“Picnic,” directed by professor Ralph Zito, was the first Department of Drama show to be cast using Breakdown Services. Pictured are Lily Gianna Nelson and Harrison Wei. (Photo by Mike Davis)
Department of Drama Implements Industry-Standard Casting Platform
Following a year of research and development, the in the (VPA) has implemented , the industry-standard casting platform. Launched in the Fall 2025 semester, the platform was used to cast five department productions and this season’s co-production with .
Created in 1971 by Gary Marsh, Breakdown Services is used by casting directors, agents, managers and actors for the audition and casting process in 97% of scripted projects in North America.
For the drama department, the platform centralizes and makes available online casting information and role descriptions for acting and musical theater majors and allows students to submit taped auditions online for review by guest and faculty directors as well as other members of the creative team.
“I’m delighted that the Syracuse University Department of Drama has embraced Breakdown Services for its casting process,” says Bob Hupp, artistic director at Syracuse Stage, who used the platform to cast the upcoming co-production of “.” “As a frequent co-producer with the drama department, the move to Breakdown Services makes the process of casting both student and professional actors much more accessible and consistent with best industry practices. It is a big step forward for students as they enter the profession and for those of us charged with learning all we can about the talented students engaged in our casting process.”
Eleanor Holdridge, professor and chair of the Department of Drama and director for the spring production of “New Works/New Voices,” also participated in the casting process. “Working with Breakdown Services to cast the show was absolutely easy and a great way to work through the auditions and then callbacks in a collaborative way with the music director,” she says. “It was professional and aided in the casting process immensely.”
Acting and musical theater students can also create personal accounts in Actors Access, part of Breakdown Services, gaining audition experience with the system before entering the professional world.
As a result of its successful implementation of Breakdown Services, the drama department is exploring the use of the platform with related programs on campus, with the goal of creating a unified, campus-wide casting process that mirrors industry standards.
