Outside Casting & Opportunities

Open Circle is not involved in the opportunities below and retains no liability

We use this space to make our community aware of opportunities and resources available locally, nationally and globally.

Feel free to fsend or forward any opportunites you would like to have posted for our community to open.circle.dc@gmail.com.

International Young Musicians Program (music)

The applications for our Access/VSA International Young Musicians Program close on Wednesday, January 7. This program is open to disabled musicians ages 14-25. Disability is a broad umbrella that represents a variety of lived experiences. Eligible musicians may have apparent, physical, and/or sensory conditions as well as less apparent conditions like chronic illness/pain, or neurodivergence like anxiety, ADHD, depression, PTSD, OCD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and more.

  • Eligibility: Ages 14-25, soloists or ensembles (up to 5 people) 
  • Requirements: Any instrument (including voice), all genres welcome (classical, jazz, hip-hop, rock, etc.) 
  • Application: Submit 3 videos of recent performances that represent your musicianship 
  • Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 7, 2026 
  • Key Program Dates: 

o   Virtual sessions: April 25, May 30, June 27, 2026 

o   In-person at Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.: July 23-27, 2026 

Program Website: https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/opportunities-for-artists/competitions-and-commissions/access-vsa-international-young-musicians-program/

Application: https://thekennedycenter.smapply.io/prog/2026_accessvsa_IYM/

Applications for the Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program close on Wednesday, January 7. This program invites high school students with disabilities* to explore the art of writing for performance by submitting a 10-minute script for development.

*Disability is a broad umbrella that represents a variety of lived experiences. Eligible young writers may have apparent, physical, and/or sensory conditions as well as less apparent conditions like chronic illness/pain, or neurodivergence like anxiety, ADHD, depression, PTSD, OCD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and more.

Playwright Discovery Program

  • Eligibility: Must be enrolled in high school/secondary school (generally, ages 14-19) 
  • Requirements: Scripts must not exceed 10 minutes when read aloud and must be in English or ASL 
  • Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 7, 2026 
  • Key Program Dates: 

o    Virtual sessions: March 28, April 25, May 30, June 27, 2026 

o    In-person at Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.: July 12-16, 2026 

Program Website: https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/opportunities-for-artists/competitions-and-commissions/access-vsa-playwright-discovery-program/

Application: https://thekennedycenter.smapply.io/prog/2026_accessvsa_PDP/