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NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
October 29, 2025
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Don't Miss These Highlights!
Little Women tickets on sale!
Much Ado About Nothing Auditions November 14-16!
Call for Student Actors for Climate Change Theatre Action!
Student Production Auditions:
Alice by Heart
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
See below for details and more events and announcements!
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Audition Announcement
Much Ado About Nothing
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Baron Kelly
AUDITION INFORMATION:
University Theatre auditions are open to all UW-Madison students, regardless of major.
Auditions: Friday, November 14 1-5 pm and 6-9 pm, Saturday, November 15 10 am – 2 pm; Vilas 1090.
Note: November 14 1-5 pm and November 15 10 am – 2 pm priority for Little Women company.
Callbacks: Sunday, November 16 10:00 – 11:30 am Vilas 1090.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
Actors are encouraged to read the script prior to auditions. Perusal copies of the script are available in the Department of Theatre and Drama Main Office, 6173 Vilas, 821 University Ave, during regular hours 9 am-5 pm Monday to Friday. A digital copy may be accessed at the link here (note: not final script for performance – final script will be cut and edited).
For Auditions:
Please prepare a 1-1.5 minute memorized Shakespearean monologue (not from Much Ado). Also, select one of the sonnets from this document to prepare (need not be memorized and hard copies will be available at auditions).
For Callbacks:
Actors called back will receive an email in advance with details.
THE PLAY:
The quintessential romantic comedy. Sparks fly when the mutually disdainful Beatrice and Benedick engage in their war of words against marriage and each other. Against the backdrop of the impending wedding of young lovers Hero and Claudio, the friends of Beatrice and Benedick scheme to bring the sharp-tongued antagonists into a “mountain of affection.” Deception, reversals, and outright villainy threaten to ruin the nuptials but love triumphs over all with wit, merriment, and charm.
Content advisory: This production contains themes of misogyny, emotional manipulation, and public shaming. It includes references to sex, deception, and staged death, as well as scenes of verbal aggression and implied threats of violence.
PRODUCTION INFORMATION:
- Rehearsals begin: Table work December 2-5, 6-10 pm. Staging rehearsals begin Monday, February 23. Rehearsals for University Theatre will take place 6-10 pm Monday-Friday.
- Performances: April 16-26, 2026 with a student matinee on Friday, April 24 at 10 am.
- Venue: Mitchell Theatre
- Student actors cast in this production must register for 1-3 credits of THEATRE 360.
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Do you have questions?? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Artistic Director Aly Amidei at aramidei@wisc.edu or Director of Theatre Production Jahana Azodi at
jazodi@wisc.edu.
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Faculty-led Workshops
The Squirrels
By Robert Askins
Led by Colleen Conroy, Assistant Professor of Acting and Voice
Fall 2025
Part of Special Course TD 360: Animal Study into Performance
Workshop
Led by Micha Espinosa, Professor of Acting and Directing
Spring 2026
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Save the Date - Student Production Proposals November 19
The Department of Theatre and Drama's Programming Committee will hear proposals for student projects on Wednesday, November 19. Be on the lookout for more information including updated student project guidelines in an upcoming newsletter.
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Thinking of declaring for a Major or Certificate in Theatre and Drama?
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The School of Education’s Department of Theatre and Drama, in collaboration with the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Office of Sustainability
, invites YOU to be part of Climate Change Theatre Action (CCTA).
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This international event—presented biennially in support of the United Nations COP meetings—brings together artists, scientists, and communities around the world to confront one of the most urgent issues of our time: climate change. Fifty playwrights from every continent, including Indigenous and diasporic voices, have written powerful five-minute plays that will be staged across the globe. At UW–Madison, we’ll present five of these plays,
each paired with a faculty researcher who will provide scientific, social, or cultural context. The performances will culminate in a campus-wide panel hosted by the Office of Sustainability. This year’s theme, The Time is NOW, calls on us to use art as activism—storytelling as a catalyst for dialogue, awareness, and change.
