Yes! When you post a show you'll define your starting point such as managing auditions, scheduling rehearsals, or creating a playbill. Your show settings will be fine-tuned behind the scenes based on where you are in your production cycle, getting you to the right tool as quickly as possible.

If your starting point is Manage Auditions, you can freely use the built-in audition form. If your starting point is Capture Conflicts, your cast members will need to create their Cast98 account and submit their conflict calendar to you (similar to the full audition form) so that you can navigate their conflicts moving forward. If your starting point is Schedule Rehearsals or Create Playbill, the system expects you to move ahead without performers creating their own user accounts.

For all starting points, you'll receive a welcome email with next steps to get your show off on the right foot.

Yes! When you post a show, you choose the best starting point based on your current needs. Your choice will predefine your show settings and get you in front of the right tool as quickly as possible.

Learn more in the docs

The most common reason that a user cannot submit an audition form is because they have created an account multiple times using the same email address. This can confuse the system and cause the audition form to "spin" or load continuously when trying to save. Tech support can reset your account cache to get you back on track!

Yes! You can add crew without them submitting the audition form for your production. They just need to (1) create a user account, (2) have a talent profile on their account, and (3) follow your studio. Then you can assign them to any role(s) on your crew list.

Every tool within a production is considered either public or protected. Protected resources may be cast-only or admin-only. Tools such as the rehearsal schedule, chat groups, and contact information are protected as cast-only resources.

There are two requirements for a user to gain access to cast-only resources:

1. The show's cast list must be published
2. The user must be assigned a role in the cast or crew

A role assignment creates a link between the show and the user via a talent profile. The talent profile is the user's access card for protected resources. If a user deletes the talent profile that has been assigned a role, they will lose access to that show's cast-only tools. The same is true if the user deletes their entire account. Creating a new account with the same email address will not reconnect them to past or ongoing shows.

Sometimes a user has created more than one account and gets confused when they log into the wrong account and cannot see a show's cast-only resources as expected.

How to check: Show directors can see assigned profile IDs on the cast list (also on the audition dashboard and in the schedule maker) and compare it to the talent profile IDs that a user sees on their account to determine a match.

How to fix: The user will need to have an active talent profile on their account and use it to submit their conflict calendar or audition form to the show. Then the director can re-add them to the cast or crew to reconnect their access.

Yes! You can add crew without them submitting the audition form for your production. They just need to (1) create a user account, (2) have a talent profile on their account, and (3) follow your studio. Then you can assign them to any role(s) on your crew list.

Sharing a digital playbill with your audience is a seamless process, and there's actually a few ways that you can choose to distribute it. Here are two of the easiest methods.

1. Share the show URL or a direct link to the playbill on social media. When you publish your playbill on Cast98, a link to it appears in the show's main menu. So you can share a link to the main page OR directly your playbill on social media. You can alternatively email the link to your attendees, if you collect their email address.
2. Print the QR code on a large poster. Cast98 generates a public QR code that you can share in a variety of ways. The easiest thing for your audience members would be to have the QR code available to scan on the way into the theatre. Perhaps you could put up a poster in the lobby or even on the front doors. If your venue is small enough, you could put a poster on stage (or on a digital screen if you have one) before the curtain opens with a QR code large enough for everyone to scan from their seats. Audience members can use their smartphones to "take a picture" of the QR code, something that is becoming increasingly mainstream. Ushers can assist people as needed if they're unfamiliar with QR codes.

It used to, but eventually I (Daniel - Cast98's founder) came to realize every community theatre is a nonprofit so I lowered prices, added a free tier, and stopped offering nonprofit discounts.

Sharing a digital playbill with your audience is a seamless process, and there's actually a few ways that you can choose to distribute it. Here are two of the easiest methods.

1. Share the show URL or a direct link to the playbill on social media. When you publish your playbill on Cast98, a link to it appears in the show's main menu. So you can share a link to the main page OR directly your playbill on social media. You can alternatively email the link to your attendees, if you collect their email address.
2. Print the QR code on a large poster. Cast98 generates a public QR code that you can share in a variety of ways. The easiest thing for your audience members would be to have the QR code available to scan on the way into the theatre. Perhaps you could put up a poster in the lobby or even on the front doors. If your venue is small enough, you could put a poster on stage (or on a digital screen if you have one) before the curtain opens with a QR code large enough for everyone to scan from their seats. Audience members can use their smartphones to "take a picture" of the QR code, something that is becoming increasingly mainstream. Ushers can assist people as needed if they're unfamiliar with QR codes.

It's free for everyone to get started. If your show is quite large or if you want to unlock more advanced tools, a paid upgrade starts at just $50/month and you can cancel anytime.

You can find up-to-date cost info on the pricing page.

It used to, but eventually I (Daniel - Cast98's founder) came to realize every community theatre is a nonprofit so I lowered prices, added a free tier, and stopped offering nonprofit discounts.

It used to have a nonprofit/edu discount, but since pretty much every theatre company is a nonprofit and every school is a... well... school, I (Daniel - Cast98's founder) just reduced the cost, added a free tier, and stopped offering nonprofit discounts.

Even better: Cast98 has a free version! You can post unlimited shows and manage your auditions and rehearsal schedules at no cost and when your show grows beyond the free tier, the paid upgrade is designed to be affordable for nonprofits and schools. Learn more about pricing.

Every tool within a production is considered either public or protected. Protected resources may be cast-only or admin-only. Tools such as the rehearsal schedule, chat groups, and contact information are protected as cast-only resources.

There are two requirements for a user to gain access to cast-only resources:

1. The show's cast list must be published
2. The user must be assigned a role in the cast or crew

A role assignment creates a link between the show and the user via a talent profile. The talent profile is the user's access card for protected resources. If a user deletes the talent profile that has been assigned a role, they will lose access to that show's cast-only tools. The same is true if the user deletes their entire account. Creating a new account with the same email address will not reconnect them to past or ongoing shows.

Sometimes a user has created more than one account and gets confused when they log into the wrong account and cannot see a show's cast-only resources as expected.

How to check: Show directors can see assigned profile IDs on the cast list (also on the audition dashboard and in the schedule maker) and compare it to the talent profile IDs that a user sees on their account to determine a match.

How to fix: The user will need to have an active talent profile on their account and use it to submit their conflict calendar or audition form to the show. Then the director can re-add them to the cast or crew to reconnect their access.

It used to have a nonprofit/edu discount, but since pretty much every theatre company is a nonprofit and every school is a... well... school, I (Daniel - Cast98's founder) just reduced the cost, added a free tier, and stopped offering nonprofit discounts.