Fall 2022 Auditions
If nobody does remarkable things
By Emma Gibson
Directed by Carolyn Ratteray
Audition Dates & Times:
Friday, September 2: 6-10pm
Saturday, September 3: 1-4pm
Sunday, September 4: 1-4pm (Callbacks)
More Information
What is the play about?
When a category 6 dust storm strikes, a former high-profile climate activist is visited by an old flame with a new proposal to try to help the planet. But why should Anna trust Joel this time after what he did 14 years ago? A fierce new play about climate change and forgiveness that explores what happens when we reach the point of no return.
Who are the characters?
- JUNE: Actor to play woman, 37. British/UK accent. Astronaut on International Space Station. Working through memories from childhood and how they have shaped her life.
- ANNA: Pre-cast*
- JOEL: Actor to play man, 40. American. Former journalist and lover to Anna. Intimacy notice: This character shares a kiss with Anna’s character. This character also appears in a scene with a towel wrapped around his waist.
- PAUL: Actor to play man, 50s. British/UK accent. Deeply devoted husband to Anna. Suspicious of Joel. Intimacy notice: This character shares a kiss with Anna’s character.
- JUNE: Actor to play woman, 13. British/UK accent. Anna’s daughter. Playful.
- Actors of all genders are encouraged to audition for this show.
*This role fulfills a senior thesis in performance.
What do I need to prepare?
Please prepare an approximately one-to-two-minute contemporary dramatic monologue for auditions.
For callbacks, you will audition with sides from the script.
What do I need to bring?
Prior to your scheduled time slot, please submit a completed audition form. Additionally you may bring a headshot and resume if you have one.
Where do I need to go?
The Allen at The Seaver Theatre Complex.
300 E. Bonita Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711
When are rehearsals?
Generally held 5 times a week, which can either fall on weeknights from 6-10pm or a combination of weeknights and Saturdays or Sundays between 10am-6pm.
Rehearsals will begin Tuesday, September 6.
When are performances?
Wednesday, October 5: 8pm (Preview)
Thursday, October 6: 8pm
Friday, October 7: 8pm
Saturday, October 8: 2pm & 8pm
Sunday, October 9: 2pm
What else should I know?
There will be no rehearsals October 14-18 for fall break.
Technical rehearsals will be September 30-October 4.
Click to sign up for a time! & Click to fill out an Audition Form!
Head Over Heels
Songs by The Go-Go's
Based on "The Arcadia" by Sir Philip Sidney
Conceived and Original Book by Jeff Whitty
Adapted by James Magruder
Directed by Gleason Bauer
Audition Dates & Times:
Friday, September 9: 6-10pm (Acting and Vocal Auditions)
Saturday, September 10: 12-2pm (Acting and Vocal Auditions)
Saturday, September 10: 2-4pm (Dance Auditions)*
Sunday, September 11: 12-4pm (Callbacks)
*Anyone auditioning should prepare to attend the full two-hour dance audition.
More Information
What is the play about?
When a soothsayer foretells the downfall of Arcadia, the King goes on a quest to avoid his fate. But when wires are crossed and identities mistaken, it becomes clear that revolution might be exactly what this kingdom needs. A sixteenth-century love story to the tune of the Go-Go's. "Head Over Heels" is a hilarious modern-day fairy. tale told through pop-punk music and posh prose. Centering queer love, mistaken identities, changing social norms, and iconic songs, "Head Over Heels" is a feel-good romp that celebrates the joy of acceptance and community.
Who are the characters?
- ANGELS and DEMONS: All genders, all ethnicities. Unique, charismatic individuals who inhabit the kingdom of Arcadia. Must be strong vocalists and dancers.
- BASILIUS: Tenor to play King of Arcadia. Husband to Gynecia. Blustery and confident but loves his family. Blindly thinks Arcadia is doing great under his traditional masculine rule. (it's not). Fragile under a big cloak of swagger as his ruling style loses popularity. Any ethnicity. A simulated and highly theatricalized sex scene with GYNECIA (involving mistaken identities) will be choreographed for this role as will a sword fight with MUSIDORUS that ends in his death. Strong singing voice. SONGS INCLUDE: GET UP AND GO.
- DAMETAS: Baritone/Bass to the King’s viceroy and father to Mopsa. Loyal and loving. Any ethnicity.
- GYNECIA: Alto to play Queen of Arcadia. Wife to Basilius. Wise, intuitive. A playful spirit, frustrated by the rules and structures of the kingdom she inhabits. A simulated and highly theatricalized sex scene with BASILIUS (involving mistaken identities) will be choreographed for this role. Any ethnicity. Strong singing voice. SONGS INCLUDE: THIS OLD FEELING.
- MOPSA: Mezzo-Soprano to play the daughter of Dametas and handmaiden to Pamela, whom she also falls in love with. Warm, skeptical. Growing up without a mother has made her wise beyond her years about everyone and everything. Any ethnicity. Staged intimacy (specifically: the story of consensual kissing, hugging, and caressing) with Pamela will be choreographed for this role. Strong singing voice and movement ability. SONGS INCLUDE: VACATION.
