WIT to hold new auditions for its Musical Improv Conservatory in December 2025
WIT is excited to announce that it is holding a new round of auditions for individuals who aspire to explore and perform longform musical improv.
WIT’s Musical Improv Conservatory, which will turn three in 2026, aims to assemble and cultivate teams of knowledgeable and budding musical improvisers, as well as accompanists and music directors, and to promote their further development — as individuals and ensembles — through coached exploration of longform musical improv, including regular rehearsals and performances.
Our hope is that by continuing to foster DC’s musical improv community, it will continue to further expand and deepen the talent pool of players doing this work.
We hope to cast three teams, who will rehearse weekly with a coach and an accompanist to build their mastery of musical improv skills and to create a performance format together.
The program is planned to rehearse weekly from approximately mid-January to mid-June 2026 (exact dates TBD). Teams will have occasional performances and Conservatory jams throughout the program, culminating in three public performances in June 2026 (dates TBD).
Please review the program description and player expectations below before deciding whether to audition.
We are requiring auditioners to have at least one year of improv experience *OR* at least one year of musical theater experience. You do not need to have musical improv experience in order to audition (but it is a plus if you do). Additional information about what the audition panel will be looking for can be found below and also on the sign-up form.
We will include as many people as possible in the auditions, but space may be limited, so we encourage you to sign up sooner rather than later.
Also, please note that individuals who are selected to join the Conservatory will be expected to pay a monthly participation fee of $120 from February to June to help cover costs for coaches, accompanists, and venue rental. A note that WIT’s inclusion scholarship — which awards financial aid based on need as well as race, ethnicity, social identity, and personal background — extends to performers in the Musical Improv Conservatory program. Learn more about our scholarship program HERE. Note: applying for a scholarship will not impact casting decisions. There are also opportunities to volunteer at WIT for money off of dues.
Auditions will be held:
Sunday, Dec. 14 from 12-3pm at Studio Theatre
Monday, Dec. 15 from 6:30-9:30pm at Studio Theatre
Tuesday, Dec. 16 from 6:30-9:30pm at LAYC
Studio Theatre is located at 1501 14th St. NW and the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) is at 1419 Columbia Rd NW. All spaces are accessible by stairs or elevator.
The DEADLINE TO REGISTER to audition is Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 11:59pm ET. Audition confirmation emails will be sent by Thursday, Dec. 11.
In the auditions, we’re looking for players to demonstrate these improv skills:
- making clear choices
- making agreeable, playful choices (i.e. yes, and)
- keeping one’s point-of-view or “deal”
- having honest reactions
- playing with emotional believability and depth
- making moves that support other players
- sharing focus (i.e. give and take)
- recognizing and playing pattern and game
We are also looking for folks to demonstrate these music skills:
- experience/willingness to sing in public
- ability to convey emotion through singing
- ability to hold your part while others around you are singing something else
- tuneful and musical creativity in creating melodies and rhythms
Please note: Former members of the Musical Improv Conservatory must audition if they are interested in participating in 2026.
If you have any questions about the program or auditions, please contact WIT Musical Improv Conservatory Coordinator Beth Lyons at beth.lyons.teacher@witdc.org
More about WIT’s Musical Improv Conservatory:
Overall objectives
- Develop musical improv skills of players, accompanists, and coaches
- Provide training in musical improv formats and techniques
- Develop skills in musicality, lyric writing, rhyming, song parody, etc.
- Provide a common foundation of musical improv formats to allow for:
- Future team growth and expansion
- The addition of new teams as the program expands
- Coaches and accompanists are empowered to:
- Collaborate across teams
- Sub for each other
- Share knowledge and techniques
- Future team growth and expansion
- Cultivate musical improv ensembles
- Provide structure for teams to develop cohesion
- Provide musical improv performance opportunities
- Establish regular show schedules for team performances
- Showcase musical improv for audiences
- Continue to develop an audience base for musical improv
- Provide public performances for the community
Team objectives
- Develop ensemble musical improv skills
- Build skills in musical scene work, song improv, etc. as a team
- Build cohesion as a musical improv ensemble
- Develop group cohesion, communication, and trust through rehearsals
- Select and rehearse a longform musical improv format
- Focus rehearsals on building skills in the selected format
- Perform for audiences
- Showcase team’s musical improv format at scheduled shows
Musical improv player objectives
- Broaden and strengthen musical improv performance skills individually and as an ensemble
- Build, explore, and increase proficiency in longform musical improv formats
- Gain experience working with a musical director and coach to incorporate music seamlessly into improvised scenes and stories
- Develop and practice healthy ensemble management skills, including maintaining open communication, creating a safe and welcoming environment, and nurturing the group’s unique improvisational voice
- Expand WIT’s reach by including more artists and musicians from outside the traditional WIT realm, with particular focus on tapping into DC theater culture
Player responsibilities
- Attend and fully participate in weekly rehearsals (attendance expectation is 70%) and performances as scheduled by accompanist and coach.
- Take an active role in your development as a musical improviser; seek new ways to expand your skills. (This may include regular online viewing assignments and, when possible, live show attendance.)
- Embrace coaching, direction, and feedback; continuously strive to improve.
- Communicate scheduling conflicts/needs to your coach and team with ample notice.
- Pay dues on time to cover expenses like coaching, rehearsal space, etc.
- Assist in promoting the program through word-of-mouth and social media.
- Raise any issues or concerns promptly and constructively.
- Be an asset to the team by assisting with logistics, hosting, etc.
- Have fun making great improvised music together!
Pictured: Carlic Huynh (left) and Elisabeth Mabus, who were members of WIT’s 2025 Musical Improv Conservatory program, at their showcase in May. By Mikail Faalasli