Audition FAQ

Auditions for the 2025 Randolph College Greek Play will be held on Friday, April 18, at 4:30pm in Smith Hall Theatre.

Prepare your favorite BRIEF POEM and BE READY TO SING AND MOVE. If you have a monologue prepared, we’ll see it, but it’s not required.

What you want to know about Greek Play Auditions on April 18 at 4:30pm:

- To what will I be committing myself if I get a part?
- How long is the performance?

Is it fun?

Why are auditions during the April when the play is in October?

October became the season for the Greek Play in 2002: it’s the best time for good weather in the Dell, and it’s a time when the College calendar accommodates us well. But it’s also only five and a half weeks from the beginning of classes until the first show, so we have auditions in April to make it possible for our actors to arrive on campus off-book and ready to hit the Dell running.

What roles are available?

Three Actors, each of whom plays more than one role (just like the Greeks did).

Actor A, who plays ANTIGONE, TEIRESIAS, and MESSENGER

Actor B, who plays CREON

Actor C, who plays ISMENE, a SOLDIER, HAIMON, and EURYDICE

Twelve Chorus Members

Theban Elders

Mute Characters

We’ll also need Soldiers and various Attendants

Who can audition?

Anyone willing to make the commitment, regardless of major or experience. Priority consideration is given to Randolph students.

How do I prepare for auditions?

Be ready to say a brief poem, nursery rhyme, or speech, and give yourself time to connect with the audience.

Be ready to sing a song–any song–a capella.

Dress in comfortable clothes you can move in.

If you have an acting monologue prepared, we’ll be happy to see it, but a prepared monologue is not required.

How long is brief?

A minute or less. We’ll have a lot to get through in not a lot of time.

How long should I expect to spend at auditions?

It depends on how many people show up, but we only have one day to see everything we need to see, so plan to stay for two hours.

What if I can’t come to the audition (and I *really* want to be in the show)?

Get in touch with Prof. Cohen immediately. There’s always a way.

What if I’m abroad or haven’t arrived at RC yet?

If you’ll be on campus in the fall, we’ll hold auditions for remaining places in the cast the day before classes start in the fall.

Will there be callbacks?

Probably not, but make sure we know how to reach you.

Do I have to come to all of auditions?

Yes, please plan to stay for the whole time.

Wait a minute . . . what do you mean by ALL-GENDER CASTING. What gives?

If Greek male actors could play Medea, Clytemnestra, and Lysistrata, Randolph women can surely play men, and Randolph men can surely play women. In other words, our talented actors can handle whatever roles they want no matter where they live on the gender spectrum. And they have, with great success. Our Chorus will also be all the musically richer for having male and female voices. In the Greek Play you learn to walk like a man or whatever characters you’re playing.

What else do I need to know?

We value clarity with volume, versatility, the ability to take direction, and a presence big enough to make an impact in the Dell. Chorus members need to be able to stay on pitch, be heard, and be able to take choreographic direction. If you can play a musical instrument, we might be able to use that talent, too.

Can I get credit?

YES. Commit to working at least 20 hours on the Greek Play, and enroll in CLAS/THTR 1181: Greek Drama Production Lab for .5 credit. Commit to working at least 40 hours on the Greek Play, and enroll in CLAS/THTR 1181 for 1 credit.

Do I HAVE to be in the class?

No. Anyone involved in the play MAY enroll in Classics/Theatre 1181, but you don’t have to.

Can I perform in the Greek Play and perform in the November Theatre Show?

Yes. But a few caveats: you may have to make special arrangements with Cohen to be able to attend the fall show auditions, which may be during an Antigone rehearsal. We’re making sure the productions overlap as little as possible. When you accept a part in Antigone, you’ll be committed to that production through the performances October 1, 3, 4, and 5, and the November show rehearsals may start earlier or immediately after. It is therefore possible that you could do both things, but you’d need to think carefully about committing fully to rehearsals for that much of the fall and keeping up with your schoolwork.

What if I play a fall sport?

Our performances are October 1 in the morning and afternoon and October 3, 4, and 5 at 4p.m. Our tech rehearsals will be the weekend before. If you don’t have contests those days, it’s possible that you could do both things (and we’ve had fantastic athletes in the plays), but you’d need to think carefully about committing fully to practices and rehearsals (see schedule below) and your schoolwork.

Can I get Sock and Buskin hours?

YES.

To what will I be committing myself if I get a part?

▪ Mask and costume measurements.

▪ Learning your lines and/or song lyrics ASAP.

▪ The three actors will begin rehearsals on August 13.

▪ Rehearsals for the whole company will begin on Sunday, August 24.

▪ From then on, rehearsals are 7-10 Sun, Tue, Thu, and 1-4 on Wed and Sun. Sometimes we need to add Friday afternoon dance rehearsals.

▪ Yes, that’s two rehearsals on Sunday, but we have to have one time a week to work in the sunshine.

▪ The shows are in the morning and afternoon of October 1, and the late afternoons of October 3, 4, and 5.

▪ We are also hosting a conference October 3-5 to do with the play, and you will be part of the festivities.

▪ We are also hosting a reunion to celebrate 25 years of the revived Greek Play tradition on October 4, and you will be part of the festivities.

▪ We usually have an open rehearsal during Wildcat Weekend, and we’ll probably do a little something for the Board of Trustees.

▪ Cooperating with designers and crew.

▪ Supporting and promoting the Greek Play for the duration of Antigone.

▪ It’s an incredibly intense experience, but IT’S ALL OVER BY FALL BREAK.

How long is the performance?

No more than 90 minutes, with no intermission.

Is it fun?

The fourteen plays we’ve done have been transformative (difficult, thrilling, tiring, intense, exhilirating) experiences for everyone involved. The comedies in 2006 and 2016 upped the giggle level considerably, and helped us deal with the difficulties on campus and beyond, but we’ve always had lots of laughs and formed lasting friendships. And, hey, one of the crew positions is Chief Groupie. So . . . Yes, it’s fun.