The first two weeks of the semester are always an exciting time for aspiring actors on campus, as all the semester’s shows are hunting for casts. To help everyone sort through the many auditions, we reached out to directors and assistant directors to give us a sneak peak at what they are putting up this fall. Consult Facebook event pages or email directors for additional information, such as whether auditions require preparation.
“The Killing Joke”
Performance Dates: October 8-10
Audition Times: 9/7 & 9/9, 3:30-5:30PM
Audition Location: Usdan 108
“In no Batman story is the thinness of the line between him and the Joker more visible than in The Killing Joke. Its implications have haunted me for years because I have yet to, and may never, understand if the two characters are polar opposites or sides of the same coin. It is in this disturbing, brilliant tale that Batman and the Joker finally meet, not as mere adversaries, but as agents of Order and Chaos.”
-Hazem Fahmy ’17, Director
“Marisol,” Wesleyan Theater Department Fall Show
Performance Dates: November 18-21
Audition Times: 9/8 & 9/9, from 4:30-8:30PM
Audition Location: Theater Studios (Basement)
“There is a war in heaven, God is dying, and he is taking the universe with him. Left to wander the streets of New York without her guardian angel, Marisol Perez faces skinheads and savages in this twisted, unrelenting, and darkly funny play.”
-Russell Goldman ’17, Assistant Director
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
Performance Dates: October 29-31
Audition Times: 9/9, 4:00-6:00PM & 9/10, 4:30-6:30PM
Audition Location: Jones Room
“My show is a show where 12-year-olds compete in a spelling bee and sing about their feelings. It is funny AND fun!”
-Jess Wolinsky ’17, Director
“Terminus”
Performance Dates: November 5-7
Audition Times: 9/9 & 9/11, 4:30-6:30PM
Audition Location: 41 Wyllys, Room 113
“A former schoolteacher, an estranged daughter, and a singing serial killer recount one intense night in Dublin in vivid, vulgar rhyme. If you like demons, worms, honey-flavored candies, questionable love stories, and songs made famous by Bette Midler, you should audition.”
-Justin Greene ’16, Director
“Creation/Destruction”
Performance Dates: October 1-3
Audition Times: 9/9 & 9/10, 6:30-8:30PM
Audition Location: Jones Room
“‘Creation/Destruction’ is a new, devised piece exploring the themes of creation and destruction through performance. Actors will get the opportunity to collaborate with the team to create an entirely new work based upon interviews with the elderly and children.”
-Jess Cummings ’17, Co-Director
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Performance Dates: December 3-5
Audition Times: (Actors/Singers) 9/9 & 9/10, 7-10PM; (Dancers) 9/11, 5-8PM
Audition Locations: East Room
“‘Sweeney Todd’ is a musical about a demon barber and a lady who bakes pies. Both are unlucky in love.”
-Maia Nelles-Sager ’17, Director
“Non Tutti I Ladri Vengono Per Nuocere”
Performance Dates: TBD
Audition Times: 9/12 & 9/13, 10:15-11:45 AM
Audition Location: Usdan 108
“The Romance Languages and Literature department welcomes you to witness one of Dario Fo’s brilliant masterpieces. This hilarious comedy will be performed in Italian, but all are welcome to audition regardless of skill level!”
-Hannah Skopicki ’18, Director
“The Fear Project”
Performance Dates: December 10-12
Audition Times: 9/12 & 9/13. 2-4PM
Audition Location: Jones Room
“The production will be an exploration of the concept, emotion, and phenomenon of FEAR and how it varies in different ages, genders, sexualities, classes, etc. The team will collaborate throughout the process as we devise a piece that takes inspiration from interviews, books, songs, and journal entries.”
-Ruby Lanet ’18, Co-Director
“Heathers: the Musical”
Performance Dates: November 12-14
Audition Times: 9/12 & 9/13, 5-7PM
Audtion Location: (9/12) Usdan 108, (9/13) 41 Wyllys 115
“‘Heathers’ is a hilariously dark musical set in the late ’80s. When slightly geeky Veronica Sawyer dreams of walking with the popular crowd, deep and mysterious J.D. has other, more somber plans for them.”
-Hannah Skopicki ’18, Director
“Sk8r Boi”
Performance Dates: December 10-12.
Audition Times: 9/13 & 9/14, 7-9PM
Audition Location: East Room
“‘Sk8r Boi’ tells a story of coming out, falling in love, and high school angst all set to the music of Avril Lavigne. Come reminisce and angst with us!”
-Maya Herbsman ’17, Director
“The Nutcracker”
Performance Dates: November 19-21
Audition Times: 9/14, 5-6:30PM, & 9/15, 7-8:30PM
Audition Locations: Jones Room, Fayerweather 108
“‘The Nutcracker’ is Second Stage’s first traditional ballet, showcasing the second act of the famous ballet. In true classical fashion, the audience will be led through The Nutcracker Prince’s Land of Sweets, and witness a beautiful celebration.”
-Mio Magee ’18, Director
“YUM YUM: A 3D FUNHOUSE”
Performance Dates: January 28-30
Audition Dates: 9/20 & 9/21, 7-9:30PM
“Set entirely in a 3D mirror maze funhouse, ‘YUM YUM’ follows a 10-year-old dinosaur connoisseur as she finds herself confronted by an animatronic bird and his five companions. Offered the chance to forever see the world through the eyes of a child, Yvette falls into a labyrinth of manipulation and turmoil. There will be Daft Punk and Michael Jackson numbers.”
-Russell Goldman ’17, Director
Students can also perform in One Day Plays on September 24 and 25, a non-audition event. Keep an eye out for Second Stage announcements later in the month.