The Theatre Workshop of Owensboro is inviting aspiring and experienced actors alike to audition for its annual “Summer Shorts” production series, a collection of original one-act plays submitted by playwrights from around the world. Auditions begin Sunday.
Auditions will be held at Trinity Centre at 2 p.m. on May 17 and 6 p.m. on May 18. Those auditioning only need to attend one session, and no prior theater experience or preparation is required.
Jason Bostwick, president of the Theatre Workshop board and one of the event’s producers, said the organization is primarily looking for actors to fill roles across six productions selected from roughly 80 submitted scripts.
“We’re looking for actors,” Bostwick said. “This is a really good way to get involved. It’s a good way to meet people involved in the theater.”
Bostwick said “Summer Shorts” functions as an international playwriting contest, with submissions arriving from playwrights across the globe. Scripts are reviewed anonymously by a reading committee to ensure fairness during the selection process.
“What we like to say is our international playwriting contest, because we have playwrights from all over the world,” Bostwick said.
The selected plays range from comedies to dramas and are designed to create “a good night of theater,” he said.
According to Bostwick, the productions typically require a much smaller time commitment than a traditional stage show, making the series appealing to busy adults, students, and first-time performers.
“You might only put about 10 hours into the show,” Bostwick said. “Whereas a normal main stage show, you’re looking at six weeks of five nights of rehearsal.”
The productions will feature approximately 20 roles, with opportunities available for older teens through senior adults. Some plays are two-person casts while others involve larger ensembles.
Bostwick said the organization also uses “Summer Shorts” as a training ground for future directors, actors, and production leaders.
“We’re trying to grow our directors. We’re trying to grow our actors,” Bostwick said. “This is a proving ground and stepping stone to get to that next level.”
Bostwick said he personally became involved in community theater through “Summer Shorts” after stepping away from theater for nearly two decades following college.
“I auditioned for ‘Summer Shorts,’ and I can’t get away from them,” he said. “I’ve been very passionate about ‘Summer Shorts’ ever since.”
Performances are scheduled for July 10-12 and July 17-19 at Trinity Centre. Audience members will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite production during the run of the show.
The annual production is sponsored by The Owensboro Barbershop and Dr. Andrew Bolin.
