By Mia Kerner
The Grand Rapids Community College Players are holding auditions for their upcoming production of “Eurydice”, written by Sarah Ruhl.
Located in room 201 of the Spectrum Theater at 6 p.m. on Jan. 26-27, all GRCC students are invited to audition for the mythological adventure piece that is “Eurydice”.
The Players are looking to cast students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, prioritizing the inclusive variety of the story.
The play is described as Sarah Ruhl’s reimagining of “the classic myth of Orpheus through the eyes of its heroine. Dying too young on her wedding day, ‘Eurydice’ must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. With contemporary characters, ingenious plot twists, and breathtaking visual effects, the play is a fresh look at a timeless love story.”
When asked what students should expect upon entering the audition, the show’s director, Jonathan Wheeler, shared that, “The production team will have the full group of auditionees in the audition room. We’ll hand scripts out a few at a time and will break folks into groups to read.
“(I prefer) to give the performers a chance to look over scenes a bit before having them give their reading, so you might be dismissed to the hallway for a few minutes to read things over before coming back in to perform,” Wheeler continued.
Students will be given ample time to work on their scenes, being directed and assisted by those conducting the auditions.
“(We) may or may not give notes or adjustments and ask for a second reading… and so on,” Wheeler said. “Everyone should be able to read at least two times, and we’ll dismiss folks in groups until we’re done for the day. Students are invited to attend both days of auditions, but only need to come in once.”
Students will be asked to read from the script both individually and in groups, but no prior memorization is required.
To prepare for this exciting opportunity, students should familiarize themselves with the play’s storyline and rehearse until they feel comfortable and confident in their ability to perform.
“The best way to prepare is to read the script ahead of time in order to get a sense of what the play and the characters are like,” Wheeler said.
Students interested in auditioning for “Eurydice” can contact Wheeler at jonathanwheeler@gmail.com with questions or script check-out.
