|
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
April 29, 2026
|
|
|
|
Save the Date! Urinetown Auditions September 11-13!
|
|
Audition Announcement – Urinetown: The Musical
We are seeking bold, versatile performers for Urinetown: The Musical—a satirical, high-energy show that blends comedy, social commentary, and musical theatre styles.
Audition Requirements
1. Monologue (45–60 seconds)
Please prepare a contemporary comedic monologue (published).
Your monologue should:
- Be fully memorized and timed (no longer than 1 minute)
- Clearly demonstrate a strong objective/goal
- Show active pursuit (we want to see you doing, not just telling)
- Highlight your sense of timing, stakes, and character
2. Song (16–32 bars / approx. 30–60 seconds)
Please prepare a song in the style of Urinetown.
We are looking for:
- Strong storytelling and character choices
- Comfort with satire, irony, and heightened style
- Clear vocal technique and musicality
Style Guidance:
Urinetown is a musical that spoofs and pays homage to multiple musical theatre traditions. Consider material inspired by:
- Brecht/Weill (Threepenny Opera)
- Kander & Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret)
- Classic American musical theatre (Guys and Dolls, The Pajama Game)
- Gospel or revivalist influences
- Contemporary musical comedy with edge or irony
We ask that you not sing from Urinetown, but your selection should live in a similar tonal world—stylized, character-driven, and theatrically aware.
Music Requirements:
- Bring clearly marked sheet music in a 3-ring binder
- An accompanist will be provided
- Please ensure your music is in the correct key and well organized
What We’re Looking For:
- Actors who make bold, specific choices
- A strong sense of play, satire, and theatricality
- Performers who can balance comedy with grounded intention
- Willingness to engage with the show’s heightened, self-aware style
More information, including the sign up link for slots, will be available later this summer. Keep watching the newsletter for updates!
|
|
|
|
UNIVERSITY THEATRE
|
Announcing the University Theatre 2026-2027 Season!
The Compass by Michael Rohd
October 15-25, 2026, Ronald E. Mitchell Theatre
Urinetown Music and Lyrics by Mark Holman, Book and Lyrics by Greg Kotis
November 19-22, December 3-6, 2026, Ronald E. Mitchell Theatre
She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen
March 4-14, 2027, Ronald E. Mitchell Theatre
Ushuaia Blue by Caridad Svich
April 15-25, 2027, Gilbert V. Hemsley Theatre
For details and information on additional projects visit the Theatre and Drama website and online
Callboard.
|
|
|
|
ACADEMICS
|
|
|
|
Still looking for summer classes? The Department of Theatre and Drama has several exciting options
- online and in person!
Dip your toes in the world of theatre with online offerings Theatre 100: Experiencing Theatre and Theatre 200: Acting Skills for Life.
Get hands on training in our studios with Theatre 220: Scenic Studio Practicum and Theatre 221: Costume Studio Practicum.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FACULTY/STUDENT NEWS
|
American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) Recognition for cullud wattah and Much Ado About Nothing
|
|
|
|
Jayda Smith and J'Nya Smith were nominated for the Irene Ryan Scholarship for their performances in cullud wattah and Arje Wilson
was commended for costume design.
|
|
|
|
Malika Daikawa and Christian Carter were nominated for the Irene Ryan Scholarship for their performances in Much Ado About Nothing and
the entire cast was commended for Best Ensemble Work, and a Commendation of Merit was commended for director Baron Kelly.
Read more about ACTF and the Irene Ryan awards here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Budi Miller, internationally recognized actor, director, and clown master, led workshops for students in mask and clown work and visited several Theatre classes during his residency April 17-24. The Department plans to make these kinds of residencies a regular part of the artistic and academic experience at UW-Madison. Check out some photos from the workshops below!
|
|
|
|
|
|
This past April 23, Professor Micha Espinosa and artist in residence Dr. Budi Miller led the Climate Change Theatre Action project as part of
UW-Madison's Earth Fest. Theatre and dance students performed powerful short plays throughout Science Hall directly exploring and responding to pertinent climate change issues. Check out some highlights below!
|
|
|
|
Assistant Professor Colleen Conroy had an article published in a recent issue of Voice and Speech Review.“Coaching the Gendered Voice: An Action Research Study on Pitch, Resonance, and Effective Techniques,” was selected as a 2026 Voice and Speech Review Spotlight Article and granted Global Open Access by Routledge for 2026. Click here for the
article.
|
|
|
|
Teaching Faculty Stephen Tabor directs the musical The Spitfire Grill at Edgewood University, running May 1-9 in the Diane Bellweg Theatre.
