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08/06/2008  •  Inaugural New Hampshire Professional Theatre Auditions a great success; attract students from across the state

By Shelly Angers
NH Department of Cultural Resources

In April, members from eighteen of New Hampshire’s professional theatres gathered for the inaugural New Hampshire Professional Theatre Association Auditions at the Silver Center for the Arts at Plymouth State University. Nearly 100 aspiring performers as well technicians, administrative and marketing hopefuls participated, each trying to secure a position in one of the many professional theatres around the state that produce performances throughout the summer—and beyond.

While theatre companies across the country strive to create the best performances possible for their audiences, The New Hampshire Professional Theatre Association Auditions upped the ante by adding a local angle: making New Hampshire professional theatre stronger by drawing on the experience of the Granite State’s college-age students. To accomplish this, only professional performing and producing theatres were invited to participate. In addition, only those students currently enrolled in New Hampshire colleges and universities and residents enrolled in higher education elsewhere could audition or interview for on-stage roles and open positions behind the scenes.

“New Hampshire has such a strong tradition of world-class professional theatre,” said Van McLeod, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Cultural Resources and a founding member of the New Hampshire Professional Theatre Association. “People from all over travel here to experience some truly outstanding performances.

“One of the greatest things about these auditions is that they’ve reinforced that New Hampshire has outstanding homegrown talent right here in our own backyard,” he explains. “The next generation of theatre professionals don’t have to leave the state to find great roles, and our theatre companies can come together to fill key positions without having to scour the country.”

“I have always thought it a terrible shame that so many theatres in New Hampshire go to New York and Boston to cast their seasons, when there is such a wealth of talent and skill inside the state,” said Caroline Nesbitt, artistic director at Advice to the Players, a Shakespeare company based in North Sandwich.

“These auditions are an incredibly positive first step not only in recognizing that talent, but also in offering New Hampshire theatre professionals and those just beginning their careers an opportunity to actually work in their own state,” she added. “Keeping our talent ‘at home,’ and providing work for our ‘homegrown’ actors and technicians is, I think, a vital step in developing the sort of creative economy that we are always talking about.”

As is true for professional auditions across the U.S., the schedule for the day was packed. Each performer had only 90 seconds to make an impression on a theatre with filled directors, producers and other professionals looking for just the right person to fill a particular role. Some devoted that time to a monologue or two; others incorporated songs into their auditions. After a brief lunch break, the dance call took place, with 35 students learning a complicated dance combination on the spot and performing it in small groups. Callbacks were then posted for those performers asked back for second auditions in one-on-one settings.

The day concluded with an informal reception that allowed all performers and theatre representatives to mingle and learn more about the upcoming season—and each other. This collegial atmosphere was appreciated not only by the young performers but also by those who run New Hampshire’s many professional theatre companies.

“The New Hampshire Professional Theatre Auditions at Plymouth State University were a great opportunity to mingle with the leaders of other theatre organizations, and also to get to know the up-and-coming talent in New Hampshire,” said Bryan Halperin, executive director of the Winnepesaukee Playhouse in Laconia.

“It was a really friendly atmosphere,” added Nancy Barry, producing director for the Summer Theatre in Meredith Village.

Prior to the 2008 New Hampshire Professional Theatre Association Auditions, most New Hampshire students interested in performing in professional theatre traveled to the StrawHat Auditions in New York City or the New England Theatre Conference in the Boston area, where they are required to audition over the course of several days along with aspiring actors from across the country. It can be a long, daunting experience for both the performers and those looking to cast them.

“It was nice to be able to think more, to have more space and not feel the pressure of the crush of humanity pushing down on you,” notes Bob Shea, artistic director for the Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth. “It’s such a pleasure to be able to engage more and not have it turn into a two- to three-day ordeal.”

The day was an enormous success for both the students and the participating theatres, as positions onstage, back-stage and in administrative roles were offered and accepted.

“Many of our students attending the auditions received offers for jobs,” said Elizabeth Cox, an associate professor and director of theatre at Plymouth State University, as well as a driving force behind the auditions. “I believe this is the highest number of students working in New Hampshire professional companies, both in performance and technical positions, that we have ever had. These jobs are a direct result of the New Hampshire Professional Theatre Association Auditions!”

“What impressed me the most was the high caliber of all the professionals and what a wonderful theatre community New Hampshire has,” she added.

“It was great to see how prepared the students were for the professional audition experience,” said Suzanne Delle, artistic director for Yellow Taxi Productions in Nashua. “We hired a freshman from Plymouth who acted in our outdoor summer show and assistant taught in our theatre camps.”

“Children’s Stage Adventures hired two auditioners to join our tour staff as Actor/Educators,” said Rob Gray, co-founder and co-executive director for the Sullivan-based traveling theatre company. “They represent half of our full time staff for the upcoming fall tour and will be touring to more than 35 communities across the northeast. Each week they will be teaching and performing in a complete musical play, starring 50 local children from each of those communities!”

The students were also pleased with the experience. Allison Duhamel, who graduated from Plymouth State University in May, received six callbacks that day—for main stage performances, for second company and for a touring production. She ended up accepting a role in the Seacoast Repertory Theatre’s production of The Pajama Game.

“I felt that this audition allowed me to do what I love to do—perform,” she said. “It feels wonderful to know that I’m leaving school and moving on into the real world right away.”

“One of the really unique elements to this event is that it wasn’t limited to auditions for onstage roles—students also had the opportunity to interview for backstage jobs such as set construction and lighting, as well as more business-oriented positions in marketing, box office and administration,” said McLeod. “Without people working in those capacities, theatres simply couldn’t exist, and it’s wonderful that students had the opportunity to learn more about this important side of the business.”

Catherine Adams, a student at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, flew in for the interview portion of the day and landed a job at the New London Barn Playhouse, working in the set design department.

“I’ve loved theatre since I was in middle school, and I’ve been looking for a way to combine that passion with my college major, architecture,” said Adams.

“The opportunity to meet with professional theatre companies right here in my home state was so exciting that it was worth flying home in the middle of the semester for interviews. And it worked out so well for me; not only did helping with set construction teach me to think quickly and efficiently, but I also found myself surrounded by so many people I’m glad to call friends.”

“Catherine has been an absolute dream,” explains Carol Dunne, artistic director for New London Barn Playhouse and lecturer in theater at Dartmouth College. “When we met her she said that she wanted to ‘get her hands dirty,’ and she has been a remarkable team player and truly wonderful all around company member.”

“In addition, the auditions helped me in such a major way to get to know the other theaters in New Hampshire,” Dunne added. “I’m a new Artistic Director and from borrowing costumes to recommending technical people, the auditions were invaluable in making me feel a part of a much larger community of New Hampshire theater artists.”

Advice to the Players’ Nesbitt echoed the feelings of those who participated from all corners of the theatre: “It was an extraordinary gift to get this off the ground. We have way more talent than we’ve been able to recognize prior to these auditions.”

Plans for next year’s auditions are currently underway. Once again they’ll be held at Plymouth State University’s Silver Center for the Arts. Due to the overwhelming interest in the 2008 Auditions, in 2009 they’ll take place over the course of two days, and they’ll be open to students enrolled in New Hampshire colleges and universities as well as performers 18 and older who are New Hampshire residents—whether enrolled in school or not. For more information, visit the New Hampshire Professional Theatre Association website, http://nhprotheatre.org/.