The University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts will hold open auditions Nov. 16-21 for five productions (including a Mainstage musical), one workshop, two readings, and three special projects.
General auditions will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, and from 7 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. Callbacks will be held between 6 and 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Nov. 18-21. Casting will be announced starting at noon Friday, Nov. 22, with some shows beginning rehearsal on Monday, Dec. 2.
Specific roles for child actors and persons between the years of college age and their 40s and 50s are also being auditioned at this time (details are below under specific needs). For complete details, visit this website.
Auditions for UI Theatre productions are open to everyone. For academic considerations, priority is given to theater majors first, and then all other students of the UI. Members of the greater Iowa City community are also strongly encouraged to audition. There are many excellent roles available throughout the year and many non-majors and actors from the surrounding community are cast each season. Occasionally, professional guest actors will also be employed.
In all disciplines and areas of theatrical production, the Department of Theatre Arts seeks to include persons of every race, color, culture, age, gender, creed, physical disability, and sexual orientation. The department is committed to nontraditional casting to expand opportunities in roles where race, gender, or the presence or absence of a disability is not germane.
One hundred twenty-eight UI students participated in last year’s spring auditions, with 65 roles being cast. There will be more than 50 roles available this semester.
Shows, workshops, and readings participating in spring auditions
Mainstage: Makeover (Iowa Partnership in the Arts), directed by Nick Demos; Absurd Person Singular, directed by Eric Forsythe; Slaughter City, directed by Meredith Alexander.
Galleries: Monopoly, directed by Janet Schlapkohl, (Sarah Cho, playwright); Pocket of Sand, directed by Aaron Weiner (Emily Dendinger, playwright).
Workshops: Quiet Witches, directed by Nina Morrison (Samantha Collier, playwright).
Readings: Johanna, directed by Tlaloc Rivas; Full Circle, by playwright Matt Schultz.
Special events: Honors projects (Felipe Carrasco, Kathryn Wilson, Amelia Peacock, Andrew Wilkes, and Thomas Eslinger, team leaders); Book Wings—Iraq and Book Wings—Russia, both directed by Alan MacVey.
Specific Needs
In addition to the number of open roles to be cast, the production teams need to fill the following specific needs:
Monopoly: Two child actors (female) between the ages of 10 and 15. In accordance with university policy, a parent or guardian must accompany and supervise the child during every rehearsal and during the run of the show backstage. Complimentary tickets will be provided for the parent/guardian.
Makeover : A child actor (male) around the age of 10, but not older than 12, to play the role of Frankie a.k.a. Pierre. He should be no more than 4 feet tall. The role will require singing and dancing. In accordance with university policy, a parent, or guardian must accompany and supervise the child during every rehearsal and during the run of the show backstage. Complimentary tickets will be provided for the parent/guardian.
Absurd Person Singular: Actors (male and female) between the ages of college age and their 40s.
Slaughter City: An older actor (male), someone who can read as about 50+.
For more information, visit the auditions website or contact Melissa L.F. Turner at melissa-turner@uiowa.edu.
The Department of Theatre Arts is part of the Division of Performing Arts in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For a UI arts calendar and details about upcoming events visit the Arts Iowa website.