FALL 2020 AUDITIONS ARE VIRTUAL ON ZOOM
Auditions are Mandatory for Theatre Majors Focused in Acting
The fall General/Unified Auditions (Open Call) on Monday and Tuesday nights, Aug. 24 & 25 and Wednesday night Aug. 26 (callbacks) are Mandatory for Theatre Majors with an Acting/Directing emphasis and anyone interested in performing in the fall 2020. Design/tech/management students and minors are not required to audition unless they want to perform. The auditions will take place via Zoom.
PLEASE NOTE: All plays presented as part of the K-State Theatre Season for 2020-21 will be done as radio dramas via our new podcast, Kansas Theatre Works.
Please prepare one contemporary monologue, one-to-two minutes in length. Non-majors: if you don’t have a monologue, there will be material available for you to read for the audition panel.
THE SIGN UP FOR AN AUDITION TIME IS FORTHCOMING
Most acting faculty will be in attendance, in addition to the show directors.
Paperwork must be completed in advance, BRING YOUR CLASS SCHEDULE. CALLBACKS WILL BE SELECTED FROM THIS AUDITION and will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 26th as needed.
PODCAST HOSTS are needed for each episode and will be directed by Jennifer Vellenga
We will cast as few as 2, as many as 12
MACBETH by William Shakespeare, directed by David Mackay
All MACBETH roles have been cast from spring 2020. MACBETH records the week of Sept. 21; releases Oct. 15
CHOKE by Dan Shea '97, directed by Hunter Parker
CHOKE, HER VELCRO VOICE, and PR(EA)YING MANTIS record the week of OCT. 5; release Oct. 29
CHOKE Cast Breakdown 2F/4M
SUMMARY: CHOKE is the mysterious story of a mother and daughter driving across a bridge. At the peak of their argument, they encounter a stranger. During a rough exchange, Mary is saved by her mother. The fate of the passengers is revealed by two cops investigating the scene of the incident.
MARY
A free spirited woman, who doesn’t heed her mother’s advice until it’s crunch time. Hard headed and quick witted.
MOTHER
A wise, but overbearing mother, who wants her wishes for her daughter. God fearing, but with a good heart.
MAN
A slick man, who seemingly needs assistance, but has alternative motives.
PREACHER
Radio preacher, stereotypical southern preacher
OLD COP
A cop, patrolling a run of the mill call. Seems as if he has answered these calls many times before.
YOUNG COP
A new cop, patrolling with his partner on a seemingly run of the mill call.
HER VELCRO VOICE by Cody O'Hare '18, directed by Chuck Leonard
HER VELCRO VOICE Cast Breakdown 2M/2F
The play takes place in a basement in 2020, it is raining outside. The basement is cramped, and old, half of it serves as an old shed, holding gardening equipment and other yard work tools. The other half contains a wide array of older radio equipment. There is a single entrance to the basement, a creaky old staircase and a single door.
DAVE
A recent widower and father to Alice, late twenties to mid-thirties, avid fan of old radio equipment.
LUKE
A priest, young in his mid to late twenties, despite his priestlyness, he gives off the vibes of someone who has not yet outgrown college. But underneath it is a surprising level of faith and maturity.
ALICE
Dave’s daughter young 6-9
EMILY
Dave’s dead wife
PR(A/E)YING MANTIS by Andrea Browne '20, directed by Chuck Leonard
PR(A/E)YING MANTIS Cast Breakdown 2M/1F
SETTING: Present day in a grassland. Despite constant bullying from popular praying mantis Josh, Will lives as a religious, vegetarian praying mantis, fighting his predatory instincts every day. However, when pressured to impress the queen praying mantis, Chloe, Will must determine whether his morals or instincts hold more importance. Will he break his moral code and will there be consequences? Find out in Pr(a/e)ying Mantis.
WILL
Male praying mantis, religious
JOSH
Male praying mantis, flirtatious
CHLOE
Intimidating female praying mantis. Speaks in a deep, sultry voice.
LEAVE NO TRACE by Mitch Ward '16, directed by Chuck Leonard
LEAVE NO TRACE Cast Breakdown 2M/1F*
Three friends disappear to the deep northern wilderness to escape from their psychopathic fourth roommate. Huddled around the fire, they try to qualm their fear of the woods. But little do they know they’ve been followed.
Emily: Female Identifying. 18-25. A roommate.
Garrett: Male Identifying. 18-25. A roommate. Dating Xavier.
Xavier: Male Identifying. 18-25. A roommate. Dating Garrett.
SELF DESTRUCT by Brigid Reilly '18, directed by Chuck Leonard
SELF DESTRUCT Cast Breakdown 2F/1M
A demon and their virtual assistant have finally done it, they’ve captured the hero and are on the brink of destroying the world once and for all when a personal tiff threatens to ruin their plans. As the anger heightens, so does the power struggle and the hero finds that the only way to save her world may rest in salvaging a friendship.
