The Actors' Studio Series was made possible through the Parkland College I.D.E.A.S. Grant.
Dear Brutus
Directed by B.J. Gailey
A group of aristocrats are invited to a country house on Midsummer’s Eve. Their mysterious host bewitches them with tales of a magical wood that appears to surround the house once a year, a wood in which wishes are granted for those brave enough to journey within. Some wishes, however, are best left unfulfilled. Written by JM Barrie of Peter Pan fame, Dear Brutus is part ghost story and part adult Neverland, exploring longing and regret with equal parts comedy and tragedy.
Venue: Second Stage Theatre
7:30 pm Performances
October 25, 26
3 pm Performance
October 26
This event is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served.
A Christmas Carol
Directed by Michael O'Brien
All Tickets for this special fundraising event are $25 and can be pre-purchased by calling 217/351-2528.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a perennial family favorite and holiday tradition. This winter, Parkland College will transport audiences back to the Golden Age of radio with an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind performance. Dickens’ holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast complete with vintage commercials, the magic of live sound effects, and live music. A handful of actors bring dozens of characters to the stage, as the familiar story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s thrilling journey teaches him the true meaning of Christmas. A charming take on a family favorite that will leave no one saying “Bah Humbug!”
Venue: Second Stage Theatre
7:30 pm Performances
December 13, 14
3 pm Performances
December 14, 15
Spring Actors' Studio Auditions
As part of the Theatre Actors’ Studio Series, Machinal auditions are open only to Parkland College Students. You do not need to be a theatre major to audition, just a Parkland College student. We are looking to cast up to 22 students of any gender, age, and ethnicity. To audition, please sign up for a time slot here and prepare a one minute monologue of any genre. Your monologue does not need to be memorized, but if not memorized please be familiar enough with it so you don’t need to continually reference the script. Please arrive a few minutes early to fill out paperwork and to have your picture taken (pictures are for the director only.)
For questions, contact HeatherAnn Layman at hlayman@parkland.edu.
Machinal
Directed by June Clark Eubanks
Written by Sophie Treadwell in 1928, this visceral, groundbreaking script was inspired by the startling events of the trial, conviction, and state execution of Ruth Snyder the year before. A ‘normal’ housewife with no apparent motive, she was convicted of murdering her husband while he slept. As the trial became sensationalized and the public rushed to demonize Ruth, then-journalist, Ms. Treadwell, wondered what circumstances might have led her to this desperate act. The universal themes of her story continue to reflect the diversity and challenges of our own community and encourages the viewer to engage in an inclusive experience that represents and speaks to each of us. Our production will provide an expressionistic look at the life of “Everywoman,” offering a feminist perspective of the notion of free will and what it has meant to be female in our capitalist and highly-mechanized society over the last 90 years.
Venue: Second Stage Theatre
7:30 pm Performances
February 28, 29
3 pm Performance
February 29
This event is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served.
To request accessibility-related accommodations, please contact the Theatre at 217/351-2528, or email Theatre@parkland.edu. Please submit all requests two weeks in advance of your participation or visit.