May 13 and 14, 2024
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The UMBC Department of Theatre Audition Form: Fall 2024
- After completing this form, you will be directed to the UMBC Department of Theatre Audition Disclosure Form: Fall 2024. After you complete the Audition Disclosure Form, you will then be directed to the Sign Up Sheet.
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The UMBC Theatre Casting Exemption Request
Who can audition?
- Any UMBC student registered for Fall 2024 is welcome to audition.
- All BFA or BFA-intending students (students who are interested in the BFA) are required to audition.
Audition Policy
- Everyone who auditions, regardless of major or track, agrees to “play as cast.” This means that by auditioning you are committing to accepting any role and understudy assignment, and are available for the rehearsal and production schedule. A brief outline of production dates follows in the play information, below.
- Students who wish to request an exception to the casting policy must fill out this form no later than Friday, May 3 at 5:00pm. Questions about the audition policy may be directed to the Director of the BFA Program, Colette Searls, at csearls@umbc.edu.
General Auditions
Monday, May 13, from 7:00 – 10:00 pm, in the TRS (PAHB 102)
- Please prepare one 90-second monologue by Anton Chekhov that you believe highlights who you are and/or a role that you might want to play in the production.
- Read the script for Stupid Fucking Bird thoroughly. Please contact Tessara Morgan Farley, tessara@umbc.edu, for a PDF version of the script. Think hard about the world of the play and what part(s) you would hope to be considered for. Consider audition choices appropriate to that.
- Down With Love is an opportunity for upper-class acting majors to present a public performance of their work from THTR 345 (Audition and Business of Acting). Therefore, you are not auditioning for a role in the project. Any student who wishes to perform must enroll in THTR 345 (Audition and Business of Acting) and THTR 339 (Advanced Production Techniques). Please read about prerequisites, expectations, and exceptions in the production information below.
Callbacks
Tuesday, May 14, from 7:00 – 10:00 pm, in the TRS (PAHB 102)
- For Stupid Fucking Bird: Actors will be notified after the general auditions as to when they should arrive at the callback. However, all students should be prepared to attend the callbacks in the meantime; directors are not obliged to accommodate conflicts.
- Sides will be made available for callbacks directly following general auditions.
- For callbacks, everyone will also be asked to prepare a musical piece that showcases your musical ability and style of musical performance that you personally connect with. You may sing acapella, bring in sheet music/tracks, beat box, and/or play an instrument. People that do play musical instruments are strongly encouraged to bring something to share. There will be a keyboard in the room but anything else, you will have to provide.
- For Down With Love: there are no callbacks.
Production Information
Stupid Fucking Bird
By Aaron Posner
Directed by: Gerrad Alex Taylor
Proscenium Theatre
Casting Breakdown:
- CONRAD – he/him; An aspiring playwright.
- DEV – he/him; Conrad’s best friend. In love with Mash.
- MASH – she/her; A musician. In love with Conrad.
- NINA – she/her; Wants to become a famous actress. Conrad’s love interest.
- EMMA ARKADINA – she/her; A famous actress. Conrad’s mother.
- DOYLE TRIGORIN – he/him; A famous novelist. Emma’s lover.
- DR. EUGENE SORN – he/him; A doctor. Emma’s brother.
After casting, actors and understudies will enroll for THTR 390 (3 credits.) Rehearsals meet M-F, 6:30 – 10:00 pm, with extended hours during tech, dress rehearsal and performance weeks.
Rehearsal Schedule: Monday – Friday, 6:30 – 10:00 pm
First Rehearsal: Tuesday, September 3
Tech Week Begins: Tuesday, October 22
Performances: October 31, November 1, 2, 7 (brush up), 8, 9 at 8:00pm
November 10 at 2:00pm
Strike: November 11
About the play:
An aspiring young director rampages against the art created by his mother’s generation. A nubile young actress wrestles with an aging Hollywood star for the affections of a renowned novelist. And everyone discovers just how disappointing love, art, and growing up can be. In this irreverent, contemporary, and very funny remix of Chekhov’s The Seagull, Aaron Posner stages a timeless battle between young and old, past and present, in search of the true meaning of it all.
Content Disclosure:
The play contains sexual situations, references and depiction of suicide and mental illness, references of child loss, sounds of gunshots and the use of a non firing theatrical gun. Please note the play suggests nudity in portions of the stage directions. There will be no nudity in our production.
Down with Love: The Actors Showcase
Instructor/Director will be announced soon.
Musical Director: Andrew Hann
Black Box Theatre
- There are no callbacks for this project. Students who are enrolled in THTR 345 (Audition and Business of Acting, 3 credits) may add THTR 339 (1 credit) and participate in the public performance. You must finalize your decision to enroll in the public performance by the end of the Fall 2024 adjustment period: September 11, 2024.
Rehearsal Schedule: Monday/Wednesday 3:30-5:15 p.m., and Fridays 1 -4 p.m. with extended evening and weekend hours November 25 through December 8.
First Rehearsal: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Tech Week Begins: November 25, 2024
Performances: December 6 and 7 at 8:00 pm; December 7 and 8 at 2:00pm
Strike: Monday, December 9, 2024
About the play:
UMBC Theatre presents the 2nd Actor Showcase Biennial! (That means every other year—look it up.) This year’s Showcase features monologues, songs, scenes, and duets investigating the theme of love. The next time we will offer THTR 345 is Fall of 2026.
Your Questions about Down with Love, Answered
- THTR 345/339 Actors Showcase is designed for upper-level acting majors. Before taking the course, students must have completed THTR 324 (Craft of Acting III). It is recommended that students have completed Vocal Training III and Movement II.
- In rare exceptions, the faculty allows students to take these courses concurrently or out of sequence. You may request a special exception from Colette Searls, Director of the BFA Acting Program. Please do not expect an immediate response.
- You may participate in both Stupid F–king Bird and Down With Love. Be prepared for a lot of work. Think about this carefully, and talk to your advisor. You have until September 11 to confirm your participation in the performance.
- You may take THTR 345 without participating in the performance.
- You may repeat THTR 345/339 with permission from Colette Searls.
Questions?
Contact Tessara Morgan Farley at tessara@umbc.edu.