Season auditions
Have you ever dreamed of being on stage? Now is your chance! The Department of Theatre and Dance will be presenting three theatre productions this fall — 33 Variations by Moisés Kaufman, Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Freel, and Shoeless Joe: A Musical Cabaret — and you're invited to be a part of them.
33 Variations & Dancing at Lughnasa
General Auditions for 33 Variations and Dancing at Lughnasa will be held on Wednesday, August 26, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm in Poorman Black Box Theater, located in Climenhaga Building. Callbacks will be held on Thursday, August 27. Those called back for 33 Variations should be ready to sing a 32-bar cut of a prepared song. An audition sign-up sheet and character descriptions will be posted starting August 22 on the callboard in the Theatre Hallway of lower-level Climenhaga.AUDITION Requirements~
Those planning to audition should prepare the following:1-2 minute monologue from Modern Irish drama (1900-present) utilizing an Irish accent
1-2 minute dramatic contemporary monologue
Shoeless Joe: A Musical Cabaret
General Auditions for Shoeless Joe: A Musical Cabaret will be held on Wednesday, August 26, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm in Miller Theater, located in Climenhaga Building. Callbacks will be held on Thursday, August 27. An audition sign-up sheet will be posted starting August 22 on the callboard in the Theatre Hallway of lower-level Climenhaga.AUDITION Requirements~
Those planning to audition should prepare the following:
Two, 32-bar cut, contrasting style musical theatre songs. Bring sheet music in three ring binder for the live accompanist with the 32-bar cuts marked. Seeking a mix of up-tempo/ballad, serious/comedic songs. Open to all musical styles. Seeking old and new content.
**There will be additional opportunity to present duets, trios and/or quartets at these auditions. This is not required. More info provided on the sign up sheet.
Production Crew Opportunities~
If you're interested in being part of the behind-the-scenes magic of our theatre productions, we want to hear from you! We’re looking for dedicated students to join our production teams in a variety of technical and crew roles. Opportunities are available in stage management, costumes, scenic construction and painting, props, lighting, and sound. No matter your experience level, there's a place for you to get involved and grow your skills.To learn more or to express interest, contact Professor Daniel Inouye at Dinouye@Messiah.edu. Come be a part of the creative energy that brings our shows to life!
33 Variations
Written by: Moisés KaufmanDirected by: Daniel Inouye
Featuring Beethoven's Diablelli Variations
Poorman Blackbox Theater
Oct. 1-3 at 8 p.m.
Oct. 4 at 3 p.m.
This compelling and deeply human play intertwines two stories across time: Beethoven’s obsessive drive to compose his Diabelli Variations and a modern-day musicologist’s urgent quest to understand his genius while facing a life-altering illness. The piece moves fluidly between past and present, asking big questions about why we create and what we leave behind. This production offers rich, demanding roles that require emotional depth, physical storytelling, and versatility as actors navigate multiple time periods. It’s also a unique opportunity to collaborate with live musicians and explore the intersection of theatre and music in a powerful way. The production will feature a live pianist onstage underscoring the entire play.
Dancing at Lughnasa
Written by: Brian FreelDirected by: Ed Cohn
Miller Theater
Nov. 12-14, 20-21 at 8 p.m.
Nov. 15 & 22 at 3 p.m.
Nov. 19, 10:00 a.m. special school performance
Set in rural Ireland in 1936, this lyrical and memory-driven play follows five sisters living on the edge of change—economically, socially, and spiritually. Through moments of humor, tension, and unexpected bursts of music and dance, the Mundy sisters cling to joy and connection in the face of uncertainty. Told through the lens of memory, the play captures both the beauty and fragility of a fleeting moment in time. A true ensemble piece, this production will challenge actors to build complex relationships, master Irish dialects, and embody a richly textured world. It’s a powerful opportunity to explore storytelling rooted in memory, movement, and emotional nuance.
Shoeless Joe: A Musical CabaretDirected by Susan Hurley
Oct. 9-10 at 8:00 p.m.
Oct. 10 at 3:00 p.m.
Poorman Blackbox Theatre
A new cabaret every time! Uniquely built for each new cast.
Casting is open to all members of the academic community. Occasionally, guest actors will be employed. Any Messiah University student enrolled and in good academic standing as defined by the statement on satisfactory academic process in the student handbook is encouraged to audition.
The Department of Theatre & Dance follows an Inclusive Casting Policy which means that casting is open to all actors regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or age. Exceptions to the Inclusive Casting Policy may be taken when specified by the director's production concept. An exception to the Inclusive Casting Policy must be made when the dramatist's stage directions regarding race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or age are both explicit and protected by the license to produce the play.
Theatre majors who have declared the acting emphasis are required to audition for all department productions. Specific details about semester auditions are posted in the Climenhaga Building Theatre Hallway on the call board.