Loyola University Chicago

Theatre

Department of Fine and Performing Arts

Production Auditions

Auditions are open to all Loyola students regardless of their declared major or minor.

The Theatre Program is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. As such, we encourage performers of all races and ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, disabilities, and ages, as well as d/Deaf, to attend every audition.

General Audition Information

The Department of Fine and Performing Arts holds auditions for actors, singers and dancers for its Mainstage and student led Second Stage productions throughout the academic year.

On average, the DFPA produces 3-4 Mainstage productions a year and 6-10 Second Stage projects. Depending on the time commitment, students that are cast are enrolled in THTR 323 - Rehearsal and Performance. This one-credit class, in addition to supporting the amount of time a student spends in rehearsals and performances, also serves as part of the applied knowledge in production that theatre majors will receive as part of their graduation requirements.

Incoming freshmen have the opportunity to audition for competitive scholarships. Usually these auditions are scheduled in the February prior to a student's enrollment in the program.

Current students looking for more information regarding upcoming auditions are encouraged to join the THTR PROGRAM Sakai site. 

Functioning much like the class-specific Sakai spaces, the THTR PROGRAM Sakai is the best place to find any announcements or information regarding upcoming opportunities. Please email dfpamc@luc.edu to be added to the site. Students enrolled in theatre classes are automatically added to the site at the beginning of the semester.

Current students may also join LUC Theatre News on Facebook.

 

 

Fall 2023 Mainstage Auditions

Student Play Festival

Plays By: Emm Socey, Annika Halonen, Aimee Jaske | Directed by: Emily Ritger

Description

Untitled Dream Girl | by Emm Socey

DG is in a new city; the world is her oyster, but she’s not sure how to shuck it. Missing the familiarity and predictability of her past life, DG seeks out someone or something that will provide the kind of comfort and stability her best friend from home can no longer offer. In the pursuit of connection through dates, hangouts, and critter encounters, DG learns more about themselves and what is within their control in dreaming up a better life. 

 

CONTENT WARNING: This play has/does/could touch on subjects including neurodiversity and disability, body image, suicidal ideation, sexual assault, and sexuality (in the sense of orientation as well as one's relation to sex as an act).

 

Much to Do About Valentine | by Aimee Jaske

Silvia is in love with Mr. Valentine, her English teacher, but totally NOT in a creepy way, she swears! When a class assignment creates the perfect opportunity for her to market herself to Mr. Valentine, showing him that she is a perfectly mature girl who wants to marry an academic man--possibly even an English teacher!--Silvia puts her education, friendships, and future in jeopardy. What happens when a girl prioritizes male validation over everything else? 

 

The Familiar Perils of a Vacation Bible School Education | by Annika Halonen 

During Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house, the grandkids find themselves diving deep into the family scrapbooks lining the shelves of the living room. Sifting through the books, they each come to different conclusions about their family history, leading to a full investigation of the past and the parts of their family history that were buried for better or worse.

 

Audition Info

AUDITIONS: Tuesday, August 29 | 6:00 - 10:00PM |MUND 409

 

Please prepare a 60-90 second contemporary monologue, dramatic or comedic.

 

STUDENT PLAY FESTIVAL Auditions will run concurrently with AS YOU LIKE IT Auditions. If auditioning for both productions, please ensure that your two audition slots do not conflict with each other (i.e. do not sign up for the 7:00pm audition slot for both productions).

 

Full scripts of each play are available to read in the MUND 13th Floor Theatre Library on the Upcoming Production shelf.

 

AUDITION FORM: Available HERE.

 

CALLBACKS: Wednesday, August 30 | 6:00 - 10:00PM | MUND 409

 

The stage manager Alex Umekubo, aumekubo@luc.edu, will notify you if you are called back.

 

Callbacks will run concurrently with AS YOU LIKE IT callbacks. The management team will ensure that auditioners called back for both productions will not have conflicting callback slots (i.e. if your SPF callback slot is at 6pm, your AYLI callback slot will NOT be at 6pm).

