Penobscot Theatre Company will be offering auditions on campus for their upcoming spring production of Darker the Night, Brighter the Stars.
As part of a new partnership between the UMaine Division of Theatre and Dance and Penobscot Theatre Company, 2-3 roles are guaranteed to be cast as UMaine Theatre Majors!
This play will be directed by Cheryl Snodgrass. Rehearsals will run from February 3rd, 2026 - February 17th, 2026 with performances from February 18th 2026 - March 8th, 2026.
If you are unable to attend in person or via Zoom, you are welcome to do a video submission. Please follow this link:
https://airtable.com/app8DLPhm2CPu1ItZ/shr1QSppstoTSWauX
Seeking male identifying, female identifying, and LGBTQIA+ actors
SHAY, 21 who is a little lost but doesn't want to show it, and
TEDDY, 18, the state park employee who finds her on the dock and may have an ulterior motive
CARLY, 18, who is heading ready to head off to war
JARED, 18, who desperately wants her to stay to come back and is willing to take a massive leap to make it so.
SCOTT, 19, a confident guy who used to date Marty but screwed up big time
MARTY, 19, a less confident guy who used to date Scott and is struggling with obstacles in his life
SAM, 16-18, who is wondering about some things and needs something huge from Casey
CASEY, 16-18, who is also wondering about some things and needs something just as huge from Sam
TIFFANY, 22-23, who is ready to move on with her life after a tragic event
MARC, 22-23, who is also ready to move on with his life after the same tragic event
LILY, 20, who has a secret transition in life to tell her big brother
DEREK, 23, who isn’t quite ready for what LILY is about to tell him even though he went through his own (different) transition
RENÉE, 17, who loves GWEN and the universe and has a hard time with her unspoken feelings for GWEN
GWEN, 18, who really loves RENÉE but can't seem to get what she wants.
Please pick one side/scene from the folder linked below that best correlates to your identity.
You should read through all as you might be asked to read one of the other sides/scenes.
Audition Day 1: Thursday, September 4 5:30-9:30pm Hauck Auditorium
Audition Day 2: Friday, September 5 5:30-9:30pm Hauck Auditorium
On both audition nights, there are 10-minute slots available for individual students to audition and interview for both shows. If you are only available for, or interested in, one of the two shows, you will be able to indicate that on your audition form at the time of the audition.
For the audition, performers are encouraged to read the scripts of both plays and then prepare script excerpts or "sides" from each play for a reading at the audition. If it is not possible to prepare a selection from both plays, performers can prepare a reading of a side from just one play and still be considered for casting in both shows.
An audition packet for The Courage to Right a Woman's Wrongs is provided in the Fall 2025 Scripts and Sides folder. You will see a full script and instructions for choosing an audition piece within.
The script for Love and Information is also provided in the Fall 2025 Scripts and Sides folder. All auditioners should prepare the monologue titled The Child Who Didn't Know Fear on page 31.
Call back auditions for The Courage to Right a Woman's Wrongs will be held from 1-4pm on Saturday, September 6th in Hauck Auditorium, followed by call back auditions for Love and Information from 4-6pm. All auditioners who are asked to come in for a call back (for one or both shows) will receive more information on the exact time following the end of regular auditions on Friday night.
The Courage to Right a Woman's Wrongs will rehearse 5 days per week, typically including four weeknights and one weekend day.
Love and Information will have a weekend-heavy rehearsal schedule, with most rehearsals occurring Friday-Sunday. A tentative sample schedule can be viewed HERE.
Please consider your availability for these schedules before auditioning for each show. It is essential that students cast in each show are available for most regular rehearsals and all tech/dress rehearsals.
The School of the Performing Arts believes that artistic opportunities should be available to all University of Maine students regardless of major. Auditions and backstage opportunities are open to all enrolled umaine students on an equal basis. We currently give no preference to major, minor, or class standing in selecting cast or crew roles.
It is the policy of the school to avoid the precasting of any roles, however if a role is precast for any reason, it is the policy of the School to explicitly state any roles that are already cast at the time of the audition.
Participation in a production is a large time commitment. A role in a show or a stage management position involves being available a minimum of 5 evenings a week over a 6 week rehearsal process and up to two weekends of performances. Working back stage involves a 2-3 week commitment. Please consider your schedule before accepting any role backstage or onstage.