- MUSIDORUS: Tenor to play a guileless and fearless young shepherd who courts after Philoclea. Musidorus is a hopeless romantic and an offbeat hero who is great with physical comedy. In order to win his love, the character begins by crossdressing but becomes increasingly comfortable with their gender fluidity. Staged intimacy with Philoclea (specifically: the story of consensual kissing, hugging, and caressing) and a sword fight leading to death for this character. Any ethnicity. Strong singing voice and movement ability. SONGS INCLUDE: MAD ABOUT YOU.
- PAMELA: Mezzo-Soprano to play the Princess of Arcadia, Basilius and Gynecia's older daughter. PAMELA is confident, willful, self-dramatizing, and obsessed with her and others' appearance. She is known to be the most beautiful* bachelorette throughout Arcadia. Through the course of the play, she starts to question her sexuality and falls in love with Mopsa. Any ethnicity. Staged intimacy (specifically: the story of consensual kissing, hugging, and caressing) with Mopsa will be choreographed for this role. *Beauty standards are cultural. Do not be limited by this description. Who knows what a fairy-tale 16th-century Arcadian considers beautiful. Probably YOU! Strong singing voice and movement ability. SONGS INCLUDE: BEAUTIFUL/
- PHILOCLEA: Pre-cast *
- PYTHIO: Alto/Bass to play the Oracle; powerful, mysterious. Demanding. Great sense of humor--can see through everyone--they are the Oracle of Delphi, after all. Identifies as genderfluid/genderqueer. Any ethnicity. Strong singing voice and movement ability. SONGS INCLUDE: HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH.
*This role fulfills a senior thesis in performance
What do I need to prepare?
If auditioning for a role with text, please prepare both a monologue and song for the first day of auditions and be prepared to move/dance on Saturday
If auditioning for a role as an Angel/Demon, please prepare a song and be prepared to dance on Saturday.
- Monologue - length, style (ie. classical or contemporary) -
- 1-2 minute classical/heightened text monologue
- Song - number of measures/bars 16-32 bars of a contemporary Broadway musical or pop/rock song (in the style of the show, if possible).
Performers must bring their own sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. Please, no songs sung acapella.
What do I need to bring?
Prior to your scheduled time slot, please submit a completed audition form.
All performers should bring a headshot and resume (if available). If not, a snapshot and a list of previous performance experiences will work well.
Come to the audition in clothes that allow you to move comfortably.
Bring a water bottle.
Note that Dance auditions will be held separately from the vocal and acting auditions.
Where do I need to go?
The Seaver at The Seaver Theatre Complex.
300 E. Bonita Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711
When are rehearsals?
Generally held 5 times a week, which can either fall on weeknights from 6-10pm or a combination of weeknights and Saturdays or Sundays between 10am-6pm.
Rehearsals begin Wednesday, September 14.
When are performances?
Wednesday, November 16: 8pm (Preview)
Thursday, November 17: 8pm
Friday, November 18: 8pm
Saturday, November 19: 2pm & 8pm
Sunday, November 20: 2pm
What else should I know?
There will be no rehearsals October 14-18 for fall break.
Technical rehearsals will be November 11-November 15.
Content Warning: Head Over Heels explores issues of sexual and gender identity throughout. There are theatricalized depictions of a sexual nature, kissing between characters, a sword fight to the death, and the theatricalized killing of a wild animal. All intimacy and violence will be choreographed.
Click to sign up for a time! & Click to fill out an Audition Form!
Casting Policy
Pomona College values creating a space in which all beings can flourish, thrive, and create, knowing that their personhood will be respected and honored. We also recognize that each person carries with them a multitude of experiences and cultural influences.
In short, we recognize and honor the brilliant complexity of our humanity.
We are in the process of building our anti-racist framework and guidelines to aid in our creation of a compassionate, dynamic, inclusive artistic space.
In the meantime, we know and will hold to the following:
- The Pomona College Theatre Department recognizes the importance of a clear and transparent casting process. We invite students of all gender orientations, ethnicities, body types, abilities, races, religious beliefs, and experience levels to audition for our productions.
- We invite non-binary, gender non-conforming and trans students to audition for any roles they feel comfortable playing on stage.
- We aim to serve the needs of student growth while honoring inclusive casting practices and faithfulness to the playwright’s intentions.
- We aim for consent-based processes in our casting, including transparency around staged intimacy in our casting notices as well as bringing on an intimacy director for all productions.
The Department recognizes the intrinsic educational value in its productions, and endeavors to provide significant performance opportunities. Therefore, a student may be cast in only one faculty directed production per semester.
Once a student is cast in a production, they are expected to attend all rehearsals to which they are called; we expect full attendance for tech week and performances.
The Department encourages students to direct any questions about casting to the director and/or department chair. If a student prefers to give feedback anonymously, please use this link: https://forms.gle/EUMs1uaSXEoYKppn7 . This form will be read by the co-chairs, Carolyn Ratteray and Kevin Dettmar.