UMass Theater mainstage fall auditions are coming up.
Actors. Actors who like yoga. Actors who would like to be in a play that thinks about the place of yoga in our culture. Singers. Performers who want to be in a musical. Performers who want to be in a work that examines grief and mental health.
If you match one of these descriptions, we hope you can join us for our fall auditions for Yoga Play and Next to Normal on Sept. 8 & 9. Both plays are auditioning on the same night. Our auditions are open to Theater majors, minors, and non-majors, as well as Five College and community members.
Sign up for Yoga Play here.
Sign up for Next to Normal here.
You must sign up separately for each show audition. You are welcome to audition for both, but due to rehearsal schedules, you can only be cast in one show.
To help folks prepare for auditions, we are also holding an audition workshop by by Professor Gina Kaufmann. It is free and open to anyone thinking about auditioning and will be held on Sept. 5, 6-8 p.m. in the Curtain Theater. No sign-up is required for the workshop.
Please read below for more details:
YOGA PLAY
By Dipika Guha, directed by Rose Schwietz Malla
Auditions 6:30-10:30 on Sept. 8 & 9 in the Curtain Theater. Call backs will be Sept. 10 & 11.
Rehearsals start Sept. 15, performs Oct. 17-25
Stressed-out yoga apparel CEO Joan is one bad decision away from a PR-nightmare of career-ending proportions. Her activewear giant Jojomon™ has recently been charged with fat shaming, exploitative labor practices, and cultural appropriation. To temper a furious customer base, Joan and her team hire yoga master extraordinaire Guruji to inject some much needed authenticity into the brand — which may be the worst (or best?) decision of their careers. Yoga Play plunges audiences into the corporate antics of the ultra-uninformed, sparking curiosity about what it really means to be authentic.
Content Advisory: Racially and culturally sensitive themes and coarse language. Recommended for ages 13 and up
“Yoga Play” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Please prepare a memorized 1-2 minute contemporary comedic monologue. You may also be asked to read from the script. Please arrive to the BCA Greenroom ahead of your audtion time to check in. Audtions will take place in the Curtain Theater.
Cast breakdown, script, and sign-up links are at:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4AA5A92AABFE3-58176820-yoga#/
NEXT TO NORMAL
Music by Tom Kitt
Book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey
Directed by Kyle Boatwright
Auditions 6:30-10:30 on Sept. 8 & 9 in BCA 413. Call backs will be Sept. 10 & 11.
Rehearsals starts Sept. 22, performs Nov. 14-22
How do you hold onto reality amidst a whirlwind? Diana’s ordinary home-maker life of managing family dynamics and school lunches quickly disintegrates amid the twin challenges of delusional bipolar disorder and grief. Meanwhile, her family members do their best to keep up under the strain of their own individual struggles. Next to Normal, a Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, looks at the ripple effects of mental illness, stress, grief, secrets, and tremendous love — all set to a driving rock score.
Content advisory: Depictions of bipolar disorder, anxiety, and grief. Depictions and discussion of drug use, self-harm, death, and medical trauma. Recommended for ages 13 and up
Next to Normal is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Please prepare a contemporary monologue of your choice, one to two minutes in length. Please also prepare 16 to 32 bars of a song from any contemporary musical; an accompanist and a speaker will both be available. Monologues and songs should be memorized, and you are expected to provide your own sheet music or tracks.
Cast breakdown, ranges, and sign-up links are at:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4AA5A92AABFE3-58177073-next#/