 

Characters

Untitled Dream Girl | by Emm Socey 

6 Total - pronouns indicate those of the character, not necessarily the actor

 

DG (she/they): 18-22 A main character because she has had to build a world that makes sense to her. If she is conceited it is not intentional. She can figure out why most rules are there, but that doesn’t mean they make sense. Undiagnosed Autistic & ADHD.

LEX (she/her): 1-2 years younger than DG. She lives with her mother and older sister and pays some of the mortgage now that she can. Knows something is "wrong with her", but maybe the world is just built to make her feel that way. DG’s best friend.

FISH (animal): To be puppeteered/voiced by the same actor as Lex. A highly stylized version of a fish, maybe like the fish in Fantasia. Exists in 3D. To be puppeteered by the same actor as ONE.

SQUIRREL (animal): A squirrel. Must exist in 3D. Must be soft and be closer to a real animal than Fish. These rules apply to all animals that are not Fish. To be puppeteered by the same actor as ONE.

SHUT-IN-FRIEND (they/them): Raised a man, 40s They have not left their apartment in 3 years. Whatever work-from-home they can find - Twitch or YouTube personality, video, and resume editing, you get the idea. Cynical and depressed. Making strides at improving physical well-being. Learning to cook helps pass the time. Diagnosed Autistic.

ONE (she/her): The same age as DG. The Platonic Ideal of a 20-year-old: into humanities and art, highly involved and connected in everything they do, parties a sensible amount, and always seems to be deeply engaged in conversation with a person you’ve never seen before. Highly charismatic, thinks well of herself, yet is unpretentious.

A MAN (he/him): 6-8 years older than DG. A man. Could be any kind of man. Played by the same actor as Shut-In-Friend.

 

Much to Do About Valentine | by Aimee Jaske

5 Total - 4 femme-presenting, 1 masc-presenting

 

SILVIA (she/her): Female. Senior in high school. Unlikeable, yet part of you
identifies with her. Self-centered and desperate for attention, especially from
men.

MR. VALENTINE (he/him): Male. Teacher. Mid to late 20s, fresh out of school, and just started teaching. The ONE teacher that
everyone loves. He is NOT creepy, the actor should not
make it seem like he is interested in Silvia.

MIRANDA (she/her): Female. Silvia’s best friend since middle school. Wants what is best for her. Not the most energetic of people, very dry in humor. NOT a fan of Silvia’s habits.

IRIS (she/her): Female. Part of Silvia’s lunch group. An enabler--always has something to say about everything

MS. STARVELING (she/her): Younger teacher, mid to late 20s. Sweet, sympathetic, and kind, yet to the point–think Ms. Honey from Matilda, but with a little bit of a bold side

 

The Familiar Perils of a Vacation Bible School Education | by Annika Halonen

5 Total - 3 femme-presenting, 2 masc-presenting 

 

MELANIE FUCHS (she/her): 19, working two jobs to move out of her parent's house.

JAY FUCHS (he/him): 22, VP of activities for Alpha Gamma Omega at Miami University Oxford.

VIOLET NIELSON (she/her): 21, applying for masters programs in social work and psychology.

DYLAN NIELSON (he/him): 18, fresh out of his first trimester at liberal arts college.

ASTRID TAYLOR (she/they): 18, Melanie’s girlfriend. First time being invited to a family gathering.

 

Casting Considerations and/or Requirements

Untitled Dream Girl | by Emm Socey

Ability exists in a fuzzy space in this play. One character is diagnosed, another is labeled but unaware of the label herself, and others may have labels that would fit them but have not been applied. It is my preference that there be a range of actors formally and self-diagnosed as Autistic and with ADHD. Without prying into people's identities too much, folks who fit in with the above-mentioned groups might also make good fits for many of the characters in this play. Characters are not written with particular races in mind. The racial breakdown should ideally resemble that of the nearest metropolitan area.

 

Much to Do About Valentine | by Aimee Jaske

There are no written race/ethnicity requirements, so the casting should be as diverse as possible! In regards to gender, this play is about the emphasis on male validation in young women, so I want to ensure that the actors that are cast are comfortable exploring that in themselves, even if they do not identify as female. 