Why get involved?
- Perform alongside peers in a global theatre initiative
- Collaborate with faculty researchers and sustainability leaders
- Gain experience in eco-performance, social practice, and interdisciplinary theatre
- Be part of a movement that uses art to inspire real change
Produced by Professor Micha Espinosa, this is your chance to connect performance with purpose and to bring your voice to the climate conversation.
Class: This is a dynamically dated course. The class will meet via Zoom before Spring Break and transition to in-person meetings after Spring Break.
Performances: Late Spring 2026, on campus (free and open to the public)
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Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies
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InterMission Theatre
News
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Alice by Heart Auditions are now OPEN for sign-ups. Please review the information below and reach out with any and all questions!
Alice by Heart
Directed by Ava Childs
AUDITIONS: Saturday, November 1st 11:00am-2:00pm and 3:00pm-6:00pm (sign up for a 7 minute slot below)
CALLBACKS: Sunday, November 2nd 10:00am-12:00pm
For list of roles and to sign up for an audition slot, click HERE
Preparation Materials:
32 bars or approximately 1 minute of contemporary musical theatre. We will not have an accompanist, so please provide your own track or be prepared to sing a capella. We will have a bluetooth speaker, but please feel free to bring your own to avoid delays.
1 minute memorized monologue, comedic or dramatic.
NOTE: We are also accepting video auditions. Please send the above materials with an intro slate to intermissiontheatre@gmail.com and
ajchilds@wisc.edu prior to October 31st. Once you submit an audition, we will send you the audition form for more information from you.
Schedule:
Rehearsals will begin immediately upon return from winter break (January 20th) and occur on a Monday-Friday 6pm-10pm schedule. TBD some Saturday rehearsals if needed. Full rehearsal schedule to come. Actors will fill out detailed schedule availability at auditions.
Show dates: February 26th-March 1st
NOTE: Cast will be receiving prep materials prior to Winter Break to accommodate for our condensed rehearsal schedule. We may also meet as a cast before break for a read-through and prep work based on actor availability
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Auditions for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee November 2 and 6
Directed by Danielle Bullock & Alex Cook
AUDITIONS: Sunday, November 2nd 1-4pm and Thursday, November 6th 4-7pm. (sign up for a 10-minute slot below) in Humanities 1341.
CALLBACKS: Friday, November 7th 5-8pm in Humanities 1341.
PERFORMANCES: February 13-14 in Music Hall.
Please bring in 32 bars/1minute of song in the style of the musical. Songs from the musical are okay. Please come prepared with a karaoke track to audition with. A speaker will be provided,
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Comparative Drama Conference Call for Papers
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Department of Theatre and Drama faculty Baron Kelly and Ann Shanahan are the new co-directors of the Comparative Drama Conference (CDC) to be hosted at UW-Madison,
July 9-11, 2026.
Call for Papers
Papers
reporting on original investigations and critical analysis of research and developments in the field of drama and theatre are invited for the 48th Comparative Drama Conference, hosted by the University of Wisconsin, Madison, to be held July 9-11, 2026. Papers may be comparative across nationalities, periods and disciplines; and may deal with any issue in dramatic literature, criticism, theory, and performance, or any method of historiography, translation, or production. Papers should be 15 minutes in length, written for oral presentation, and accessible to a multi-disciplinary audience. Scholars and artists in all languages and literatures are invited to email a 250-word abstract in English to Ann M. Shanahan
and Baron Kelly at cdc2026@theatre.wisc.edu by December
15, 2025.
For full details, see the CFP linked here.
In addition to paper abstracts we are also accepting submissions for new plays for staged readings at the conference, also by December 15, 2025. The conference includes workshops, plenaries, play attendance and keynote events. Undergraduate as well as graduate students are invited to participate!
