Auditions for Spring 2024 will be held:

Nov 8, 3:30-5:30pm, AMELIA GOES TO THE BALL (opera), (McCain Room 105)

Nov 13, 7:30-10pm open auditions for COMEDY and WOLVES (Chapman)
Nov 14, 7:30 -10pm COMEDY OF ERRORS callbacks (Chapman+Studios)
Nov 15, 7:30 -10pm THE WOLVES callbacks (Chapman+Studios)

 

Sign-up times and audition form to complete will be posted soon. 

The productions for Spring 2024 are:

Amelia Goes to the Ball by Gian Carlo-Menotti  (Directed by Prof. Jerry Jay Cranford)

The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe (Directed by Lindsey Edwards)

A Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare (Directed by Prof. David Mackay)

 

Scripts are located on the CANVAS Script Archives. If you do not have access, please contact Shannon at sbskelton@ksu.edu. It is highly recommended that you read and comprehend scripts before auditioning.

 

 

AMELIA GOES TO THE BALL by Gian Carlo-Menotti

AUDITIONS November 8 3:30-5:30, Rm 105
Please prepare 32 bars of an aria or classic musical theatre song and have sheet music in
your key. An accompanist will be provided.
PERFORMANCES ARE IN McCAIN AUDITORIUM
March 1 and 2 at 7:30 pm and March 3 at 2:30 pm
Synopsis
Amelia, a wealthy socialite, is getting ready for the first ball of the season. However, her
husband has discovered that she has a lover and refuses to accompany Amelia unless she reveals
his name. When he discovers that it is their upstairs neighbor, a fight breaks out between the two,
with Amelia eventually breaking a vase over her husband’s head. When the police arrive, her
husband is taken to the hospital, her lover is arrested as a suspected burglar and Amelia attends
the ball with the chief of police who has come to investigate.
This is a one-act opera buffa written in 1936 that does deal with infidelity and mild violence but
handled in a light, comic opera style and setting.
Cast
Amelia soprano
Amelia’s husband baritone
Amelia’s lover tenor
Amelia’s friend contralto
The chief of police bass
Two Chambermaids mezzo-soprano
mezzo-soprano
Chorus of nosy neighbors, passersby, police and ambulance men

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
Begin with music on Jan 16-18 with the regular schedule beginning Jan 22 to Feb 29
(Monday to Thursday from 7-9 pm)
Tech will be Sunday, Feb 25 to Feb 29 with opening night on March 1.

 

 

The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe

Cast of 10 Women

NOTE:  Soccer experience is not needed, but there will be strong movement through warmups, and some soccer drills throughout the show.

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS by William Shakespeare

No Shakespeare experience necessary.

All roles are open to be played by actors of any gender, age, or ethnicity.

All actors may be cast for multiple roles.

 

PRODUCTION INFORMATION:

NOTE: Students involved with RENEWAL: Spring Dance are not eligible to participate in THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.

 

February 19th – 22 Rehearsals: Text work (All Cast members)

February 25th Rehearsals Begin

March 10 -17 SPRING BREAK (no rehearsals)

March 31st Easter (no rehearsal)

April 9th -17th Tech

April 18th – 28th THE COMEDY OF ERRORS performances

 

SYNOPSIS:

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is one of Shakespeare’s early and brief comedies, featuring confusion, mistaken identities, and comedic misunderstandings. The story centers around two sets of identical twins, separated at birth and unknowingly brought back together in the same city of Ephesus.

 

Egeon, a man from Syracuse, faces execution upon arriving in Ephesus. He explains that he had twin sons named Antipholus and twin servants named Dromio. A shipwreck separated them, with one Antipholus and Dromio in Ephesus and the other pair in Syracuse.

 

Years later, Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant Dromio of Syracuse arrive in Ephesus, unaware of their twins’ presence. The mix-up leads to comical misunderstandings as people mistake the visitors for their long-lost relatives. Antipholus of Syracuse falls in love with a woman who thinks he’s her husband, and Dromio of Syracuse faces bewildering encounters with his master’s family and friends.

 

Chaos escalates with the arrival of Dr. Pinch, a conjurer brought in to exorcise what’s believed to be a demonic possession of Antipholus of Ephesus. The play reaches a climactic dinner scene, leaving everyone perplexed.

