Getting a Job Through SETC: Sarah Leigh Beason

Sarah Leigh Beason attended her first SETC Professional Auditions at the annual convention this year – and scored a summer contract with Theatre West Virginia, portraying Lily St. Regis in Annie, Spirit McCoy in Hatfields and McCoys and Ramona in Paradise Park: The Musical.

Sarah Leigh Beason

What was your first professional job?

My first professional work was at The New Vic Theatre in Kalamazoo, MI, while I was in high school. However, my first contract out of college was at The Barn Theatre in August, MI, where I was able to become an Equity Membership Candidate.

What projects are you working on now?

Right now, I’m assistant directing a short opera at my alma mater (Bethel University in Indiana) before I go on a two-month tour with The National Theatre for Children (see profile, Page 6).

What type of shows do you like to do best?

Generally, I love to do musicals. My favorite part about theatre is character work, and I particularly love exploring characters through song. However, I also love the depth that you are often able to explore in characters while working on a straight show.

How do you get your jobs? Do you always work as a professional?

Most of my jobs come through auditions such as SETC, but also through general networking and submissions. I generally work only as a professional, though I will occasionally use my skills to help out a good cause on a non-professional basis.

How has SETC helped you move forward in your career?

What I enjoyed about the spring SETC (in addition to booking a job!) was the learning opportunities made available. I thoroughly enjoyed attending workshops, networking and gaining current information about different companies and what casting is currently looking for in auditions, since there isn’t as much opportunity for this type of learning as a professional actor who spends most of their time in the Midwest.

Most extraordinary thing about you, outside of theatre?

I was homeschooled all through K-12.