Auditions set for UIS Theatre's spring production of Awake and Sing! by Clifford Odets

The Theatre Program at the University of Illinois Springfield will hold open auditions and crew interviews for the second production of its 2012-2013 season - Awake and Sing! a play by Clifford Odets - on Tues., Jan. 22 and Wed., Jan. 23, 2013. Crew interviews start at 6 p.m. and acting auditions start at 7 p.m. both nights in the Studio Theatre, on level one of the Public Affairs Center at UIS. Call-backs will be at 7 p.m. on Thurs., Jan. 24.

Auditions are open to students, staff, faculty, and community members with or without experience. Auditions will consist of “cold readings” from the script; prepared monologues are welcome, but not mandatory. Headshots/resumes are appreciated, but are not required. Scripts are available to anyone for 3-day check-out at the Brookens Library circulation/reserves desk. Those interested in working on a crew (running crew, costumes, props, stage management) will be asked to fill out a crew application form and meet briefly with the production staff.

Awake and Sing! startled audiences in 1935 with a story that hit close to home--ordinary Americans struggling to survive and even hold on to their dreams in depression-era New York. This story of a struggling American family involves young Ralph Berger trying to find his own way in the world, while his sister, Hennie, strives to decide who she is: a pretty catch for some man, or a leader who will chart her own course toward happiness. These yearnings cannot be denied, but Ralph and Hennie's parents--Myron and especially Bessie--have other ideas about what it means to live in the hardest of times. Today, this play delivers new resonance to audiences who find themselves in an economy seemingly unable to fully recover.

Production dates are April 5-7 and April 11-13, 2013. The curtain time for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night shows is 7:30 p.m. with the Sunday performance starting at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $14 for adults, $12 for senior citizens (65 or older with a picture I.D.), $10 for UIS Faculty/Staff and $8 for UIS students (and all other college-level students) with a valid, current i-card or college I.D. card. Please note that a service charge, not included in the prices above, from Sangamon Auditorium will be added to each ticket price, at the time of purchase. To avoid a higher service charge, buying tickets in person at the Sangamon Auditorium ticket office is highly recommended.

For more information about auditions, the play, or helping behind the scenes, contact Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson at 217/206-6613 or ethib1@uis.edu. You may also visit the Theatre Program’s website at www.uis.edu/theatre.