 

The Familiar Perils of a Vacation Bible School Education | by Annika Halonen 

This is a family play that contains two sets of siblings, but the actors need not look alike. Actors of all genders and ethnicities will be considered for all roles with an understanding that different dynamics of race and gender may impact relationships between characters present in the play.

 

Important Dates

  • Rehearsals Begin: Friday, September 1

  • Tech: Thursday, September 21 - Wednesday, September 27

  • Performances:

    • Thursday, September 28 - Saturday, September 30 | 7:30pm
    • Sunday, October 1 | 2:00pm
    • Thursday, October 5 - Saturday, October 7 | 7:30pm
    • Sunday, October 8 | 2:00pm

 

Performances will be in person in the Underground Theatre and will follow all federal, state, and university COVID-19 guidelines. This project conflicts with rehearsals for AS YOU LIKE IT and LIFE IS A CABARET.

As You Like It

By William Shakespeare | Directed by Mark E. Lococo

 

Spring 2024 Mainstage Auditions

Fairview

By Jackie Sibblies Drury | Directed by Dr. DeRon Williams

Description

At the Frasier household, preparations for Grandma’s birthday party are underway. Beverly is holding on to her sanity by a thread to make sure this party is perfect, but her sister can’t be bothered to help, her husband doesn’t seem to listen, her brother is MIA, her daughter is a teenager, and maybe nothing is what it seems in the first place! FAIRVIEW is a searing examination of families, drama, family dramas, and the insidiousness of white supremacy.

Audition Info

AUDITIONS: TBD

 

INTEREST FORM: HERE

 

CALLBACKS: TBD

Characters

Beverly: 40's, African American Woman, upper-middle class, the responsible one. She can come off as uptight sometimes, but it is because she cares deeply about her family and feels responsible for caring for everyone.

 

Jasmine: - 40's, African American Woman, Beverly's sister. The fun one. Always ready with some family gossip. She is jealous of Beverly but would never admit it.

 

Dayton: 40's, African American Man, Beverly's Husband. Seemingly laid back and carefree. He pays more attention than he gets credit for and is a good partner to Beverly.

 

Keisha: late teens, African American Woman, Beverly, and Dayton's daughter. Precocious. She is self-aware and unwilling to accept the stereotypical narrative thrust upon her.

 

Suze (+ other roles As Cast): 30–50, Female, any ethnicity other than African American. She is the de facto leader of the surveillance team.

 

Mack (+ other roles As Cast): 20–40, Male, any ethnicity other than African American. He’s generally chill and has a millennial attitude and understanding of the world.

 

Jimbo (+ other roles As Cast): 20–40, Male, any ethnicity other than African American. He’s a bit of a worrier and feels his status is under threat.

 

Bets (+ other roles As Cast): 20–40, Female, any ethnicity other than African American. The newest member of the surveillance team. She’s very earnest and tries hard to fit in with the group.

 

Director's Casting Considerations

 

Jackie Sibblies Drury’s Fairview is a play that examines the notion of race and representation, raising questions of spectatorship, privilege, and power. Therefore, it is germane to the plot that the Frasier Family—Beverly, Jasmine, Dayton, and Keisha—are played by Black actors. The remaining characters Suze, Mack, Jimbo, and Bets—can be performed by actors of any race or ethnicity other than African American.

 

Although auditions are open to all genders and gender expressions, actors must depict the gender politics reflected in the script. All characters are open to being cast with no specific preliminary notions regarding neurodivergence, disability, the body's physicality, religion, or sexuality.

 

Actors involved in this play must be comfortable with movement/dance, mimicking physical and verbal characteristics/stereotypes of another race other than their own.

