Auditions Held for March Productions

On Monday, March 1, the Montana Actors’ Theater (MAT) Youth Program held auditions at the Creative Leisure Building for roles in three, one-act youth productions. One of the young people selected is Hailey Gandenberger, the oldest daughter of Cory and Kasie Gandenberger. Mrs. Gandenberger teaches K-12 Art for the Chinook School District.

Twenty-one area youth in grades 6-12 tried out for roles in Submerged: A Tragedy in One Act by H. Stuart Cottman and Le Vergne Shaw and in The Girl Who Was Asked to Turn Blue by Ev Miller. Because those two shows only offered roles for twelve actors, Youth Activities Director for MAT, Angela Pratt, decided to add one more play so that she could include every young person who auditioned. “We will now be adding the show called Fighting Demons by Angela Hill,” she stated.

According to Pratt, this acting experience is a unique opportunity for youth to explore character development. “There will be a cast of all females and a cast of all males. Each cast will learn both the Cottman/Shaw and Miller shows and present them at the end of March. We also have a mixed cast for the third show,” she explained.

The play by Cottman and Shaw features what is left of a submarine crew after they are hit and sunk by a torpedo. With no communication and limited resources, they weigh their options as they consider their dire situation. Essentially, the show explores the question: How would you react if you knew that the next couple hours could be your last? Submerged takes six actors on that very journey.

In the Miller production, sixteen-year-old Tracey Logan finds herself unexpectedly in a world where everyone is blue. Not only are all the other teenagers dressed in blue and exhibiting blue skin, but they have numbers instead of names. When Tracey begins to ask some pointed questions, it becomes obvious that these blue people evolved through a period of time that is similar to that of contemporary society. Tracey is told that she, too, must turn blue in order to fit into this blue society. She must decide whether to maintain her individuality and become an outcast or to turn blue and become accepted by the others.

Written with two endings, Miller’s play tells a story of the choices concerning conformity and individuality that we all must make. The director chooses which of those endings to present to the audience. Whichever is chosen, many questions will certainly arise about a society that expects complete conformity from its members.

The third show explores the lives of several youth who find themselves trapped and fighting their own demons. From hiding secrets to combatting OCD and addiction, the characters must make difficult choices. Fighting Demons has both relevance and currency in that the cast will confront other unplanned challenges like battling bulimia and cancer, facing abusive boyfriends, dealing with abuse from bullies, and struggling with parental divorce and thoughts of suicide. Amidst all of this anguish, Eli is trying to save everyone in a desperate attempt to redeem himself. In the end, the characters must choose to stay trapped or to fight their way to freedom.

From a theatrical perspective, Hill’s play presents opportunities for movement, creative expression, and ensemble work while providing strong monologues. Another strength in the story is its theme. During times of confusion, frustration, and difficulty, we often experience a sense of abandonment and loneliness. When we discuss crises situations, we begin to shift blame for negative events from “it’s just me who suffers” to “I’m not alone; others share my struggles and find a way to survive.” Ultimately, from such stories we realize that art provides a place to battle the demons in our lives and to survive the fight.

This theme of finding resolution and seeing unplanned experiences as graced moments was intentional, claims Pratt. “Yes, the theme was very intentional. We are all struggling with standing up for who we are while loving each other despite our differences. Although this evening of theater will definitely not be a super happy one, each show will leave the audience wondering ‘what happens next?’

“I'm excited to see how the students take hold of the characters and make them their own. It will be an opportunity for them to stretch and grow as they live a little bit of somebody else's life. Through this experience, I hope that they can take a more empathetic look at someone who may be struggling or someone who may think completely differently than they do—a lesson we should all learn.”

Rehearsals for the three shows will occur on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00-6:00 p.m. throughout the month of March. The productions will take place in the last week of March.

About Hailey’s audition experience, her mother said, “This is her first time being in a play, and she is very excited.”

Another actress in the upcoming MAT productions with Blaine County connections is Treasure Squires, the granddaughter of George and Wanda Chilton.