Auditions

Audition Notice for The Woman in Black with Nanaimo Theatre Group, Spring 2025.

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Directors:                    Shannon Reimer and Laura Buechler

Producer:                    Sandee Phillips

 

When?                         Wednesday January 8 starting at 7 PM

                                      Sunday January 12 starting at 1PM                                   

 

Where?                       The Bailey Studio, 2373 Rosstown Road, Nanaimo

For:                             The following roles:

 

Arthur Kipps: Arthur Kipps is a successful lawyer with a haunting past. Now in his 60s/70s, he had a terrifying experience in his youth that has continued to haunt him throughout his lifetime. In order to find peace, he seeks the help of a professional actor: he hopes this younger man can coach him through the process of preparing to share this terrifying tale with his friends and family members.

 

As he and the actor re-enact the story, Kipps will take on the roles of several characters from his past. Consider playing with accent, physicality, minimal costume pieces (hat, glasses, scarf, etc.) to make these different characters come alive.

 

 

Actor: The Actor can be any age over 20, as long as he is younger than Mr. Kipps. He is confident, perhaps arrogant at times, but the experience of helping Kipps will nevertheless shock and surprise him, perhaps even drive him to madness.

 

The Woman in Black: This is a non-speaking yet pivotal role, the title character who brings terror to the characters and the audience. She can be any age over 20, and will be made-up to look gaunt and ghostly.  

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All ages are approximate, and some leeway is possible depending on those who attend the auditions.

 

 

Play Synopsis:

 

This is a ghost story with an unusual framework. Arthur Kipps, now in his 60s/70s, had a terrifying experience in his youth that has continued to haunt him throughout his lifetime. In order to find peace, he seeks the help of a professional actor. He hopes this younger man can coach him through the process of preparing to share this terrifying tale with his friends and family members.

Throughout the play, Mr. Kipps and his unnamed actor friend experiment with how to tell the story. As the narrative is recounted, the actor and the audience find themselves immersed in the events of long ago. The past comes alive, the peril draws near, and we begin looking over our shoulder for a frightening woman dressed in black.

This play depends on having two very strong male actors, one of whom will play multiple roles.

 

General Information:

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Nanaimo Theatre Group membership is required ($25).

 

Performance Dates are Wednesdays to Sundays from April 23 to May 11 2025. Showtimes are evenings 7:30pm with Sunday matinee at 2pm.

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North Island Zone Festival Performance: May 12 to 18 (2 days in this week to be confirmed about March 2025). Full cast and crew will be needed during the day for load-in, setup, and tech rehearsal, then evening performance and coffee critique the following morning. 

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IF we win the North Island Zone Festival, we will be expected to attend the Theatre BC Mainstage Festival held this year in Fort St. John BC, usually the first week of July 2025.

 

Rehearsal Period: Some flexibility is possible based on the availability of the actors who are cast. Planned for Tuesday & Thursday eves from 7-10pm and Sundays 10am - 1pm starting January 21.  

 

Audition Format:

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Applicants are required to pre-register with the Producer Sandee Phillips at sdphillips1@outlook.com .

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Male roles: Please obtain the WIB Monologue found on the Auditions page of the Nanaimo Theatre Group website. Please memorize the monologue, no matter which character you are auditioning for.

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The audition period will be for 2 men at a time and last 45 minutes. During that time, you will present your monologue, as well as do some theatre improv games and read selected sides from the show.

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The Woman in Black: this will be a 10 minute audition. As this is not a speaking role, we will be auditioning for character movement.

 

Ready to Audition?

 

• Contact Producer Sandee Phillips to arrange an audition time slot. E-mail her at sdphillips1@outlook.com.

 

• Download and fill out the Application Form. Bring it with you to the audition.

 

• Download, read and sign the Important Dates page. Bring this form in with you at your audition.

 

• Download and memorize the WIB Monologue.

 

We hope to see you there!

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     WIB Audition Form            WIB Important Dates             WIB Monologue

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