 

Important Dates

  • Rehearsals Begin: TBD

  • Tech: Thursday, February 8 - Wednesday, February 14, 2024

  • Performances:

    • Thursday, February 15 - Saturday, February 17 | 7:30pm
    • Sunday, February 18 | 2:00pm
    • Thursday, February 22 - Saturday, February 24 | 7:30pm
    • Sunday, February 25 | 2:00pm

Once

By Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, and Enda Walsh | Directed by Kelly Howe

Description

On the streets of Dublin, an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant are drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, an unexpected friendship and collaboration quickly evolves into a powerful but complicated love story, underscored by emotionally charged music. Featuring all of the magical songs from the critically acclaimed film, including the Oscar-winning "Falling Slowly," this achingly beautiful, joyously uplifting show strikes an unforgettable chord in audiences and speaks to the power of music to connect us all. A show like that only comes around Once.

Audition Info

AUDITIONS: TBD

 

INTEREST FORM: HERE

 

CALLBACKS: TBD

 

Characters

Coming Soon

Director's Casting Note

The actor playing Guy must know how to play guitar and the actor playing Girl must know how to play piano.

Important Dates

  • Rehearsals Begin: TBD

  • Tech:

    • Thursday, March 21 - Sunday, March 24
    • Tuesday, March 26 - Wednesday, March 27
    • Tuesday, April 2 - Wednesday, April 3

  • Performances:

    • Thursday, April 4 - Saturday, April 6 | 7:30pm
    • Sunday, April 7 | 2:00pm
    • Thursday, April 11 - Saturday, April 13 | 7:30pm
    • Sunday, April 14 | 2:00pm

 

 

Fall 2023 Second Stage Auditions

Without Words

Project Lead: Hemani Mehta

 

Dates:

  • October 30: Rehearsals Begin
  • November 3: Tech
  • November 4 at 2:00pm: Performance
  • November 5 at 5:00pm: Performance

 

Auditions:

NO audition is necessary, simply fill out this FORM. Submission deadline: October 16.

 

Project Description:

The project will begin with a master class in which the project members will learn techniques from ancient Sanskrit theatre (specifically rasas). We will spend a few hours playing with the rasa boxes and improving the emotional and movement skills of the actors. Over the next couple of days, the project members will come up with a movement and choose music/poetry to create a story. This is what will be performed for an audience. The story will only be told through movement and accompanying music/poetry. There will not be any words.

 

Cafecito

Project Lead: Grace Herman

 

Dates:

  • Rehearsals Begin: November 6
  • Tech: November 17
  • Performances in the Underground Theatre:
    • November 18 at 2:00pm
    • November 19 at 5:00pm

 

Auditions:

  • Complete the audition FORM.
  • Date: Monday, October 16
  • Time: 7:00 - 8:30pm
  • Location: MUND 125
  • What to prepare: a 90-second contemporary monologue
  • Project lead Grace Herman (gherman@luc.edu) will notify you if you are cast.

 

Project Description:

To stage a 40-page stage play that takes place in a coffee shop. Where with coffee in hand, creatives of all ages gather to work on, discuss, and perform creative work. It’s a story about how the capitalist world constantly demands productivity and perfection from us and how that act is killing our creative joy. All in a desperate desire for profit in a not inherently profitable industry. Leading to extreme competition, self-doubt, and internal and external pressure among others. It challenges the character and its audience to reclaim their creative joy and reexamine how they operate as artists and humans within this capitalist society.

 

Casting Considerations:

All characters are to being cast with no specific preliminary notions regarding gender, race, sexuality, neurodivergence, disability, or body’s physicality. Yet the implications of privilege and power will be taken into account when casting.

 

Characters:

5 Total - 3 Female, 2 Male. Character gender need not match that of the actor.

 

Annalise - High School Student applying for college, dreams of being a writer is applying to be a finance major. Sleep deprived, sarcastic, and stressed.


Branden - College Student, aspiring theatre artist, desperately trying to get their foot into the theatre industry. Doubtful and Determined.


Martina - Successful Director, wants to create for herself again. Honest, energetic, and perceptive.


Peter - Just writes for fun, always inspired. Easy-going, kind, and endearing.


Julia - Barista who wants to be a poet. Chatty, observant, and upbeat.