FALL 2026 MAINSTAGE
MUSICAL ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS

EMMA
NO ONE BUT HERSELF

A New Musical
Words and Lyrics by Meghan Brown
Music by Sarah Taylor Ellis
Directed by Jason Vande Brake
Musical Direction by Dr. Ryan Smit

AUDITIONS FOR ENSEMBLE/SUPPORTING ROLES

AUDITIONS

• Saturday, August 29 @ 12:00pm–3:30pm

• Theatre Arts Center Studio SB1925 (need directions?)

• What to Prepare: 

  • Please prepare a 25-30 second a cappella selection from a musical of your choice (excluding EMMA). See the Musical Theatre Audition Singing Tips section for additional guidance.

  • Please familiarize yourself with these sides from EMMA. You will be asked to read one or more of these scenes with a partner. Printed sides will be available at the audition check-in desk.

SUPPORTING/ENSEMBLE ROLES TO BE CAST

• HENRY WOODHOUSE (Supporting/Ensemble)
  Emma's hypochondriac father.

• PHILIP ELTON (Supporting/Ensemble)
  A pretentious vicar.

• MR. WESTON (Supporting/Ensemble)
  Anne Taylor-Weston's husband. A nice guy!

• AUGUSTA (Supporting/Ensemble)
  Elton's obnoxious eventual love interest.

• FRANK'S AUNT (Supporting/Ensemble)
  Cranky. Sick. Overbearing.

• THE ENSEMBLE (Ensemble)
  Gossipy, ever-present.

PRINCIPAL ROLES (PREVIOUSLY CAST)

• EMMA WOODHOUSE (Ella Huisinga)

• GEORGE KNIGHTLEY (Marc De Jager)

• HARRIET SMITH (Mercea Rediger)

• ANNE TAYLOR-WESTON (Grace Bruin)

• JANE FAIRFAX (Callie Mulder)

• FRANK CHURCHILL (Isaiah Ives)

• ROBERT MARTIN (Willem Bruin)

• HETTY BATES (Catherine Janssen)

RESOURCES + OVERVIEW

EMMA: NO ONE BUT HERSELF SYNOPSIS

Emma Woodhouse—handsome, clever, and rich—amuses herself by matchmaking for her friends. Until she meets her own match. Is opening herself up to the possibility of romance worth the sacrifice of her independence and control?

Bridgerton meets Regencycore exuberance meets Brené Brown’s TED Talk on the power of vulnerability. This energetic and contemporary classical adaptation of Jane Austen's novel explores the necessary risk of feeling your feelings. With a fresh book and soaring score, the effervescently-paced EMMA: No One But Herself will charm you with its wit and heart. Welcome to Highbury!

SCRIPT + OTHER RESOURCES

• The full script of EMMA is available for perusal at the Uproar Theatrics website.
  Just click the "Read it for free" button and create an account.

• Audio samples of the music are are available on Soundcloud
  and linked on the Uproar Theatrics website.

• Audition Sides (PDF)

STAGE INTIMACY NOTICE

• EMMA: No One But Herself is a romantic comedy and includes moments of stage intimacy (such as hand-holding, embraces, and brief kisses) as part of the storytelling. As in professional theatre practice, all stage intimacy will be clearly choreographed and rehearsed with attention to safety, communication, and consent. Actors will not be asked to improvise or unexpectedly engage in physical contact. Our goal is to create work that is both artistically truthful and respectful of each performer’s boundaries. Open communication about comfort levels is an expected and normal part of the audition and rehearsal process.

• The following supporting/ensemble roles include brief, scripted moments of stage intimacy (all of which will be choreographed according to standard professional practice):

  • Mr. Weston — two brief kisses with his spouse, Anne Taylor-Weston
    
    

REHEARSALS

• EMMA rehearsals will be held Monday–Thursday from 7-10pm and Saturday from 1-4pm. Additional weekday scene work and music rehearsals will be arranged based on actor availability. Actors will be called for rehearsals as needed. Rehearsal schedules and call sheets will be posted weekly.

• The first rehearsal and read-through is tentatively scheduled for Monday, August 31 from 7:00-10:00pm.

• Technical and dress rehearsals will be held DURING HEARTLAND BREAK (THU, OCT 1 through SAT, OCT 3). All cast members must be on campus and at rehearsal during Heartland Break.
  
  

PERFORMANCES

• Thursday, October 8 • 7:30pm (Week 1)

• Friday, October 9 • 7:30pm (Week 1)

• Saturday, October 10 • 7:30pm (Week 1)

• Thursday, October 15 • 7:30pm (Week 2, Defender Days)

• Saturday, October 17 • 2:00pm (Week 2, Defender Days)

• Saturday, October 17 • 7:30pm (Week 2, Defender Days)