 

Ultimately, the truth is revealed, and the family is joyfully reunited. Egeon is spared from execution, and the two sets of twins reconcile. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is a fast-paced, farcical comedy known for its slapstick humor, wordplay, and mistaken identities, making it one of Shakespeare’s most comically absurd and entertaining works.

Character Double Ups and Descriptions:

 

Duke Solinus/Courtesan:

Duke Solinus is the ruler of Ephesus, a no-nonsense leader trying to keep order. Courtesan is a witty and flamboyant sex worker who spends time with Antipholus of Ephesus.

 

Egeon/Doctor Pinch:

Egeon is a Syracusan merchant who sets the events of the play in motion.Doctor Pinch is an eccentric, comical figure.

 

Antipholus of Ephesus

The twin brother of Antipholus of Syracuse and the son of Egeon; he is a well-respected merchant in Ephesus and Adriana’s spouse.

 

Antipholus of Syracuse:

The twin brother of Antipholus of Ephesus and the son of Egeon; he has been traveling the world with his servant, Dromio of Syracuse, trying to find his long-lost brother and mother.

 

Dromio of Ephesus:

The bumbling servant of Antipholus of Ephesus. He is the Syracusan Dromio’s twin brother.

 

Dromio of Syracuse:

The bumbling servant of Antipholus of Syracuse. He is the twin brother of Dromio of Ephesus.

 

Abbess (also known as Aemilia)

Aemilia, the long-lost wife of Egeon and the mother of the two Antipholi

 

Adriana:

The spouse of Antipholus of Ephesus, fierce and jealous but not without reason.

 

Lucina:

Adriana’s unmarried sibling and the object of Antipholus of Syracuse’s affections.

 

Balthazar/Messenger/Officer:

A merchant in Syracuse, while Messenger and Officer play crucial roles in the plot.

 

First Merchant/ Angelo:

First Merchant is a friend to Antipholus of Syracuse. Angelo is a goldsmith in Syracuse and a friend to Antipholus of Ephesus.

 

Jailer/ Second Merchant:

Jailer loves his job of executing stray Syracusans. Second Merchant is a tradesman to whom Angelo is in debt.

 

PLAY’S PERSPECTIVE AND CONTENT WARNING FOR POTENTIAL PERFORMERS AND CREW:

 

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is indeed one of William Shakespeare’s earlier works and is known for its farcical and slapstick humor. It is a play based on the theme of mistaken identities, involving twin brothers and their twin servants. While it may not be as morally or spiritually profound as some of Shakespeare’s later works, it still offers a lighthearted and entertaining experience for the audience. Here are some points to consider regarding the subject matter of the play:

 

Morality: The play’s primary focus is on comedic situations and mistaken identities, and moral considerations do not play a central role in the storyline. The characters’ behaviors are often exaggerated for comedic effect.

 

Spiritual Content: There is a mention of a character, Antipholus of Ephesus, being thought to be possessed by a demon, but this is more for the sake of adding a supernatural element to the story rather than delving into deep spiritual themes.

 

Violence: While there are instances of physical comedy and characters losing their temper, the violence is intended for comic effect rather than being portrayed in a dark or serious manner.

 

Drug and Alcohol Content: There is a mention of a character being accused of being drunk, but this is a minor element in the play.

 

Sexual Content: The play features elements of mistaken identity and accusations of infidelity, but they are handled in a comedic and exaggerated manner typical of farce. It’s not intended to be a serious exploration of sexual themes.

 

Crude or Profane Language or Content: Like many of Shakespeare’s works, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS contains wordplay, puns, and innuendos, but they are generally presented in a humorous and playful manner.

 

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is a lighthearted and farcical comedy that focuses on mistaken identities and comedic situations rather than exploring deep moral or spiritual themes. While it may contain elements that are considered crude by modern standards, they are in line with the style and humor of the time in which it was written.

Comedy of Errors Supplemental Information:

Summary and Details: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/c/comedy-of-errors/about-comedy-of-errors

Audio Selections: https://youtu.be/7y8Ulio5FYM?si=UOD4CD_rgezpIYp3