Auditions – Heartland Theatre Company

“Heartland Theatre Company is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in our casting and production assignments. We encourage an openness to diversity and inclusion.”

AUDITIONS FOR EVERY BRILLIANT THING

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11 & TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12 (2023) from 7 – 10 pm at Heartland Theatre

Directed by Aaron Sparks

Ice cream. Kung Fu movies. Burning things. Laughing so hard you shoot milk out of your nose. So begins a young child’s list of every brilliant thing in life, a list composed as a way of coping with their mother’s struggle with depression and mental illness. A one-person theatrical tour de force that invites the audience to participate in the storytelling and share in the experience of being human. [Mature Audiences. Descriptions of depression, self harm, and suicide]

Every Brilliant Thing Audition Notes from the Director:

The play details one person’s struggle to find and bring happiness to a family member living with severe depression. It tracks the effects of that search from childhood to adolescence and adulthood, detailing both the pain and joy along the way.

The Narrator can be a person of any gender expression (male-identifying/female-identifying/non-binary), any ethnicity, and any age. Every Brilliant Thing is a solo show that features intense audience interaction, with audience members even portraying the other people in the Narrator’s life. It is essential that the actor portraying the role is able to carry the show while being comfortable improvising in their interactions with the audience and synthesizing those interactions into their performance.

Actor must be comfortable singing a little on stage. Some piano skills are a plus but not required.

About the director, Aaron Sparks

Performances: February 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17 — 2024

[Content Advisory: Mature Audiences. Contains descriptions of depression, self-harm, and suicide.]

Actors at Heartland Theatre receive an honorarium at the end of each production for Season shows.

AUDITIONS FOR CLYDE’S

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19 & TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20 (2024) from 7 – 10 pm at Heartland Theatre

Directed by Jason A. Vales

In this highly entertaining comedy by veteran playwright, Lynn Nottage, four ex-cons aspire to lead a better life—and make the “perfect sandwich”—as they flip burgers at Clyde’s, a truck stop diner owned and managed by the sassy, devilish Clyde herself. Led by the angelic Montrellous, the ragtag bunch of short order cooks put their differences aside and rally together for a brighter future.

[Content Advisory: Mature Audiences. Contains adult language and themes]

Jason- Mid-20’s to early 30’s. White male. Working class. Funny. Served 8 years in prison. White supremacist affiliation. Goes from being seen as a threat to being open and vulnerable. Actor with comedic chops.

Clyde- Late 30’s – 50’s. Black female. Great comedic chops. Able to change the temperature of a room with an entrance. Dominatrix. Loves to expose vulnerabilities. Seductive. Brash. Controls the room. Delights in humiliating others. Wicked. Runs truck stop.

Montrellous- 40’s-late 50’s. Black male. Mindful. Served many years in prison. Interested in healing. Kind. Working class. Sensitive and caring, particularly to the younger generation. Uses cooking as a means of meditation. Funny.

Rafael- Mid-late 20’s. Latinx male. Formerly incarcerated. A romantic. Loves food. In love with Letitia. Funny. Fun. Playful. Recovering. Working to find a more spiritual path. Full of charm. Terrified of his boss. Actor should have great comedic timing.

Letitia-Mid-late 20’s. Black male. Recently released from prison, she is trying to build her life up again. Mother to a daughter with health issues, her job is important to her even when the atmosphere is toxic. A romantic, she is looking to find a genuine partner. She is a survivor and has life skills. She is working towards building a mindful path. Very funny. Actor needs to have great comedic timing.

First Read Through: Sunday, February 25 – 2024

Performances: April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20 — 2024

Actors at Heartland Theatre receive an honorarium at the end of each production for Season shows.

AUDITIONS FOR GHOSTS

MONDAY, APRIL 22 & TUESDAY, APRIL 23 (2024) from 7 – 10 pm at Heartland Theatre

Directed by Darlene Lloyd, Dave Montague, Lynda Rettick and G. William Zorn

At Heartland Theatre we believe in ghosts, and soon you’ll believe in them, too. For our next 10-Minute Play Festival we’re going to put them on stage. Our theme for 2024 is GHOSTS.

We’ll feature eight original short plays in a paranormal presentation that frightens and enlightens. Remember that at Heartland we want to you think, feel, and live!

In June of 2024, everyone will be leaving our theater looking like they’ve seen a ghost and we’ll be delighted. Next summer at Heartland, the living will meet the dead, spectators will see specters, and everyone will applaud the apparitions! GHOSTS–Heartland Theatre’s 10-Minute Play Festival for 2024.

First Read Through: At Directors’ discretion

Performances: May 30, 31, June 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15 (2x) — 2024 [Note: Our 2024 Festival will be condensed into a three-week run, instead of four, to allow more actors to participate.] In certain circumstances, accommodations are made to double-cast a role due to actor availability. Come out to audition and bring your calendar.

Actors at Heartland Theatre receive an honorarium at the end of each production for Season shows.

AUDITIONS FOR 2024 NEW PLAYS FROM THE HEARTLAND

MONDAY, JUNE 10 & TUESDAY, JUNE 11 (2024) from 7 – 10 pm at Heartland Theatre

Directed by Douglas Malcolm, Tabitha Miller and Natasha Warloe

Three Winning One-act Plays submitted from 10 Midwest states are presented as enhanced staged readings, holding scripts. Familiarity with the scripts is required, but memorization is not.

First Read Through: Sunday, June 23, 2024: At Directors’ discretion

Performances: July 12, 13, 14 — 2024

Watch this page for announcements of (or changes to) upcoming auditions!

HEARTLAND DIVERSITY STATEMENT

If you are interested in becoming involved with Heartland on stage or behind the scenes, please submit our volunteer form, email [email protected] or call the Heartland Box Office at 309-452-8709.

Audition location: Heartland Theatre Company

1110 Douglas St, Normal IL 61761

Mailing Address: PO Box 1833, Bloomington IL 61702

SAFETY PROTOCOLS for ACTORS/STAFF have been lifted as of May 21, 2023, by the Heartland Board of Directors and restored to pre-Covid times.