Allen Community College is bringing “community” to the stage for its next production.
The ACC Theatre Department is teaming with the Iola Community Theatre to present “Our Town” April 24-26, at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.
Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer-Prize winning play portrays everyday life in a small town in the early 1900s, and has been popular piece hereabouts, having had productions from both the college and ICT in previous years. (Iola High School has had successful runs of the show as well.)
The story’s powerful message made it a natural selection by ICT board members to bring “Our Town” back for the Community Theatre’s 60th anniversary, noted Tricia Stogsdill, an Allen theatre and film instructor who also will serve as director.
But first, she needs actors, and lots of them.
“Our Town” features anywhere between 16 and 25 actors, of all ages 10 and up, Stogsdill said.
She is hosting an open casting call for auditions for anyone in the community, from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the ACC Theatre.
Stogsdill hopes to see a large turnout, even from those without an acting background.
“Whether you were the lead in high school 20 years ago, or have never stepped foot on a stage, we want to see you,” she said in a Facebook post. “We love discovering new talent.”
Hopefuls do not need to prepare a memorized monologue. She will provide short excerpts from the play for participants to read.
Likewise, even those who are cast may not necessarily need to memorize an abundance of lines because of the different types of roles from the leads to the non-speaking ensemble.
The entire audition process should take about 30 minutes.
WHILE STOGSDILL’S focus is on “Our Town,” the Community Theatre has an earlier production in the works as well.
Teagan Kern and Monica Wright are the leads in the ”The Odd Couple: The Female Version,” which runs Feb. 6-8 at the ICT Warehouse.
Rhi Jordan is directing.