Jared- A hot-headed demon who has something to prove to themself and to the world. Often lacks empathy. Boisterous and over-the-top evil villain.
Patricia- A virtual assistant akin to Alexa or Siri who wants the respect she deserves and can hold a grudge. Robotic and passive aggressive.
Cammi- A happenstance hero who doesn’t want the end of the world to affect her high school graduation. Caring and savvy, but a bit vain.
KILL GRIMM by Blake Cordell, directed by Chuck Leonard
Character: “YOU” - Any age, any gender (MONOLOGUE PLAY)
“A freak in a dog mask”, a canine stalker… There are a lot of things you should be wary of when walking alone at night, but your fight-or-flight instinct mainly prepares you for attackers that are quick; thieves that grab-and-run; threats that jump right out in front of us. How do you expect you’d respond if a figure, previously looming in the distance, their emotions entirely masked and their form entirely unfamiliar, started ever so slowly following you, never ceasing? You run. You run fast, faster than he’s approaching. You turn; he’s still there, moving slowly yet keeping pace. You scream. The streets are empty. You hop a fence. Your fight-or-flight takes you far. but still, he’s there, slowly approaching. Your phone isn’t working. So what do you do when the “flight” runs out and all that’s left is “fight”? It’s an empty graveyard, “a freak in a dog mask”, and you.
ONE DEAD; ONE DYING by Laura Camien '94, directed by Jerry Jay Cranford
ONE DEAD; ONE DYING records the week of Oct. 19; releases Nov. 12
ONE DEAD...Cast Breakdown 6F/14M
SUMMARY: ONE DEAD; ONE DYING is set in Springfield, Missouri, 1931-1932 and follows the events surrounding the Young Brothers Massacre on January 2nd, 1932, known as the deadliest single law enforcement gunfight in the 20th century. The tragedy shaped national law enforcement procedures regarding the capture and approach of known criminals.
FEMALE ROLES
MARY HENDRIX
Loving wife who takes over the role of Sheriff once her husband is murdered
MA YOUNG
Mother to the town hoodlums; knows their faults but loves and protects them
ELIZABETH
Keeps the Sheriff’s office functioning and loves when a female takes over the department; she has a flirtation with Officer Tom
LORENA/PHONE 1
Fifteen and more interested in fame and boys than in the crimes of her brothers
VINITA/PHONE 2
Thirteen, obstinate and wants to be just like her sister
FRANCIS YOUNG/PHONE 3/MRS. TOMLINSON
Nineteen, loves Harry and speaks her mind; Tomlinson is the elderly owner of a hotel with a husband a bit hard of hearing
MALE ROLES
SHERIFF/NARRATOR
Calm, patient leader to a fault that ends his life
HARRY YOUNG
Traumatized by his father, he is the town hoodlum who turns to murder
JENNINGS YOUNG
Harry’s older brother who embraces being bad and leads Harry astray
OFFICER TOM FIELDER
Friendly and due to circumstances, misses the massacre; in love with Elizabeth
OFFICER MILEY WASHBURN/REPORTER 1
Part of the team who is shot in the eyes
DAN NEEL
The District Attorney who is all business until the massacre
TONY OLIVER/REPORTER 2
The detective assigned to assist in hunting Harry Young; he is murdered in the massacre
OFFICER OLLIE CROSSWHITE/REPORTER 3
Witnesses the events that lead to the chase and massacre; loud and fond of profanity
MALE ENSEMBLE
Officer Knowee/ JD Cartwell/ Judge Kerr Pastor/ /Frank Rhodes (reporter)/ Mr. Tomlinson Mr. Duerr (insurance salesman)/John Young Prison Guard 1/Officer Fred Pike Prison Guard 2/Officer Owen Brown Officer Charley Houser (small)/Ed Price (small car dealer)/Houston Officer 1
THE GRATITUDE EPISODE, written by alumni, directed by Jennifer Vellenga
THE GRATITUDE EPISODE records the week of Nov. 2; releases Nov. 26
Roles for THE GRATITUDE EPISODE are forthcoming
WINTER PAINS, OR HO HO NO by K-State Alumni directed by Jerry Jay Cranford
WINTER PAINS records the week of Nov. 16; releases Dec. 10
WINTER PAINS...Cast Breakdown 9 Ensemble members; singers needed
SUMMARY: WINTER PAINS, OR HO HO NO is an irreverent look at the holiday season with songs and monologues, including explicit language. Written by students in the Writers Room. EXCERPT: The same time every year, circa mid November, you turn your radio on and then you all at once remember: The songs of old, the songs of new, for a month they don’t exist. Instead you’re blasted by what you fasted, no matter how you resist. Halloween just gone, Thanksgiving to come, nothing seems to matter. A playlist played on every station causes instant chatter. The holiday season, like it or not, permeates every scene. The barrage of overdone covers of songs… it can only mean… Christmas is here, Mother F—s. Get the Hallmark hell-films out! Shove cinnamon sticks up your nose. Santa’s coming, without a doubt, So get ready, Ho Ho Hoes.