Fall 2026 Shows:

the serpent under't

Written and Created by: Nigel Semaj
Directed by: Nigel Semaj
The Proscenium Theatre
October 29th - November 8th

WITCH

Written by: Jen Silverman
Directed by: Katie Hileman
The Black Box
December 4th - 6th

Audition Information

General Auditions: Wednesday, May 6th
Callbacks: Thursday, May 7th & Friday, May 8th

Sign Up to Audition on this Google Sheet.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING THOROUGHLY AND CAREFULLY PRIOR TO SIGNING UP.
YOU MUST USE YOUR UMBC EMAIL TO ACCESS ANY LINKS.

Who Can Audition?

Any UMBC students registered for the Fall 2026 semester are welcome to audition!
All BFA Acting and BFA-intending students are required to audition.

Audition Policy:

All who audition, regardless of major or track, agree to play as cast. This means that by auditioning you are committing to accepting any role or understudy assignment, and are available for the rehearsal and production schedule.

Audition Exemption:

BFA students who need to request an exception to auditions must fill out this form no later than Wednesday, April 29th. 

General Auditions

Date: Wednesday, May 6th, from 6:00 – 10:00 pm.
Location: Check in at the audition table in the PAHB Atrium. Auditions will take place in the TRS (PAHB 102).

To Bring/Prepare:

• One contemporary & One classical monologue totaling no longer than 2 minutes combined. 
  • Your classical piece should be from a play, no sonnets or poems.
• 3 printed copies of your resume & headshot.
  • Please use standard acting resume formatting. 
• Read both show scripts thoroughly.
  • Read MACBETH (PDF)
  • Read WITCH (PDF)

Callbacks

the serpent under't & WITCH callbacks: Thursday, May 7th, from 6:00 – 10:00pm*
*6:00-7:30p will be a movement call

the serpent under't callbacks: Friday, May 8th, between 11:00a – 4:00pm*
* you will not attend the entire block of time. You will give us your availability for Friday callbacks on Thursday.

Show Information

the serpent under't

Written and Created by: Nigel Semaj
Directed by: Nigel Semaj
The Proscenium Theatre

CLICK HERE TO READ MACBETH

About the show:

the serpent under't is an experimental dance theatre adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. It explores the shadows of the human psyche where ambition, guilt, and fate intertwine with the supernatural. Blending movement, dance, and spoken text, this reimagining draws inspiration from horror and the macabre of Edgar Allen Poe.

Casting Breakdown:

There is an ensemble of seven. Gender is not important in casting.

For this piece it is important that all performers dance, but more so THEKINDLYONES more than the others. MACBETH and LADY M are crucial as well. If THE FAITHFUL and THE KING are not strong movers/dancers that is okay.

• MACBETH
• LADY M
• THE FAITHFUL: plays BANQUO & SEYTON
• THE KING: plays DUNCAN & MACDUFF
• THE EUMENIDES or THEKINDLYONES: they play everyone else.
  • even when THEKINDLYONES are playing others, they are still very conscious that they are themselves. 
    • see no evil
    • hear no evil
    • speak no evil

Rehearsal Schedule:

Rehearsals are Monday through Friday, 6:00 - 10:00 pm, with extended hours during tech, dress rehearsal and performance weeks.

Important Dates:

• Company Meeting: Wednesday, August 26th
• Company Class: Thursday, August 27th
• First Rehearsal: Tuesday, September 1st, 2026
• Tech: Tuesday, October 20th - Wednesday, October 28th
• Opening: Thursday, October 29th
• Closing: Sunday, November 8th

WITCH

Written by: Jen Silverman 
Directed by: Katie Hileman
The Black Box

CLICK HERE TO READ WITCH

About the play:

A charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes. Elizabeth should be his easiest target, having been labeled a “witch” and cast out by the town, but her soul is not so readily bought. As the devil returns to convince her – and then returns again – unexpected passions flare, alliances are formed, and the village is forever changed. An inventive retelling of a Jacobean drama, this sharp, subversive fable debates how much our souls are worth when hope is hard to come by.

Casting Breakdown:

• ELIZABETH SAWYER – Woman, forties/fifties/sixties, an outcast.
• SCRATCH – Man, twenties/early thirties, the devil.
• SIR ARTHUR BANKS – Man, fifties/sixties, a wealthy and powerful man.
• CUDDY BANKS – Man, twenties/early thirties, Sir Arthur’s son, painfully shy, a Morris dancer. He is secretly in love with Frank (and also in hate).
• FRANK THORNEY – Man, twenties/early thirties, a confident and successful young man, charming and ruthless. His ambition knows no bounds.
• WINNIFRED – Woman, twenties/early thirties, Sir Arthur’s servant, resigned and pragmatic, secretly married to Frank.

Rehearsal Schedule:

This production rehearses as part of a class that meets Tuesdays/Thursdays: 6:00-8:15p and Fridays: 1:00-4:00p with potential extended hours Friday mornings.

Important Dates:

• Company Meeting: Wednesday, August 26th
• Company Class: Thursday, August 27th
• First Rehearsal: Tuesday, September 1st
• Tech: Monday & Tuesday November 23rd and 24th, Monday, November 30th - Thursday, December 3rd
• Opening: Friday, December 4th
• Closing: Sunday, December 6th

Sign up for an Audition Slot

Sign Up to Audition on this Google Sheet.

Important Reminders:

• You must read the published play prior to auditions. If a show is being devised or adapted, you must read the orginal text.
• Please sign up for the earliest slot available that you are able to attend.
• The audition sign up will close on the morning of May 6th. If you need to make any edits you will need to email Grace Shepperd at gsheppe1@umbc.edu
• Bring all known conflicts and class schedules to your audition. You will be asked to fill out your audition and disclosure forms when you arrive at your audition.
• Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled audition time!

Following auditions, all cast actors are required to be available for all scheduled rehearsals, additional evening & weekend hours as scheduled prior to performance, and for any other rehearsals as called.

A full rehearsal and production schedule will be provided following casting.