Students lined up in the auditorium hallway buzzing with excitement, each quietly rehearsing their lines with friends to prepare for their moment in the spotlight.
On Oct. 7-8, auditions were held for the upcoming winter production of “The Taming of the Shrew,” a twist on a Shakespeare comedy about a man named Petruchio and his attempt to court headstrong Katherina. While the characters and plot will remain true to the original, the production will be set in the 1980s. By changing the setting, the department hopes to give the story an energetic spin, pairing Shakespeare with a rock soundtrack.
“It’s going to be a lot of work to put [the play] together,” Stage Manager Makayla Nelson said. “I’m excited to see how it all comes together in the end, and how people react to the Shakespeare aspects, because it’s not very common.”
Auditions were open for all students, even those with no theatre background, and required a one to two minute classical monologue to highlight their language skills, character portrayal and stage presence.
“We chose to do a monologue because we want to look for people who are willing to act with classical elements, or are open to learning,” Nelson said. “It’s not the classic acting some people think of for plays. It’s a different set of skills.”
In total, over 30 students auditioned, with lead roles like Katherina and Petruchio drawing the most interest, along with other roles such as Gremio, Hortensio and Tranio, who all act as suitors for Bianca.
Junior Makenzie Wilde performed a comedic monologue from “Bye Bye Birdie” in which a mother, Mrs. Peterson, tells her son about riding the subway. Auditioning for the lead role of Katherina, Wilde chose this monologue to show her ability to portray multiple emotions in one scene.
“I just love plays, and I think this one allows for a lot of expression,” Wilde said. “It lets you get into the character you’re playing while having your own take on it, so I knew I wanted to audition.”
The final casting decisions are made by Theatre Director Jamaal Solomon, with input from the stage manager and other members of production. Callbacks are expected to be held soon, with the cast list announced shortly after. Once rehearsals begin, students will start to prepare to bring Shakespeare’s story to life. The production will be held Jan. 15-17.
