security and safety of patrons, visitors, performers, and staff, through adherence to DO security policies
- Ensure security and safety of the venue, and perform security screening when required
- Interact with guests attending events, provide information and direction in a positive and friendly manner
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Ability to pass state background check
- Minimum 1 year of experience as a crowd manager or related events management experience
- Demonstrated customer service skills
Desired Qualifications
- Security experience
- Law enforcement experience
- Crowd control/venue management certification
Essential functions/physical demands
- The person in this position works evenings and weekends, in accordance with the events schedule.
- The person in this position navigates stairwells, hallways, and other areas of the Detroit Opera House.
- The person in this position stands for up to 3 hours at a time.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended. Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.
Detroit Opera is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and encourages all employees to fully incorporate their diverse backgrounds, skills, and life experiences into their work and towards the fulfillment of the DO mission.
Department: Safety and Security
Classification: Part-Time, Non-Exempt
Work Schedule: This position maintains a flexible work schedule, and is part of a pool of Event Medics, who work various performances/events at the Detroit Opera House.
Salary: $20.00/hr.
How to apply: Qualified applicants should submit their resume by email to employment@motopera.org. Please include how you learned of this position.
Position Summary
Detroit Opera (DO) is southeast Michigan’s premier venue for opera and dance, and is a contemporary cultural-corner stone of the City of Detroit. Located in the heart of downtown, near Comerica Park, Detroit Opera offers a dynamic work environment. DO Event Medics work with the Security Team to provide services designed to ensure the health and safety of Detroit Opera and the Detroit Opera House patrons, visitors, performers during performances and other events. Event Medics work to secure the safety of patrons, visitors, and performers by providing immediate medical care to any and all individuals who fall ill, to be vigilant of individuals displaying signs or symptoms of illness, to call for or facilitate communication with emergency first responders, and provide crowd management services for the safety of patrons, visitors, employees and artists.
Responsibilities
- Immediately respond to all medical emergencies in accordance with the relevant procedures and policies.
- Observe crowds in order to keep vigilant watch for symptoms and early signs of illness or medical emergencies.
- Treat symptoms of minor injuries, such as small cuts/scrape, dizziness, nausea, headaches, contacting emergency medical services as needed.
- Correspond with the Manager on Duty, Director of Security, and the Manager of Venue Operations to adequately provide emergency medical care within the existing security plan framework.
- Participate in traffic control duties for large events, as needed.
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Ability to pass state background check
- EMT-B license
- Demonstrated ability to work ethically and dependably
Desired Qualifications
- EMT-I license or EMT-P license highly preferred
- Nursing/other health care experience
- Security experience
- Crowd manager experience
Essential functions/physical demands
- The person in this position works evenings and weekends, in accordance with the events schedule.
- The person in this position navigates stairwells, hallways, and other areas of the Detroit Opera House.
- The person in this position stands for up to 3 hours at a time.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended. Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.
Detroit Opera is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and encourages all employees to fully incorporate their diverse backgrounds, skills, and life experiences into their work and towards the fulfillment of the DO mission.
Shifts available:
Sat., Sun., 3 PM – 11 PM (16 hrs./week)
*Detroit Opera employees who work 20 or more hours/week are eligible to participate in the employee benefits program
Salary: $20/hr.
How to Apply: Qualified applicants should submit their resume by email to employment@detroitopera.org.
Position Summary:
Detroit Opera (DO) is southeast Michigan’s premier venue for opera and dance and is a contemporary cultural-corner stone of the City of Detroit. Located in the heart of downtown, near Comerica Park, Detroit Opera offers a dynamic work environment. Through a meticulous security strategy, Detroit Opera Security Officers provide services designed to ensure the protective security of Detroit Opera staff, patrons, visitors and performers; and the Detroit Opera House buildings and grounds. Incumbents in this position will secure premises, personnel, patrons and guests by patrolling property; monitoring surveillance equipment; patrolling and inspecting buildings, equipment, and access points; permitting entry and checking credentials. During performances and other large events with visiting attendees, Security Officers monitor crowds, and provide crowd management services for the safety of visitors, employees and artists.
Job Responsibilities:
- Patrol and secure the Detroit Opera House.
- Monitor and analyze CCTV camera footage.
- Protect company assets relative to theft, assault, fire and other safety issues; guard valuables in a secure area
- Respond to alarms and emergencies, communicate any irregularities with management
- Keep a thorough incident report record; follow procedures for various initiatives including fire prevention, traffic control and accident investigations
- Check visitors in and out of the Detroit Opera House, and escort visitors around the premises.
- Guard valuables in a secure area
- Ensure compliance with government regulations
Required Qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Ability to pass state background check
- Clean driving record
- Minimum 1 year of relevant security experience
- Demonstrated ability to work ethically and dependably
- Ability to understand diverse perspectives and acknowledge the significance of differences and complexities in background, cultures, values and viewpoints as the foundation for an inclusive environment.
Desired Qualifications:
- First aid/CPR-certified
- Customer service experience
Physical Demands of the Work Environment:
- The person in this position navigates different areas through the building including stairwells, work areas, parking structure, and patron areas as part of building security checks.
- The person in this position ascends and descends stairwells multiple times during a shift, as part of building security checks.
- The person in this position stands for up to 3 hours at a time.
- The person in this position occasionally lifts heavy objects up to 60 lbs.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.
Additional Information
Detroit Opera is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and encourages all employees to fully incorporate their diverse backgrounds, skills, and life experiences into their work and towards the fulfillment of the DO mission.