Theatre and Dance

Kiss Me, Kate | Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter, Book by Sam and Bella Spewack

Directed by Megan Bellwoar (guest director in Department of Theatre and Dance)

Auditions are in the MainStage Theatre, E. O. Bull Center for the Arts | Callbacks in Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, Swope Performing Arts Center

Battle lines are drawn as a bickering divorced couple find themselves working on the same musical. Kiss Me, Kate is essentially two plays in one:  the plot that we recognize from Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew is deftly woven into a larger story examining love, marriage, gender politics, and the joyful world of theatre people. This beloved multiple Tony-winning musical comedy features an explosive Cole Porter score with some of the composer’s wittiest lyrics and catchiest melodies, including the favorite songs “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,” “Brush up your Shakespeare” and “Too Darn Hot.” 

Audition Dates: You should attend either Wed OR Thurs evening auditions 

Wednesday 8/30 | Dance: 6:00 - 7:15pm - All Wed auditioners must attend this dance call Acting and Vocal: 7:30 - 10:00pm - Please sign up for an individual 4 min slot 

Thursday 8/31 | Dance: 6:00 - 7:15pm - All Thursday auditioners must attend this dance call Acting and Vocal: 7:30 - 10:00pm - Please sign up for an individual 4 min slot

Callbacks to be held Friday 9/1 from 6:00 – 10:00 pm. Notice to be emailed Friday morning.

Rehearsals begin September 5, 2023

Show Dates: October 19, 20, 21, 2023 at 7:30pm | October 22, 2023 at 2:00pm

SIGN UP TO AUDITION

FILL OUT THIS AUDITION FORM

Please prepare:

• Actors should prepare a song from the Golden Age Musical era (1940's-50's); one from KISS ME, KATE would be great, but not mandatory at all. A verse and chorus is plenty (16 bars of a ballad; 32 bars of an uptempo, if you want to think of it that way). Choose a song that you really like, and that suits your voice well.
• Auditioners should be prepared for movement call first. Bring dance clothes, no bare feet allowed on stage. Character shoes for women and dress shoes for men suggested. Time will be given to change clothes for vocal audition.
• Familiarize yourself with a synopsis of KISS ME, KATE; and listen to the 2019 cast album on any streaming platform (specifically for updated lyrics). You might want to check out earlier recordings, as well, especially the 1999 version. 

Important Information:

• All performance and leadership production positions are conditionally dependent upon the student maintaining good academic standing with the University and having an overall GPA of 2.5 or better, inclusive. Directors will be notified if students have ‘nonpassing’ grades in individual classes and the student will be strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor and the director.
• All students involved in WCU Department of Theatre and Dance productions are eligible for THA 200 credit. If cast or assigned a production position, and interested in academic credit, please contact our production manager, Dr. Christen Mandracchia at CMandracchia@wcupa.edu
• The casting for this production of Kiss Me, Kate is not limited by tradition, stereotypes, or social expectations. We embrace a policy of inclusive and conscious casting which maintains that 1) all roles are open to all performers regardless of identity and 2) we value the ways that a performer’s identity informs their storytelling.

If you have any questions, please contact stage manager, Giulia Pagano at JP977737@wcupa.edu or production manager, Dr. Christen Mandracchia at CMandracchia@wcupa.edu.

Fall Dance Concert 

Directed by Professor Gretchen Studlien-Webb

Auditions and show are in the Dance Lab (rm 117), E. O. Bull Center for the Arts

Audition Dates: Wednesday, Aug 30 and Thursday, Aug 31, 2023 – 7:00-9:00pm (attend either Wed OR Thurs audition)

Please arrive 20-30 minutes early to sign in, get a number, and warm-up.  No need to have anything prepared, you will be taught 2 combinations in a contemporary/modern/jazz dance form to perform in small groups.

Special TAP audition date: Thursday, Aug 31 - 4:30-5:30pm in EOB 114 (upstairs studio)

*This audition is for all dancers who want to be in the tap piece. BRING YOUR TAP SHOES & arrive at least 15 minutes early

Rehearsals begin September 5, 2023

Show Dates: November 10, 2023 at 7:30pm | November 11, 2023 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm

SIGN UP TO AUDITION

If you have any questions, please contact Faculty Director Gretchen Studlien-Webb at gstudlien-webb@wcupa.edu.

Me, War, and Toy Grenade | A US premiere by Ukranian playwright Nina Zakhozhenko

Directed by Sergei Grabbe (guest director in Department of Theatre and Dance)

Auditions and show are in the J.P. Adler Studio Theatre, E.O. Bull Center for the Arts

Since the Russian invasion of February 24, 2022, the lives of the Ukranian people have changed fundamentally. Me, War and Toy Grenade is a series of vignettes about people who are looking for ways to adapt to a new reality. Each of them faces a choice: go or stay, fight or hide, save yourself or help your neighbor. These are stories from "the rear": from the depths of the Kharkiv metro, from roadblocks in the capital's sleeping areas, from the occupied suburbs, from telegram chats and conversations with the dead. These are stories about love and jealousy, about care and helplessness, about confusion and hope that "in this new world in which we find ourselves, we can also play football, eat peaches and smile." 

Audition Dates: Wed, Sept 13 and Thurs, Sept 14, 2023 – 6:00-10:00pm (attend either Wed OR Thurs audition) 

If callbacks are necessary, they will be scheduled for Sept. 15

Rehearsals begin September 24, 2023

Show Dates: November 16, 17, 18, 2023 at 7:30pm | November 19, 2023 at 2:00pm

SIGN UP TO AUDITION

FILL OUT THIS AUDITION FORM

Please prepare:

• Choose 1 or 2 characters from the vignettes that make up this production and prepare the scene they are in. The scene does NOT need to be memorized but you should be familiar with the whole scene as you may be asked to present different parts during the audition. A reader will be provided for you to fill in the other characters in the scene.

A copy of the play is here.

Important Information:

• All performance and leadership production positions are conditionally dependent upon the student maintaining good academic standing with the University and having an overall GPA of 2.5 or better, inclusive. Directors will be notified if students have ‘nonpassing’ grades in individual classes and the student will be strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor and the director.
• All students involved in WCU Department of Theatre and Dance productions are eligible for THA 200 credit. If cast or assigned a production position, and interested in academic credit, please contact our production manager, Dr. Christen Mandracchia at CMandracchia@wcupa.edu
• The casting for this production of Kiss Me, Kate is not limited by tradition, stereotypes, or social expectations. We embrace a policy of inclusive and conscious casting which maintains that 1) all roles are open to all performers regardless of identity and 2) we value the ways that a performer’s identity informs their storytelling.  

If you have any questions, please contact production manager, Dr. Christen Mandracchia at CMandracchia@wcupa.edu.

Three Sisters

Check back soon for audition details.

Silent Sky

Check back soon for audition details.

Spring Dance Concert | University Dance Company (UDC)

Check back soon for audition details.