Performing Arts Auditions

Script Tease 1: The Antipodes
Written by Annie Baker
Directed by Dr. Kelley Holley

In an ordinary conference room, a group of people have gathered to tell stories as the world ends. They order lunch, they work their way through a giant stack of sparkling water, they tell their deepest secrets, they make each other laugh, they theorize what makes a good story. All in a day’s work. Or is it weeks? Part satire, part sacred rite, The Antipodes asks, what’s the value of storytelling in a time of crisis? 

This is the first staged reading in our new three-part series. Performers will rehearse for one week and then perform for one night only to a public audience. Performers will be on book, with some blocking included. Some lighting and sound design will be added to enhance the staged reading. After the show, there will be a post-show event for the cast, crew, and audience.

REHEARSALS: Monday, September 22 - Friday, September 26, 6:30-10pm
TECH: Saturday, September 27
SHOW: Sunday, October 28
Please note: this rehearsal period is very short and attendance is incredibly important. 

CASTING NOTE: This production is open to all students at RIT of any size, race, and ethnicity. Although the gender of the characters cannot be altered, auditions and casting are open to all students, staff, and faculty regardless of gender identity.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: 
Sandy- (He/him) The boss. An entertainment mogul. Very much an Executive Presence in the room. Self-described nice guy. Begins to break down over the course of the play. This character briefly describes child abuse.

Sarah- (She/her) Twenty-two to thirty-two, chipper. Sandy’s assistant. Always there to take lunch with a friendly attitude, even when things are going wrong. This character briefly discusses the death of her mother.

Eleanor- (She/her) Holds her own in a writer’s room that doesn’t really want her to be there. Loves knitting and snacks. This character has dialogue with a description of sex and blood.

Adam- (He/him) One of the new guys, who also isn’t all that welcome. Trying his best.  This character has dialogue with a description of sex and other dialogue that mentions rape. 

Danny M1- (He/him) Has been in the writing room before. One of Sandy’s groupies. A decently nice guy other than that one time he had an affair. This character has a lengthy monologue with descriptions of graphic sexual content.

Danny M2- (He/him) One of the new writers. He keeps making mistakes, and it comes back to bite him.

Josh- (He/him) One of the new guys. He’s not getting paid because his ID won’t work and no one is helping him. But he actually needs to get paid from this job.

Dave- (He/him) Sandy’s biggest fan. Has been in the writing room before. He’s kind of a jerk. Is more than willing to take credit for Eleanor’s ideas to make himself look good. This character has a monologue with discussion of suicide and another with a non-graphic description of sex.

Brian- (He/him) Sandy’s right hand in the writer’s room. In charge of taking notes. Constantly typing, except when Eleanor or Adam are talking. This character has dialogue with a brief mention of rape. This character has stage directions that involve blood (no blood prop will be used in this production).

Max- (He/him) Appears only as an offstage voice. He’s the real boss.

Stage Directions - A role for reading select stage directions throughout the performance

CONTENT DISCLOSURE: This show contains sexually explicit language, vomiting, mentions of blood and injury, and mentions of suicide and rape. 

If you have questions, please email Kelley, kthspa@rit.edu

Script Tease 2: After the Blast
Written by Zoe Kazan
Directed by Andy Head

After the Blast is a dystopian story about resilience, isolation, artificial intelligence, and hope. The world as we know it has ended and the survivors now live in cities deep underground, awaiting a return to the surface. As humanity struggles to endure, Anna and her partner Oliver hope to have a baby, and enlist the assistance of Arthur, a home-helper robot, to aid them in passing society’s strict fertility regulations.

This is the second staged reading in our new three-part series. Performers will rehearse for one week and then perform for one night only to a public audience. Performers will be on book, with some blocking included. Some lighting and sound design will be added to enhance the staged reading. After the show, there will be a post-show event for the cast, crew, and audience.

REHEARSALS: Monday, October 20 - Friday, October 24, 6:30-10pm
TECH: Saturday, October 25
SHOW: Sunday, October 26
Please note: this rehearsal period is very short and attendance is incredibly important. 

CASTING NOTE: This production is open to all students at RIT of any size, race, and ethnicity. Although the gender of the characters cannot be altered, auditions and casting are open to all students, staff, and faculty regardless of gender identity.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: 
Anna - (30s) Female-identifying and uses she/her pronouns. A former journalist, taking a break from work. Deeply desires to have a child. Currently battling depression as she navigates this post-apocalyptic world. Married to Oliver. 

Oliver - (30s) Male-identifying and uses he/him pronouns. A top scientist in his colony. Carries the weight of helping the human species survive. Married to Anna, and doing his best to support her.

Carrie - (20s-30s) Female-identifying and uses she/her pronouns. Several months into a pregnancy and ready to be a mother. She brings positivity and happiness to her interactions with others. Good friends with Anna, married to Patrick. 

Patrick - (30s) Male-identifying and uses he/him pronouns. Has a good, stable job in Cultural Collections. Supportive of his friends and family. Best friends with Oliver since childhood, married to Carrie, works with Sam. 

Sam - (20-40s) Male-identifying and uses he/him pronouns. Had a good, stable job in Cultural Collections. Friendly and approachable. Works with Patrick. 

