*Scroll to the bottom and read carefully the expectations for auditions!
SIGN-UP HERE:
(LINK DOES WORK)
AUDITIONS (Combined for both Peter and the Starcatcher and The Well-Lit Shadow)
It is required that students auditioning familiarize themselves with the scripts produced. A WELL-LIT SHADOW will be available in the next few weeks but you can go ahead and read about the historical setting (Cold War and Red Scare) and figures using any search engine. PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is available in the Script Archive. Need access? Email Shannon at sbskelton@ksu.edu
Sunday, November 16 at 7pm
Chapman Theatre, Nichols Hall
CALLBACKS
Monday, November 17 (Peter and the Starcatcher) and Tuesday, November 18 (Well-Lit Shadow)
Chapman Theatre, Nichols Hall
WHAT TO PREPARE FOR THE AUDITION
- A one-to-two-minute contemporary monologue (comedic or heartfelt).
- A short song (approximately 20 -30 seconds) sung a cappella that shows your vocal range and character.
- Theatre majors must also prepare a one-minute non-verbal presentation (see below).
Sign-Ups for Auditions Will Be Posted
About the Productions . . . .
A Well-Lit Shadow
Stage Reading Performance Feb. 5-8 (dates), Purple Masque
April 22-30 Tech
May 1-3rd – Production
*June – Abilene, KS performance
*Additional Dates of Performance at Eisenhower Library and Museum in June
*This is a commissioned production of an original script. This is an opportunity to gain a professional credit. This includes stipend for travel, food and payment. Housing in June will be provided on campus.
Director: Cheyenne Niblack
Playwright: Emmett Spaw
SETTING: 1945
The Cold War
•EISENHOWER – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 34th President of the United States.
•NIXON – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Eisenhower’s number one lackey.
•TRUMAN – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Eisenhower’s number one predecessor.
•STALIN / PM – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Foreign leaders.
•DODGE/WILSON/STRAUSS – – – – – – – – – – – -Cabinet members.
ETHEL – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – A victim.
MCCARTHY- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – A senator.
VARIOUS ORATORS – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Those who appear to recite documents throughout the play.
•Note: This play is written to be performed with a minimum of 4 actors if necessary.
Questions? Email Cheyenne Niblack at cniblack@ksu.edu
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER
By Rick Elice | Music by Wayne Barker
Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Directed by David Mackay
Stage Manager: Hannah Kisby
Questions? Contact Stage Manager Hannah Kisby at hkisby@ksu.edu
REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES
Rehearsals begin Sunday, February 23, 2026, running Sunday through Thursday, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Performances: April 16 to 26, 2026, Chapman Theatre.
Please note: Students involved in the opera or Spring Dance cannot be considered for Peter and the Starcatcher.
ABOUT THE PLAY
Before there was Peter Pan, there was a boy who didn’t want to grow up and a girl who wanted to make her mark on the world. Peter and the Starcatcher is a wildly imaginative prequel that tells the story of how a nameless orphan became the boy who could fly.
Packed with humor, heart, and theatrical invention, this play celebrates the boundless possibilities of a child’s imagination.
This production embraces the spirit of ensemble storytelling. Actors transform space, conjure worlds, and create wonder with minimal props and maximum imagination. We invite performers of all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to audition.
WHAT TO PREPARE
• A one-to-two-minute contemporary monologue (comedic or heartfelt).
• A short song (approximately 20 -30 seconds) sung a cappella that shows your vocal range and character.
• Theatre majors must also prepare a one-minute non-verbal presentation (see below).
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
All roles are open to actors of any gender or identity. Characters live in the realm of myth and play.
PETER – A nameless, lost orphan who begins hardened and distrustful but discovers hope, friendship, and the ability to fly. Fierce, brave, and yearning to belong.
MOLLY ASTER – A spirited, curious, and brilliant young apprentice Starcatcher. A natural leader with a fearless heart, torn between duty and adventure.
BLACK STACHE – A wildly theatrical pirate captain with an ego as big as the sea. Clever, ridiculous, and dangerous in equal measure. A joyous villain.
LORD ASTER – Molly’s father, a proper Englishman and loyal Starcatcher. Possesses great dignity and warmth, with a dash of secret adventurer beneath the surface.
MRS. BUMBRAKE – Molly’s devoted nanny; maternal, proper, and delightfully eccentric. Can double as a member of the ensemble.
TED – A ravenous, loveable orphan obsessed with food and belonging. Comic and warm-hearted.
PRENTISS – The self-appointed leader of the orphan trio. Ambitious, insecure, and loyal, with a need to prove himself.
SMEE – Black Stache’s devoted right-hand man; cheerfully dim and ever-enthusiastic.
BILL SLANK – The cruel captain of The Neverland. Greedy and opportunistic but great fun to play.
ALF – A sailor aboard The Wasp, sweetly awkward with a heart of gold and an unexpected romantic streak.
FIGHTING PRAWN – A fierce Mollusk Island leader with regal bearing and comic wit. Protector of his people and lover of language.
ENSEMBLE – A vibrant group of storytellers who play sailors, orphans, pirates, mermaids, and tropical creatures. Physical dexterity, playfulness, and musicality encouraged. You will most likely be double-cast as a character and an ensemble member.
THEATRE MAJORS – NON-VERBAL AUDITION PIECE
THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS
Create and present a one-minute, non-verbal piece that expresses imagination, discovery, or transformation. This short performance will help us see your physical storytelling, creativity, and sense of play.
Guidelines: (please honor each one)
• The piece must be exactly one minute long.
• There is no speaking.
• You will be the performer.
• You will make a clear entrance and exit.
• You will use one prop (real or imagined).
• You will wear something on your head.
• Beyond these requirements, the possibilities are endless.
If you have taken my Fundies class, this will look familiar. This time, I am looking for bold physical choices, clear storytelling, and a sense of wonder. Think of it as a chance to explore what a child’s imagination can do with the simplest of things.
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