Click here for more information and to buy tickets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTERNSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
|
|
|
|
Deadlines Approaching for Applications for Summer Internships!
|
|
|
Explore internships, jobs, and other resources at the School of Education Career Center's Gain Experience page.
|
|
|
|
|
|
We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 Comparative Drama Conference.
We look forward to welcoming you to Madison, Wisconsin, July 9–11, 2026.
Below are key details for registration, lodging, and presenter participation. Take advantage of Early-Bird Rates through May 15th!
Additional information is available on the CDC website, or you may contact us at cdc2026@theatre.wisc.edu with questions.
Presenters are required to pre-register.
Please register for the attendance type (in-person or virtual) indicated with your conference acceptance. Accepted papers are expected to be presented at the conference and are not read in absentia.
You can also follow conference updates on Facebook.
The Comparative Drama Conference (CDC) is hosted by the Department of Theatre and Drama and PLACE in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with additional support from the Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies Program (ITS) in the College of Letters & Sciences.
|
|
Student Support Funding Opportunities
Do you want up to $150 to use towards attending this year's Comparative Drama Conference?
Submit your form responses as soon as possible! This year, this funding will be given out to students that meet the requirements listed in the Google Form, on a first come basis. This form will be live as long as we have funding to provide.
See details on the conference in the section below.
Deadlines are approaching soon! Apply today! Click on this Google Form
for more info and to apply.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nerdy Prudes Must Die
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Blim
Book by Nick & Matt Lang
Orchestrations by Matt Dahan
Directed by Ava Jessie Childs
PLEASE FILL OUT THIS AUDITION FORM PRIOR TO AUDITIONS. FORM WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR. THANK YOU! :)
AUDITIONS: Sunday, May 3rd 10:00am-2:00pm // Monday, May 4th 6:00-9:00pm
CALLBACKS: Tuesday, May 5th 6:00-9:00pm
Preparation Materials:
32 bars or approximately 1 minute of contemporary musical theatre. Comedic material is encouraged. 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, though comedic is encouraged due to the nature of the show.
NOTE: We are also accepting video auditions. Please send the above materials with an intro slate to intermissiontheatre@gmail.com and
ajchilds@wisc.edu by Saturday, May 2nd at 11:59. Once you submit an audition, we will send you the audition form for more information from you.
|
|
|
|
Auditions for Four Seasons Theatre's 2026-2027 Season
2026-2027 Auditions for the FST Outreach Program, Leading Ladies of Stage & Screen, and our April 2027 Symphonic Concert
In person auditions will take place on Sunday, May 3 in the afternoon and evening. Auditions will be held at a downtown Madison venue with street parking available for free nearby. The audition location will be sent by email on the evening of Thursday, April 30.
Advance audition signup is required.
Visit the FST Auditions page for "FST General Audition Info" and the link to sign up for an in person audition slot. Read the Audition Info document for more on the video submission option.
********
Auditions for All is Calm
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 will have a separate process for auditioning with first round auditions by video only. Visit the FST Auditions page for
the link to a Google Folder with show information, music cuts by voice type, and a short monologue.
No sign up is required for All is Calm auditions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Get Free Studio-Quality Headshots with the Iris Air Photo Booth at the Wisconsin Business School
The Iris Air photo booth is now available for WSB employees, students, and the campus community. It is located on the second floor between the central elevators and the Learning Commons, just above the West Atrium.
The Iris is available any time Grainger Hall is open. Simply press the touch screen to begin and follow the prompts. Each session takes about 4-5 minutes and your photos are delivered instantly via email. We ask that WSB students and employees use their wisc.edu email address when signing in.
|
|
|
Help Students Navigate Food Insecurity
25% of School of Education graduate students are food insecure (more than 3 times the general US population).
25% of students at UW Madison report being food insecure.
International students, who cannot receive financial aid and often cannot work in the United States, are struggling with hunger.
How you can help:
- Know resources and communicate them to students (newsletters, CANVAS module, etc.)
If you have left over food from an event, this app allows you to share it with those who sign up for alerts.
The pantry is run by volunteers, mostly students. It closes when there are not folks to keep it stocked and open.
Volunteering needs no training and can be as little as 1 hour. Sign up for a shift here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
More Student Opportunities
Be on the lookout for casting calls for Student Film projects!
Check the Student Opportunities page on the department website for audition announcements, jobs (on campus and off), performances, and more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
