SPRING 2025 Audition Announcement

November 18, 19, and 20, 2024

Who can audition?

  • Any UMBC student registered for Spring 2025 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 Thursday, November 14 at 5:00pm. Questions about the audition policy may be directed to the Department Chair, Eve Muson, at ebmuson@umbc.edu.
  • Everyone who auditions needs to have taken and passed the Consent and Boundaries Quiz. Here is the link if you need to take the quiz.

 General Auditions

Monday, November 18, from 7:00 – 10:00 pm, in the TRS

Please prepare two pieces:

  • One 90-second monologue from a modern/contemporary play that demonstrates your ability to perform naturalistic dialogue while playing a full, complex human being. You should choose a monologue of a character close to the age and life experience as the characters in the play. Please avoid accents and archetypes.
  • One, 14 line piece from Shakespeare, the Greeks, or any other poetic text. Sonnets are a good choice.

Callbacks

in the darkest forest Callbacks will be Tuesday, November 19, from 7:00 – 10:00 pm, in the TRS

  • For in the darkest forest: The director will be calling ALL BFA STUDENTS to the movement call at the start of the callbacks. They will then have rehearsal-like callbacks specifically for those called back for in the darkest forest. Please dress appropriately and be prepared to move.

John Proctor is the Villain Callbacks will be Wednesday, November 20, from 7:00 – 10:00 pm, in the TRS

  • Prior to the general auditions, read John Proctor is the Villain 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.
  • For John Proctor is the Villain: 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.
    • There will be some ensemble work at the beginning of callbacks.
    • For callbacks, everyone should come prepared to move and to stay the whole time as the director may have you read for different characters.

Production Information

John Proctor is the Villain

By Kimberly Belflower
Directed by: Susan Stroupe
Proscenium Theatre

Casting Breakdown:  

  • CARTER SMITH: he/him, Teacher, mid-late 30s
  • SHELBY HOLCOMB: she/her, Student, 16
  • BETH POWELL: she/her, Student, 17
  • NELL SHAW: she/her, Student, 16
  • IVY WATKINS: she/her, Student, 17
  • RAELYNN NIX: she/her, Student, 16
  • MASON ADAMS: he/him, Student, 17
  • LEE TURNER: he/him, Student, 16
  • BAILEY GALLAGHER: she/her, Counselor, 24

After casting, actors and understudies will enroll for THTR 390 (3 credits.) Rehearsals meet M-F, 7:00 – 10:30 pm, with extended hours during tech, dress rehearsal and performance weeks.

Rehearsal Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:00 – 10:30 pm
First Rehearsal: Monday, January 27
Tech Week Begins: Tuesday, March 25
Performances: April 3, 4, 5, 10 (brush up), 11, 12 at 8:00pm, November 13 at 2:00pm
Strike: April 14 and/or 15

About the play: 

In a high school English class, a group of lively teens are studying The Crucible while navigating young love, sex education, and the founding of a feminist club. Holding a contemporary lens to the American classic, the kids uncover more than one school scandal and discover their own power in the process. Alternately touching and bitingly funny, this new comedy runs on pop music, fury, and the audacity of a new generation coming-of-age.

Content Disclosure: 

The play contains racist/sexist micro aggressions, depictions of grooming and abusive relationship dynamics, discussion of sexual assault and exploitation.

in the darkest forest

Directed by Nigel Semaj
Devised by Nigel Semaj and the Company
Black Box Theatre

After casting, actors will enroll for THTR 405 Theatre Ensemble II (3 credits) and THTR 339 (Nigel’s section) (1 credit.)

Rehearsal Schedule: Tuesdays/Thursdays 3:30-5:15 p.m., and Fridays 1 -4 p.m. with extended evening and weekend hours April 24 through May 4.
First Rehearsal: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Tech Week Begins: April 24, 2025
Performances: May 2 and 3 at 8:00 pm; May 3 and 4 at 2:00pm
Strike: Monday, May 5, 2025

About the play:

Inspired by the aesthetics of horror films, Semaj and company go on a journey into Shakespeare’s “forest” plays where characters find adventure, terror, and transformation. This new work combines elements from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth to explore how the wildness of the psyche is mirrored in the wildness of the natural world.

Content Disclosure: 

The play contains depictions of torture, creepiness and horror.

Questions?

Contact Tessara Morgan Farley at tessara@umbc.edu.