Gannon’s Schuster Theatre is ready to kick off the semester with new performances, starting with auditions for Making God Laugh and She Kills Monsters.
As students head back to campus for the new semester, Gannon’s Schuster Theatre is preparing to bring new shows to the stage, including Making God Laugh and She Kills Monsters. Following the two new productions, the Schuster Theatre is looking for new talents from both Gannon University and the Erie community. Theatre enthusiasts will have the opportunity to perform, display their skills, and engage in theatrical experiences.
Accordingly, auditions are open to Gannon students and the public who wish to participate in theater, both on stage and behind the scenes.
“These auditions are for plays that explore all aspects of our lives and will give students opportunities to showcase their skills,” said Jordan Wolfe, Artistic Director of the Schuster Theatre.
Those auditioning will present a 30 to 60-second monologue or choose to perform a cold reading. Actors will also be asked to perform a cold reading of one scene from the provided script. As stated by Wolfe, the auditions offer a great opportunity to engage both Gannon students and the local community in theater performance.
Making God Laugh, written by Sean Grennan and directed by Jordan Wolfe, explores the theme of life changes in a typical American family over thirty years. Starting in 1980, Ruthie and Bill’s grown children – a priest, an aspiring actress, and a former football star – all return home, where we learn of their plans and dreams as they embark on their adult lives. The empty nesters’ parents contend with their own changes, as old family rituals are revisited, and ancient tensions resurface. As time passes, the family discovers that, despite what we may have in mind, we often arrive at unexpected destinations. The play captures the essence of specific decades through a character-driven storyline, balancing sitcom, and domestic drama. Making God Laugh is set to entertain the audience while delivering thought-provoking messages.
On the other hand, She Kills Monsters invites the audience to join a quest where reality and fantasy collide. Written by Qui Nguyen and directed by Angela Howell, She Kills Monsters tells the story of Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. When Agnes discovers Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, she finds herself capitulated into an adventure in her sister’s imaginative world. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.
“Auditions and rehearsals are as stress-free and fun as we can make them. The shows are fantastic. We work around schedules and want to work with as many students who love theatre both on stage and backstage,” Wolfe states.
The auditions will be opened on September 9th and 10th from 6 to 9 pm at Gannon Schuster Theatre, 620 Sassafras St. Click here for more information.