Lowes - (20-30s) Male-identifying and uses he/him pronouns. Works with robot maintenance, transitioning Helpers, and appropriately placing them in homes. Calm and efficient demeanor. [In the script this role is played by the same actor playing Arthur. In our production, that may be different.]

Margarita - (70s) Female-identifying and uses she/her pronouns. Spanish speaking. One of the oldest people living in the colony and can remember the time before humans moved underground. Happy to have a Helper. Warm and living life to the fullest, despite the circumstances. 

The Robot (Arthur) - Mechanical object/puppet. A Helper. Designed for physical aid and companionship. Personality develops significantly throughout the story. [In the script this role is played by the same actor playing Lowes. In our production, that may be different.]

Stage Directions - A role for reading select stage directions throughout the performance. 

CONTENT DISCLOSURE: This show contains mentions of depression, trauma, grief, and existential anxiety.

If you have questions, please email Andy at awhgla@rit.edu

The 39 Steps
Written by Patrick Barlow
Directed by JW Guido 

The 39 Steps is a fast-paced, comedic stage adaptation of John Buchan’s novel and Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film. Adapted by Patrick Barlow, the play reimagines the spy thriller as a zany, theatrical romp in which four actors play over 100 characters. It follows Richard Hannay, an ordinary man who becomes entangled in a web of espionage after meeting a mysterious woman. As he's pursued across Britain, the play blends suspense, slapstick, and clever stagecraft, making it a popular choice for inventive, high-energy productions.

REHEARSALS: Starting on Friday, September 5. Rehearsals every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 
TECH: Sunday, November 1 - Thursday, November 6
SHOW: Friday, November 7 - Sunday, November 9 (7:30pm on Friday and Saturday, 2pm on Saturday and Sunday) 
Please note: you cannot miss any tech rehearsals. 

CASTING NOTE: This production is open to all students at RIT of any size, race, and ethnicity. Although the gender of the characters cannot be altered, auditions and casting are open to all students, staff, and faculty regardless of gender identity.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: 

Richard Hannay
Description: The hero. A suave, dashing, yet bored London gentleman in his late 30s to early 40s who becomes entangled in a spy conspiracy.
Traits: Charismatic, witty, brave, slightly clueless at times, with a dry sense of humor.
Notes: The only character played by a single actor throughout the show.

Annabella Schmidt / Pamela / Margaret
Description:
Annabella Schmidt: A mysterious and dramatic foreign spy with a thick accent.
Pamela: A proper, intelligent Englishwoman who gets unwillingly caught up in Hannay’s adventure.
Margaret: A shy, young Scottish farmer’s wife yearning for a better life.
Traits: Versatile, expressive, emotionally distinct characters.

Clown 1
Description: One of two versatile performers who play dozens of roles, including:
Mr. Memory, a vaudeville performer
The Professor, a villain with a missing finger
Various police officers, salesmen, innkeepers, and more
Traits: Physically agile, comedic, rapid costume and character changes.

Clown 2
Description: The second “clown” actor who partners with Clown 1 to create the rest of the world. Roles include:
Mr. Memory's host, crofters, henchmen, train passengers, etc.
Traits: Excellent at character voices, physical comedy, timing.

This production will incorporate American Sign Language (ASL) in the style of farce, highlighting visual storytelling, exaggerated gesture, and rapid character switching. Voice actors will be required to:

• Voice a wide variety of characters with distinct accents (British, German, Scottish, etc.)
• Use sound effects vocally (e.g., doors slamming, trains, gunshots)

• Demonstrate strong physical movement and synchronization with ASL actors

The show depends on precise timing, ensemble collaboration, and creative staging to capture the fast-paced, humorous tone.

If you have questions, please email jwdnpa@rit.edu.

Macbeth 
Written by William Shakespeare
Cut by Ryan Underbakke
Directed by Ryan Underbakke

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a world of political ambition, misinformation, and moral decay. The play’s themes—unchecked power, betrayal, and the psychological toll of guilt—authoritarian leaders clinging to control to the devastating consequences of reckless ambition. In an age where truth is often obscured and ambition knows no bounds, Macbeth serves as both a cautionary tale and an unsettling reflection of our times.

REHEARSALS: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-10pm and Saturdays, 11-4pm
TECH: Friday, November 7 - Wednesday, November 12
SHOW: Thursday, November 13 - Sunday, November 16
Please note: you cannot miss any tech rehearsals. 

CASTING NOTE: This production is open to all students at RIT of any size, race, and ethnicity. Although the gender of the characters cannot be altered, auditions and casting are open to all students, staff, and faculty regardless of gender identity.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
Macbeth - headstrong warrior 
Lady Macbeth - determined up and comer
Banquo - faithful friend 
Duncan - sage leader
Malcolm - reluctant leader
3 Witches - mysterious, otherworldly
Macduff - cold but caring
Ross and Lennox - devoted military experts
Bloody Sergeant, Keeper, Fleance, Donalbain, Seyton

CONTENT DISCLOSURE: This show contains violence and murder poetically displayed, characters undergoing psychological distress, blood and gore poetically shown, violence against children poetically displayed, suicide and supernatural elements.

If you have questions, please email: rmuspa@rit.edu.