Department of Theater, Drama opens doors for fall auditions

Some students sat on the floor looking intently at their sheet music. Some chatted and laughed loudly with friends. And some looked green from nerves.

But what all of these students had in common was their looming audition times.

Students from every major and class were invited to audition for the Department of Theater and Drama’s productions of “Hair,” “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play,” “Three Musketeers” and “Lysistrata” on Monday at the Lee Norvelle Theater.

Among these hopeful thespians were freshman Segann March and sophomore Joyniece Kirkland.

“She made me do it,” March said while gesturing to Kirkland. “I’m normally so shy and haven’t done theater since middle school.”

Both auditioning for “Hair,” March and Kirkland said they heard about auditions an hour beforehand and didn’t have time to book a time slot in advance.

“I am excited to try something new so early in the school year,” March said. “And if I don’t get cast, there will always be future productions to audition for.”

Though students were welcome to try out for as many productions as they liked, in the end participants will be limited to one show per semester.

“To cast, the directors all come together in a pool after auditions to discuss who they would like for each show,” junior Kelsey DeWitt said. DeWitt was in charge of the check-in table at auditions.

“The Department of Theater and Drama has been doing auditions like this for as long as I can remember,” DeWitt said while highlighting names and distributing numbers to the steady flow of hopefuls. “The earlier the directors cast the shows, the easier it is for them to start the production process and get settled.”

Once inside the audition, students met with their potential directors one-on-one.
“Three Musketeers” director Murray McGibbon sat quietly in the middle of the house, facing the stage.

“Let’s see what you got,” he said to senior Sean Magill before the student began his monologue.

After the 90-second piece was completed, a look of accomplishment came over Magill’s face.

It was done. 

No matter how many auditions an actor has gone through, nervousness is still a normal feeling. And while having several auditions in one night can be quite stressful, junior Aaron Densley said he is no stranger to the procedure.

“It’s epic, really.” Densley said. “But from what I’ve heard auditions like this aren’t that unheard-of in the real world. One minute your agent can call, and from there it’s like, ‘Ready, set, go.”