KU Theatre announces fall auditions

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas University Theatre opens its doors to new talent this month to kick off the 2013-2014 season. Auditions for fall productions will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26, and Tuesday, Aug. 27, in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre, Murphy Hall.

Shows being cast include “Dracula,” “And I And Silence,” “Adding Machine: A Musical” and “The Maderati.”

Katherine Pryor, University Theatre managing director, invites all those interested in auditioning or learning more about the department to a “Theatre Rally” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25.

Each year faculty and staff welcome students back to the Lawrence campus by introducing the season and explaining academic and extracurricular involvement. John Staniunas, professor of theatre, will lead an audition workshop after the rally. Refreshments will be provided courtesy of the Friends of the Theatre.

For Pryor, holding auditions early in the semester allows students to get involved as soon as possible.

“What sets us apart (from other theatres in Lawrence) is we are entirely academically focused,” Pryor said. “We want to create a collaborative environment that supports artistic growth all year long, but because our first production opens the beginning of October we have to cast immediately.”

Pryor said the productions being cast are directed by KU Theatre faculty and promising graduate students. Auditions are open to all undergraduates enrolled in at least six hours and all graduate students enrolled in at least one hour, regardless of major. Auditioning students must bring a current headshot and prepare two contrasting pieces, totaling three minutes. Students auditioning for “Adding Machine: A Musical” must prepare 32 bars of a musical theatre song and a one-minute monologue. Scripts are available in 317 Murphy.

Invitation-only callbacks will be Wednesday, Aug. 28, and Thursday, Aug. 29. Cast lists will be posted by noon Friday, Aug. 30.

The following productions will be cast from the fall auditions:

“Dracula”

• adapted by Dennis Christilles from the novel by Bram Stoker
• directed by Dennis Christilles
• Performance dates: Oct. 4-6, and Oct. 18-20
• Two women, four various*
• *Please note, principal characters have already been cast

“And I And Silence”

• by Naomi Wallace
• directed by Lynn Deboeck
• Performance dates: Oct. 25-27, Oct. 29-31
• Two women

“Adding Machine: A Musical”

• original music by Joshua Schmidt, libretto by Jason Loewith and Joshua Schmidt
• based on the play by Elmer Rice
• directed by Mechele Leon
• Performance dates: Nov. 15-17, Nov. 22-24
• 5 men, 4 women

“The Maderati”

• by Richard Greenberg
• directed by Jeanne Tiehen
• Performance dates: Dec. 6-8, Dec. 10-12
• Five men, four women