Shuddersome: Tales of Poe Reader’s Theatre Auditions

Saturday, September 26 | 6:00 – 8:45 PM
Wesley United Methodist Church
114 W Broadway St | Winona, MN

Have you ever thought about auditioning for a show but worried about how to fit the rehearsal schedule into your busy calendar? Would you love to express yourself onstage but find memorization intimidating? If either of those sound familiar, then Sugarloaf Community Theatre’s Readers Theatre event, “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe,” might be just what you’re looking for.

As you might guess from the title, “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe” is a collection of some of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories and poems, adapted for the stage by Lindsay Price. Eerie, haunting stories like “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Masque of the Red Death” are a perfect way to celebrate the spooky season, and their reliance on narration and atmosphere rather than stage action makes them perfect for Readers Theatre.

With a less intense rehearsal schedule and no memorization required, Readers Theatre is a unique opportunity that removes some of the barriers that might keep people from participating in theater. Actors will be reading from the scripts onstage, so no need to memorize anything! Costumes, props, sound, lighting, and movement will all be minimal; this is an opportunity to create theater with your voices and expressions!

Auditions will take place on Saturday, September 26th from 6:00-8:45. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 6:45-8:45 pm from September 29th to October 20th, with a dress rehearsal on Thursday, October 22nd from 6-10 pm. Performances are October 23rd at 6 pm and October 24th at 2 pm. Auditions, rehearsals, and performances will take place at Wesley United Methodist Church (114 W. Broadway St., Winona, MN).

Visit https://linktr.ee/sugarloaftheatre to learn more or to sign up for an audition time slot. Auditions will involve a warm-up, reading from the script, and an optional movement portion. If cold reading gives you the shivers, feel free to read through “The Raven” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” prior to auditions to get a feel for them. Both are available online for free, and the script follows the stories practically word-for-word.

Auditions are open to adults and youth ages 12 and up. No experience required – period. This show is a perfect way to dip your toes into theater. So if you’re looking for something with a less intense rehearsal schedule to fit into your busy fall calendar or if the thought of memorization makes you shudder, come chill with us and make the audience shudder instead.

Sugarloaf Community Theatre is an organizational member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.