A scene from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the 2014 Halloween show. This year, Back Alley is holding auditions for War of the Worlds.
Back Alley Productions is hosting auditions for the upcoming Halloween show War of the Worlds. Based on both the H.G. Wells novella and the Orson Welles radio show, the production is seeking talented community actors in the local area.
Auditions are Monday, Aug. 8, and Tuesday, Aug. 9, at any time from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Mars Theater. The theater is at 117 N. Chattanooga St. in LaFayette.
“This show is going to be fueled by suspense and anticipation,” Chris Smith, director of the show, said. “War of the Worlds isn’t about an alien invasion. It’s about people responding to and coping with an alien invasion, which is a real challenge for actors to explore and deliver. In horror, if people don’t connect with the characters they don’t care about their dire circumstances and that’s why we are seeking strong local actors for these roles.”
Upon arrival, those auditioning will be given some paperwork to fill out and a monologue to study. When they are comfortable and prepared, they will perform in front of the production panel, which will be critiquing the actor on characterization, attention to detail and ability to take direction. The process typically lasts 15 to 20 minutes. Callbacks may be issued for Wednesday, Aug. 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m. where small group auditions will be held to further determine the best fit for each role.
The rehearsal schedule is Monday and Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 4-6 p.m. Performances are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. from Oct. 14-29, with 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees on Oct. 16 and 23. There will also be a special midnight performance on Saturday, Oct. 29 to celebrate Halloween weekend.
“There are a lot of interesting things that we will be doing with shadows and light to create a frightening atmosphere,” Mr. Smith adds. “Our goal is to create something that is really scary, not campy or goofy or hard to believe. Creating suspense and fear in a live theater setting, especially in today’s age, is a challenge that we are excited to take on and that requires good actors more than anything. We’re excited to see who comes out.”
There are 12 to 15 roles available for men and women ages 15 and up. Children ages 14 and under may audition for case-by-case roles, but the production does include horror themes and mild language that some parents may object to. For more information, visit backalleyproductions.org, call 706.621-9129 or search Back Alley Productions on Facebook.