Auditions and Casting

Eligibility/Expectations

• Roles are generally open to all students regardless of major or experience.  Some senior theater majors receive special consideration in casting with regard to specific needs of a senior seminar project only.
• Casting priority is given to registered students (part-time or full-time) when that student has demonstrated the ability to contribute to the production process successfully in a given role or roles.
• Interested members of the community may be cast when there are roles that cannot adequately be filled by a registered student for reasons of reliability or skill/ability/maturity.   Additionally, certain members of the community, faculty, or staff, may be cast in specific roles as a means of bringing additional learning opportunities through role-modeling and/or mentorship to our students.  Non-student participants are held to the same expectations of students, with occasional schedule accommodations.
• Scheduling is the most critical factor in casting.  Participants are to maintain open evening schedules on the weekdays for rehearsal (no night classes, Greek meetings, etc.  Course credit can be obtained for participation as a possible substitution for a dropped evening class.)
• Students may not pledge a fraternity or sorority while participating in a theater production.
• Participants must be available for all technical & dress rehearsals as well as performances.  These will include the two or three weekends prior to performances and, of course, all performances on weekends.
• Scheduled, ongoing work on the set, props, & costumes is a communal effort (required) of all involved.
• An actor’s primary skill is to completely surrender attention—cell phones are not permitted in rehearsal.  

Auditions

• Auditions are open to everyone and are usually done as a group, not individually.
• They generally run two consecutive nights.  Attend as much as you can.
• Auditions will generally consist of ‘cold readings’ (pairs or groups of people acting out pieces of the script), exercises or improvisations, and the opportunity to present a prepared piece if you so choose.  Prepared pieces are welcome, but optional. You only have to bring yourself and your schedule.  Singing and/or dance may be required when auditioning for a musical.

Casting

• First and foremost, the theater division is looking for individuals who will bring positive energy and enthusiasm as well as a strong and disciplined work ethic and focus to the production process.
• Secondarily, we are looking for individuals whose acting best fits the roles of a given production.
• We are always looking for loud voices, clear physical expressions, and playful pretending!
• Remember, we want you to do well… it makes our job much easier!
• Returning students should expect consideration of their previous work in production/s to play a significant role in decisions about whether or not and how to cast them.  

Course Credit

• Individuals (including community members and high school students) have the option to register for college credit for their participation departmental theater productions.
• THT 1211 & 2212 credit 3 semester hours for meeting the basic expectations of rehearsals, laid out in the performance contract. THT 2210,2220,3230,3240 are for advanced students and require an additional 1 to 2 hours of coursework a week exploring and reflecting upon the rehearsal process.
• Tuition fees apply to any individual not registered as a full-time student as well as individuals registered for more than 18 semester hours of credit.

Rare exceptions to these expectations may be possible in unique, extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the director.