We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
In preparation for the upcoming season, Montana Actors' Theatre (MAT) will be holding its 2025 Company Auditions this Saturday, January 11 for adults and on January 13-14 for youth. Adult auditions will occur at the MSUN/MAT Theatre on Cowan Drive while those for youth will take place at Havre High School.
MAT is planning three dramatic productions for the coming spring: The Foal Monty, Oliver!, and The Prisoner of Second Avenue. Adult auditions for these shows will begin at 4:00 p.m. on January 11 at the MSUN/MAT Theatre. MAT personnel remind those interested in auditioning to complete an audition form prior to Saturday evening. However, any individuals who completed an audition form in August do not need to complete a new one as they will be able to edit their original forms at company auditions.
MAT personnel are also asking anyone auditioning to prepare a memorized joke to present at auditions. Furthermore, potential actors/actresses will be expected to read from selections that may or may not derive from the shows which interest them. Those auditioning for Oliver! will additionally participate in a vocal range check.
Written by local playwright Martin Holt, The Foal Monty will be MAT's traveling dinner theatre this year. This show generally travels to various communities along the Hi-Line, and most travel expenses are covered by MAT. Playing in March and April, The Foal Monty has roles for three men and three women. A fast-paced comedy of mistaken identities, mob connections, and wedding day chaos, this farce promises big laughs and unforgettable characters.
In collaboration with Havre Public Schools, OLIVER! by Lionel Bart will be directed by Michael Stevenson. Slated for March 27-29 and May 3-5 performances, this show not only has roles for adults but roles for youth in grades 6-12. Many ensemble and chorus roles for multiple ages are also available.
In this production, the streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit, the benevolent victim, Mr. Brownlow takes him in. Fearing the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sikes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver's chances of discovering the true love of a family.
Finally, The Prisoner of Second Avenue by Neil Simon will be directed by Audrey Barger. Planned for performances on April 18-19, 24-26, and May 1-3, this production offers roles for two men and four women.
The plot of this show features Mel Edison, a well-paid executive at a high-end Manhattan firm. When the firm encounters financial difficulty, Mel gets fired. As a means to tide them over, Mel's wife Edna finds a job, but she too is sacked. Thanks to the air pollution killing his plants and the paper-thin apartment walls allowing him a constant earful of his neighbors' private lives, Mel's life can't seem to get any worse. After Mel is robbed and his psychiatrist subsequently dies with $23,000 of his money, Mel does the only thing left for him to do: He has a nervous breakdown – and it's the best thing that has ever happened to him.
Any youth in grades 6-12 who wish to audition for Oliver! are asked to gather at the Havre High School Theatre at 900 18th Street on January 13 at 4:00 p.m. and again on January 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Those individuals seeking additional information are encouraged to call MAT at 406-300-0873.