Please reach out with any questions, suggestions, and/or interest to Ann Shanahan and Baron Kelly in person or at cdc2026@theatre.wisc.edu. We would also love to hear from you if you would like to be involved in planning!
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From left: Ph.D. Quanda Johnson, Ph.D. Candidate Bridget Anderson, Professor Ann Shanahan, Professor Colleen Conroy (Theatre & Drama), and Ph.D. Student Nate Ferguson at the Comparative Drama Conference in London, UK.
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Register for URTA Auditions and Interviews
The Undergraduate Resident Theatre Association (URTA) Auditions & Interviews connect you with dozens of top MFA and international MA programs. Beyond auditions, you'll access free professional development workshops covering career prep, grad school financing, and industry insights.
Candidate registration for the 2026 URTAs is now OPEN! For early-bird pricing, register before November 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM (Eastern).
Click here for more information and to register!
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USITT Conference Assistants Program
Be part of the team behind the nation's largest theatre technology and design conference! The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) Conference Assistants Program offers students exclusive hands-on professional development: working with top industry leaders, networking with employers, and assisting in staging events that bring together thousands of designers, technicians, and educators. Assistants gain unmatched insider experience, resume-boosting credentials, and access to cutting-edge innovations in live entertainment design and production. Plus, you get to attend USITT26 for only $25!
Click here for more information and to apply!
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Madison Opera:
Shadow during staging rehearsals, tech, and/or performances: These are short time commitments for students to observe the inner workings of a professional production and ask questions of industry professionals. This is voluntary observation only, not hands-on nor paid. The object of this opportunity is to open the door to any student interested in backstage careers. Time commitment 2-4hrs.
Production Assistant program: This offers a hands-on experience in a professional opera environment. PAs do prep work and attend staging rehearsals, all tech rehearsals, and performances. Attendance is flexible based on their availability. They are part of the team and are included in all production-related events. This paid position is ideal for college and high school students, and can be listed on college applications, job applications, and résumés. It is a great way to make networking connections for those interested in a career in opera. Time commitment spans 4 weeks.
To apply, students should go to our website.
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Explore more internships, jobs, and other resources at the School of Education Career Center's Gain Experience page.
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Student American Theatre Magazine Survey
The American Theatre Magazine is preparing a student-focused article about which plays colleges and universities are choosing for their seasons, and what students are thinking about it all. Students taking the survey will be entered into a drawing to receive a $25 Starbucks gift card. Fill out the survey
here.
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School of Education Student Experience Survey
The School of Education seeks student input that will inform plans and ideas to shape the strategy and goals around the student experience. Click here to take the survey.
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New Resource for Students
UW-Madison has launched a new resource for students that gathers together information and resources for everything from food and health issues to housing and IT help. Visit https://basicneeds.students.wisc.edu to learn more.
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More Student Opportunities
Check the Student Opportunities page on the department website for more audition announcements (including student film casting calls), jobs (on campus and off), performances, and more.
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Capital City Theatre, Madison's professional musical theatre company, presents a dynamic concert of It’s a Wonderful Life – A New Musical at the historic Orpheum Theater on Sunday, November 16 at 2:00 PM at the historic Orpheum Theatre on State Street.
Following its renowned world premiere last November, It’s a Wonderful Life: A New Musical returns to Madison for a special one-day Concert Event! With music by Capital City Theatre’s Artistic Director Andrew Abrams, and book and lyrics by John Atkins, this production is inspired by the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life”, based on “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern.
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Theatre Lila presents Planets as Stars, written and performed by Gina Cornejo, and directed by Jessica Lanius November 13-22. Planets as Stars
will take you on an autobiographical journey through poetry that is both interstellar and intensely personal, exploring how our emotional orbits intersect. Visit the Theatre Lila website for more information and to buy tickets.
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Have an announcement to share? Send to publicity@theatre.wisc.edu. Submissions received by Friday will be considered for inclusion in the following week's newsletter.
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