Auditions will take place on Friday, September 15 (5p - 8:30p) & Saturday, September 16 (11a - 3p) in the CenterStage Theatre.
No preparation and no prior experience in theatre or dance is necessary for this audition! The audition itself will be 1 hour long, in groups, and consist of a storytelling exercise, a brief reading from the script, and a short movement exercise.
Call backs are to be determined, but please be prepared for a possible call back on Sunday, September 17 between 2p - 4p.
Please sign up for an audition time HERE. And you have any questions please reach out to Jennifer Collins Hard, Production Manager (jch8@williams.edu)
Before you choose to audition, please take the time to review the following Information about the production:
From the Director: What if you could change the world through dance? What if you could dance away world hunger? And all violence? And all pets without a home? And all the sadness and the meanness? Such are the big hopes and dreams of a group of thirteen-year-old dancers set on crushing their rivals at the Legacy National Talent Competition in Philadelphia in Clare Barron's Dance Nation. Combining dramatic comedy with lyrical dance, Dance Nation presents a tender and unfiltered portrait of youth, girlhood, ambition, friendship, and what it takes to become the star dancer. Our production will be dedicated to collaboration and ensemble-driven work, creating a culture where all participants are involved in the making of the piece. Join us as we claw our way to the Tampa Bay Finals!
From the Playwright: All characters except Dance Teacher Pat and The Moms are between the ages of eleven and fourteen years old. However, they should be played by adult actors (for the most part) and should range in age from twelve to seventy-five and over. Please go for a spectrum. There is no need for any ofthe actors to resemble teenagers. (In fact, please resist this impulse!) And the more diverse the cast in terms of race, sexuality, backgrounds, bodies, souls, etc. the better.
Think of it as a ghost play: the actors' older bodies are haunting these thirteen-year-old characters. (We're getting to see who they grow up to be!)And these thirteen-year-old characters are haunted by the specters of what they will become. At times we should be fully in "thirteen-year-old land"with all its ridiculousness, pain, and pleasure. And at times we should be palpably aware of the actors' real ages and their distance from this moment in their lives.
The chants should be terrifying rituals that conjure real power.
The dances should take up time and space and be fully and gorgeously embodied performative events, even if the actors possess no real dance talent.(In fact, better if the actors possess no real dance talent.)
Cuteness is death. Pagan feral-ness and ferocity are key. Everyone is nice.
Everyone is vulnerable.
And everyone is trying their hardest.
Content Note: "Dance Nation celebrates the adolescent magic of dance, teamwork and the mental and physical transition from childhood to adulthood. At the same time, it addresses serious challenges of adolescents including; self-harm and suicide; body image and injury; marginalization due to race and gender; and sexual harassment and assault" (from Syracuse University's Production.) Because of the sensitive nature of this content, the Department of Theatre has engaged Veronica Sofia Burt as Intimacy Director on this production. Veronica will work with the Directing Team to choreograph moments of intimacy and create a rehearsal and performance environment that is centered around the safety of the performers.
Script: It's always advised to read the script before an audition. Please click
HERE to read a digital copy of the script.
Please review the casting breakdown and roles available below. We have included moments of intimacy in these breakdowns. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or self select out of a role based on the description.
ALL- The characters of DANCE NATION use explicit language around bodies, genitalia, sex and masturbation. DANCE NATION contains a scene of undressing in a locker room setting for all actors. An Intimacy Director will help support what level of nudity and undressing feels safe within the actors' boundaries.
DANCE TEACHER PAT- The head of the dance studio. Often verbally abusive and inappropriate with the students and slaps Amina on her bottom once.
AMINA- The star dancer. This character has a moment of scripted simulated masturbation to be choreographed with the Intimacy Director and Dance Teacher Pat slaps her on her bottom once. The Intimacy Director will help support what feels safe within the actors' boundaries.
ZUZU - Always second best. This character self harms via vampire fangs and by throwing themselves against a wall. The Intimacy Director will help support what feels safe within the actors' boundaries.
CONNIE - A talented dancer who thinks she should play the role of Gandhi. This role must be played by a South Asian performer. Connie and Ashley have one closed mouth kiss. The Intimacy Director will help support what feels safe within the actors' boundaries.
LUKE - The only male dancer on the competition team.
MAEVE - The oldest and least talented dancer on the team.
SOFIA - Knows what's up. This character pulls down their tights to reveal menstruation blood and uses the blood to paint her face. The Intimacy Director will help support what feels safe within the actors' boundaries.
ASHLEE - Future president of a post-apocalyptic USA. Ashley and Connie have one closed mouth kiss.The Intimacy Director will help support what feels safe within the actors' boundaries.
CRUMPLED SAILOR AKA VANESSA - Could've been a phenomenon.
THE MOMS - Means well. Grown-up Wendy. Also plays Vanessa.
Thanks so much for reading! Please remember:
3. Fill out the audition form below (and list all of your conflicts!)
Have fun and see you soon
