Masks Play! II Keep Playing!: Auditions are May 18

actor in tights, sportcoat and clownish mask leaps into the air

Auditions for Masks Play! will be held on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first two hours will be an all-group audition, and then we’ll keep working with some of the players for the last two hours. Please be prepared to stay for the full four hours.

The deadline to sign up for auditions is 5 p.m., Friday, May 17.

About Masks Play! II: Keep Playing!

  • A devised work
  • Director: Rich Brown
  • Assistant Director: Kevin Harris

Our work will be experimental. Using the Six Basic Emotions masks and traditional Commedia masks, techniques and characters, we will collectively devise original short scenarios that will be improvised in performance.  We will investigate the physicality of each Emotion Mask as well as the physicality and vocality of each Commedia stock character and apply that study towards creating lazzis & canovaccios from our playing.  In short, as a company, we will devise an original mask play, approximately 80 minutes in length, which will be performed in the DUG Theater. Before COVID, we devised a commedia show at WWU every summer from 2008 to 2019.

Character Breakdown

Who knows?  We haven’t devised it yet! However, I imagine some of our canovaccios (skits) might include Pantalone/a, the greedy old folx; Capitano/a, the braggart soldier (who was never a real soldier and is a total coward); Dottore, the quack doctor/philosopher who thinks they know everything (but know nothing and speak nonsense!); Arlecchino and Columbina, the tricky servants who are always outsmarting the higher-ups; the innamorati, the young lovers (who love themselves and the idea of love more than anything!), and other stock commedia characters...and our new Six Emotion Masks that are purely physical, non-speaking masks. The company will devise contemporary characters that match these stock characters.

We anticipate casting 10-12 actors/players.

Content Disclosure

All actors in this play will engage in robust movement and physical training.  Each rehearsal will begin with 15 to 20 minutes of physical preparation to strengthen the player’s body and increase flexibility and cardiovascular stamina, as required by Commedia.

Instructions for your audition

  • Auditions will consist of several exercises and activities to showcase collaboration and players who make big physical and emotional choices. You do not need to prepare anything for the audition. Please wear clothes that will let you move with ease and comfort.
  • Make sure to fill out the online form. The auditions will be open, so you do not need to sign up for a time slot – everyone will be expected to start auditions at 10 a.m. Please note the rehearsal schedule of the play when you sign up.
  • Deadline to sign up is Friday, May 17.
  • Auditions will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 in PA 399. The first two hours will be an all-group audition, and then we’ll keep working with some of the players for the last two hours. Please be prepared to stay for the full four hours.
  • Callbacks: We do not foresee having callbacks for this production.
  • COVID-19 Vaccinations: While vaccinations will not be required to participate in this production, we still strongly encourage that everyone auditioning be vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19. This will help protect the cast, production team, and audience from being exposed to COVID-19 and keep everyone healthy.

Questions on this form include opportunities to share information about your identity, including gender, race, and cultural background. Your answers help WWU prioritize authentic, appropriate casting as called for in each script. Please share only what you feel comfortable sharing.

Some questions on this form involve disclosing what you are comfortable with as a performer. Show specific questions are below and you will also be given a longer, more detailed disclosure form to fill out the morning of auditions. You will be asked to return this form by the end of Audition Day.

Additionally, there are some resources made available here to inform you of Western Washington University’s procedures and protocols for moments of intimacy in our productions.

Audition Resources

Below are links to very useful Word documents which are resources to inform you of Western Washington University’s procedures and protocols for moments of intimacy in our productions.

Production Dates

Please read thoroughly.

Rehearsal Dates

  • Rehearsals will begin Saturday, September 21, 2024. This is the Saturday before classes start!
  • Rehearsals will be held September 21 through October 10, 2024.
  • Masks Play will rehearse five days a week, Sunday through Thursday, with our off days being Friday and Saturday.
  • All regular rehearsals will take place from 7 to 10 p.m.
  • Please indicate all conflicts with schedule on your audition form.

Tech and Dress Rehearsal Dates

Longer call times. October 12 through 17.

Performance Dates

  • October 18 and 19; October 23 through 26
  • Note: Two-show days on October 19 and 26 with performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Strike

October 28 and 29 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Rehearsal Schedule

Detailed rehearsal schedule
Date Day Times

9/21

Saturday

10am -1pm; 2pm-5pm

9/22

Sunday

10am -1pm; 2pm-5pm

9/23

Monday

10am -1pm; 2pm-5pm; 7pm 9pm (in the shop)

9/24

Tuesday

10am -1pm; 2pm-5pm

9/25

Wednesday

7-10pm

9/26

Thursday

7-10pm

9/29

Sunday

7-10pm

9/30

Monday

7-10pm

10/1

Tuesday

7-10pm

10/2

Wednesday

7-10pm

10/3

Thursday

7-10pm

10/6

Sunday

7-10pm

10/7

Monday

7-10pm

10/8

Tuesday

7-10pm

10/9

Wednesday

7-10pm

10/10

Thursday

7-10pm; Crew View

10/11

Friday

5-10pm Dry Tech

10/12

Saturday

10-2, 4-8

10/13

Sunday

10-2, 4-8

10/14

Monday

6-10pm

10/15

Tuesday

6-10pm

10/16

Wednesday

6-10pm

10/17

Thursday

6-10pm

Webform

Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

Status message

Audition registration has closed. Please contact the department with any questions.

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