K-State Theatre is excited to announce auditions for our Spring 2027 productions of A Grand Night for Singing and An Inspector Calls.
Auditions are open to ALL K-State students, regardless of major or previous theatre experience!
GENERAL AUDITION INFORMATION
General Auditions: Sunday, November 15, 2026
Time: 7:00–10:00 p.m.
Location: Chapman Theatre, Nichols Hall
Callbacks: Monday, November 16, 2026 (separate callbacks for each production; times TBA)
SIGN UP FOR AN AUDITION TIME HERE
Students may audition for one or both productions.
Audition Requirements
A Grand Night for Singing: Prepare 1.5–2 minutes of a song by Rodgers and Hammerstein or from a Golden Age musical. Songs must be performed from memory.
An Inspector Calls: Prepare a contemporary or classical monologue, approximately 60–90 seconds.
Auditioning for Both Productions: Prepare both a song and a monologue.
Additional Requirements for Theatre Majors: Theatre majors must perform all audition material from memory (songs and monologues, as applicable).
Auditions will be scheduled in six-minute slots to accommodate students auditioning for both productions. Students auditioning only for An Inspector Calls may require less time.
Scripts and Audition Materials
ACCESS SCRIPTS FOR BOTH PRODUCTIONS HERE
Scripts for A Grand Night for Singing and An Inspector Calls are available through the link above.
Students who are not Theatre majors and wish to audition for An Inspector Calls will be provided with a monologue.
We encourage all students to familiarize themselves with the productions before auditioning.
A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING
Music by Richard Rodgers | Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Director: Belle Chavey
Music Director: Heather McCornack
Faculty Mentor: Joelle Arp-Dunham
Assistant Director: Grant Kozisek
Performances: February 18–21, 2027
Location: Chapman Theatre
About the Show
A Grand Night for Singing is not a traditional musical, but a cabaret-style revue of music composed by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. The revue includes musical hits from Rodgers and Hammerstein classics like Cinderella, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The King and I, Carousel, and other famous Golden Age musicals.
Although this revue has no spoken dialogue, the structure of the piece focuses on the individual songs themselves outside of the traditional context of their musicals, with new arrangements allowing for duets, trios, and large group numbers. This idea was created by Walter Bobbie, who drew inspiration from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s lyrics to create new interpretations and arrangements of older works of musical theatre.
Casting
We are looking to cast approximately 11–15 performers across the following vocal ranges:
- Soprano 1
- Soprano 2
- Alto
- Tenor
- Baritone/Bass
Solos, duets, and small-group numbers will be assigned based on the voices and strengths of the cast rather than following the original five-performer arrangement.
Audition Information
Please choose a song that demonstrates your vocal range, as performers will be cast according to voice part.
You may sing with a backing track or a provided accompanist. If using the accompanist, please bring sheet music or have it available on an iPad.
You may also be asked to do some additional vocalizing with the music director to determine your range.
Golden Age musicals were written approximately between 1943 and 1960. In addition to Rodgers and Hammerstein, composers include Lerner and Loewe, Cole Porter, Frank Loesser, and others. Songs included in A Grand Night for Singing are welcome.
Callbacks
Monday, November 16, 2026
Additional callback requirements and materials will be provided to selected students.
Rehearsal Information
Preliminary Fall Rehearsals:
- Sunday, November 29, 2026 — evening
- Tuesday, December 1, 2026 — evening
IMPORTANT — PRE-SEMESTER REHEARSALS: JANUARY 11–15, 2027
Rehearsals for A Grand Night for Singing will begin on Monday, January 11, before the spring semester starts.
All cast members will be expected to attend rehearsals throughout January 11–15. Students auditioning should plan to return to Manhattan early and arrange accommodations if needed.
Please consider this required pre-semester rehearsal commitment before auditioning.
Additional rehearsal schedules will be provided following casting.
AN INSPECTOR CALLS
By J. B. Priestley
Director: David Mackay
Student Assistant Directors: Alexa Beaulieu and Ayana Jones
Performances: April 15–18, 2027
Location: Chapman Theatre
About the Play
A wealthy family gathers for an evening of celebration, confident in their success, social standing, and place in the world. Their evening is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a mysterious police inspector investigating the death of a young working-class woman.
As the Inspector questions each family member, their carefully constructed lives begin to unravel. Secrets emerge, loyalties shift, and the family is forced to confront the consequences of their actions.
Part psychological thriller, part social commentary, An Inspector Calls challenges us to consider our responsibility to one another and the consequences of turning a blind eye to those around us.
About This Production
This production reimagines Priestley’s classic play through a contemporary lens, exploring themes of privilege, power, social responsibility, and moral accountability.
We are looking for actors interested in strong character work, complex relationships, and exploring the emotional and psychological layers of these characters.
Character Breakdown
Arthur Birling — Male-presenting, 45–65
A successful businessman and head of the household. Confident, authoritative, and deeply invested in his social position. He believes that hard work and individual responsibility are the foundations of success. Beneath his confidence lies a fear of losing everything he has built.
Sybil Birling — Female-presenting, 45–65
Arthur’s wife. Elegant, composed, and fiercely protective of her family’s reputation. She sees herself as morally upright and socially responsible but struggles to recognize her own prejudices and hypocrisy.
Sheila Birling — Female-presenting, 20s
The Birlings’ daughter. Initially playful, privileged, and somewhat sheltered, Sheila undergoes one of the play’s most significant transformations. Intelligent and emotionally perceptive, she begins to question the values she has inherited.
Eric Birling — Male-presenting, early to mid-20s
The Birlings’ son. Uneasy, emotionally vulnerable, and struggling with his place within the family. His attempts to live up to expectations conceal significant personal difficulties.
Gerald Croft — Male-presenting, late 20s–30s
Sheila’s fiancé. Charming, polished, and socially confident. Gerald represents the security and privilege of the upper class, though his carefully managed exterior conceals his own moral contradictions.
Inspector Goole — Any gender, 30+
A mysterious and commanding presence whose arrival disrupts the family’s carefully ordered world. Calm, intelligent, relentless, and difficult to categorize. The Inspector possesses an extraordinary ability to expose uncomfortable truths. This role requires exceptional listening, stillness, authority, and command of language.
Edna — Any gender, adult
The Birling family’s household servant. An observant presence within the home, navigating the expectations and hierarchies of the household.
We welcome actors of all backgrounds and identities.
Callbacks
Monday, November 16, 2026
Callbacks will consist of readings from the script. Selected scenes and additional instructions will be provided to students invited to callbacks.
Rehearsal Information
Rehearsals Begin: Sunday, February 28, 2027
Performances: April 15–18, 2027
Content Advisory
An Inspector Calls explores mature themes, including suicide, class inequality, poverty, sexual exploitation, alcohol misuse, family conflict, and moral responsibility.
If you have any questions, please reach out to David Mackay, Program Director for Theatre dbmackay@ksu.edu
We look forward to seeing you at auditions!