Directing at Heartland

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DIRECTORS IN OUR 2025-2026 SEASON!

KATHLEEN KIRK with BLAKE STUBBS (Assistant Director)
RHYS LOVELL
SANDRA ZIELINSKI
CYNDEE BROWN
DARLENE LLOYD
DAVE MONTAGUE
SCOTT MYERS
JASON A. VALES
RICH TINAGLIA

 

VENUS IN FUR, by David Ives

DIRECTED BY KATHLEEN KIRK

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR BLAKE STUBBS

Comedy/ 1 woman, 1 man

A playwright named Thomas is struggling to find an actress for his adaptation of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s “Venus in Furs.” He is met with Vanda, a desperate and seemingly unrefined actress, who auditions for the role. As Vanda performs, she delves into the complex themes of power, submission, and the blurring lines between performance and reality, captivating Thomas and challenging his preconceived notions of the role and his own understanding of the play. 

Auditions: July 7, 8

Read Through: Sunday, July 13

Performances: August 28, 29, 30 September 5, 6, 7, 12, 13* — 2025

Strike: September 14

 

AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, by Henrik Ibsen (adapted by Christopher Hampton)

DIRECTED BY RHYS LOVELL

Drama / 2 women, 8 men (any ethnicity)

Dr. Thomas Stockmann, the medical officer of a spa town, discovers its famous, and profitable, bathwater is polluted. He refuses to be silenced when he reveals this truth, leading to his ostracization by the town and his declaration as an “enemy of the people.” The play explores themes of truth vs. popular opinion, the importance of individual conscience, and the dangers of unchecked power and societal pressure.

Auditions: September 15, 16

Read Through: Sunday, September 21

Performances: November 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22* — 2025

Strike: Sunday, November 23

 

SMOKEFALL, by Noah Haidle

DIRECTED BY SANDRA ZIELINSKI

Drama / 2 women (doubling), 3 men

Magical realism collides with manic vaudeville in a family drama unlike any you’ve ever seen. Fetuses swap philosophy while awaiting their birth, a daughter eats dirt and doesn’t speak, a father is about to drive away and never return, and there’s an apple tree growing through the walls of the house. Whipping from astonishing tenderness to profound humor and back again, Smokefall explores the lives of a family in a lyrical treatise on the fragility of life and the power of love.

Auditions: December 8, 9

Read Through/Table Work: TBD

Rehearsals officially begin: January 2, 2026

Performances: February 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21* — 2026

Strike: Sunday, February 22

 

WELL, by Lisa Kron

DIRECTED BY CYNDEE BROWN

Comedy / 4 women, 2 men

Well paints a mother-and-daughter picture of rich, unusual artistry where matters like race, creed and health are best considered from the other person’s viewpoint. Kron’s essential message about the importance of weaving the incongruous parts into the fabric of life provides a compassionate antidote to our judgmental times. Wise and funny and utterly winning.

Auditions: February 23, 24

Read Through: Sunday, March 1

Performances: April 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25* — 2026

Strike: Sunday, April 26

 

10-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL 2026: ROUTE 66

DIRECTED BY DARLENE LLOYD, DAVE MONTAGUE, SCOTT MYERS, JASON A. VALES

8 Winning 10-Minute Plays from Submissions Around the World

8 Original 10 Minute Plays

 Auditions: April 27, 28

Read Through: At Directors’ discretion

Performances: May 28, 29, 30, June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13* — 2026

Strike: Sunday, June 14

 

NEW PLAYS FROM THE HEARTLAND Midwest One-act Play Festival

DIRECTED BY RICH TINAGLIA, DARLENE LLOYD & TBD

3 Winning New One-act Plays from Submissions Around the Midwest

Staged Readings

Auditions: June 15, 16

Read Through: Sunday, June 21

Forum with Playwright: July 9

Performances: July 10, 11, 12 — 2026


* 2 Performances (matinee and evening) on final performance date

Applications must be received no later than April 26, 2025. Applicants may submit theatrical résumés, but all information in the application must be completely filled out in order to be considered.

Questions? Write to [email protected].

    Please indicate your first and second choices (See dates of performances and auditions above)

    Heartland Theatre Company is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in our casting and production assignments. When casting and hiring we would like to encourage an openness to diverse and non-traditional choices.

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