FALL 2025 AUDITIONS

Thursday, August 21, 2025

6:00-9:00 PM

ABOUT THE PLAYS & CASTING

Misery

By William Goldman

Based on the novel by Stephen King

Directed by Chris Berchild, Chris.Berchild@indstate.edu

Synopsis: Misery follows successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car crash by his “number one fan,” Annie Wilkes, and wakes up captive in her secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads his latest book and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain. Annie forces Paul to write a new Misery novel, and he quickly realizes Annie has no intention of letting him go anywhere. The irate Annie has Paul writing as if his life depends on it, and it does.

Content Disclosure: Contains extreme acts of violence and discussions of mental health. All stage violence will be choreographed. The parts of Paul and Annie may require physical action and movement that includes (but may not be limited to) lifting or assisting in lifting another human, moving one’s own body weight with upper body only, moving furniture and large set pieces, and exerting physical action and effort during dialogue.

Characters:

ANNIE WILKES (Female Presenting). A nurse who comes to Paul’s rescue (seemingly), Annie seems to be a kind, tender woman who cares deeply for Paul, even if she does seem slightly off. As Paul grows to know her it becomes clearer that Annie is manipulative, cunning, and hides a deep and terrifying malice behind her cheery simple façade.
PAUL SHELDON (Male Presenting). A famed romance novelist tired of the series that has brought him the most acclaim. Returning from a retreat to finish his most recent work, he is involved in a terrible car crash that leaves him with broken legs and unable to care for himself. He’s thoughtful, if not a touch arrogant, and extremely crafty. He quickly realizes how dangerous his situation is and must use anything and everything at his disposal to survive.
BUSTER (Male Presenting). The Sheriff of a nearby town searching for Paul. Very friendly with possible hopes of something more with Annie.

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Book by Rachel Sheinkin

Music and Lyrics by William Finn

Directed by Julie Dixon, Julie.Dixon@indstate.edu, 812-240-9717

Music Direction by Norm Hanson

Choreography by Teresa McCullough

Play Synopsis: Embrace your inner nerd! It’s a battle of wits as six contestants vie for the spelling bee championship of a lifetime in this hilarious musical. A coming-of-age tale combined with the epic struggles of six underdogs competing to shine, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a relatable musical that sheds a humorous light on adolescents growing up under the pressure to excel.

Content Disclosure: Mild language, sexually suggestive humor, and references to sensitive topics like family issues and anxiety.

Characters:

The Spellers

CHIP TOLENTINO (Male Presenting, Vocal Range: C3 - B4, Tenor). An athletic, social, boy scout and champion of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment. Character sings “My Unfortunate Erection.”
LOGAINNE SCHWARTZANDGRUBENIERE (Schwartzy) (Female Presenting, Vocal Range: A3 - F5, Alto/Second Soprano). Logainne is the youngest and most politically aware speller, often making comments about current political figures. She is driven by internal and external pressure, but above all by a desire to win to make her two fathers proud. She is somewhat of a neat freak, speaks with a lisp, and will be back next year.
LEAF CONEYBEAR (Male Presenting, Vocal Range: A2 - A4, Baritone). The second runner-up in his district, Leaf gets into the competition on a lark and finds everything about the bee incredibly fun. He is home-schooled and comes from a large family of former hippies. He has severe Attention Deficit Disorder and spells words correctly while in a trance.
WILLIAM BARFEE (Male Presenting, Vocal Range: E3 - B4, Bass). A Putnam County Spelling Bee finalist last year, he was eliminated because of an allergic reaction to peanuts and is back for vindication. His famous "Magic Foot" method of spelling has boosted him to spelling glory, even though he only has one working nostril and a touchy, bullying personality. He develops a crush on Olive.
MARCY PARK (Female Presenting, Vocal Range: C4 - E5, Soprano). The ultimate overachiever, Marcy has never been given another option. She comes from a family where excellence is expected and so simply produced. A parochial school student, she assumes God, too, expects perfection. She sees herself as a mass of problems, but she keeps them to herself. Having moved often because of her parents' work, she knows she can beat the local competition. Her solo features her many talents, so any skills are welcome. As an example, in the Broadway production Marcy played piano, danced, exhibited martial arts, tumbling and baton twirling.
OLIVE OSTROACSKY (Female Presenting, Vocal Range: B3 - F5, Second Soprano). A young newcomer to competitive spelling. Her mother is in an ashram in India, and her father is working late, as usual, but he is trying to come sometime during the bee. Having found comfort in its words and vastness, Olive made friends with her dictionary at a very young age, helping her to make it to the competition. She starts out enormously shy and shyly blossoms.

The Adults

RONA LISA PERETTI (Female Presenting, Vocal Range: B3 - F5, Soprano). The number-one realtor in Putnam County, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee Champion herself, and the returning moderator. She is a sweet woman who loves children. Her interest in the competition is unflagging and drives it forward.
DOUGLAS PANCH (Male Presenting, Range N/A – no solos). The Vice Principal. Frustrated with his life, he finds the drive of the young spellers alien to him. After five years' absence from the Bee, Panch returns as judge. There was an "incident" at the Twentieth Annual Bee, but he claims to be in "a better place" now, thanks to a high-fiber diet and Jungian analysis. He is infatuated with Rona Lisa Peretti.
MITCH MAHONEY (Male Presenting, Vocal Range: E3 - A5, Baritone/Tenor). The Official Comfort Counselor. An ex-convict, Mitch is performing his community service with the Bee, and hands out juice boxes to losing students. He has no idea how to offer comfort, but does find himself wishing he could find a way to make the kids feel better.
Most actors play additional character over the course of the musical.

AUDITION INFORMATION

Auditions will be on Thursday, August 21, 2025 in Dreiser Theater in Dreiser Hall.

For casting consideration, you must audition for the play. Sign up for a five-minute audition slot at isuauditions.com.
Each audition slot is only five minutes. You do not need to be present the entire time! You only need to come for your five-minute audition slot.
Please identify all known rehearsal conflicts when you register to audition. Bring any additional conflicts to callbacks. Actors are expected to be available for all rehearsals unless prior arrangements have been made.
We’re looking for a diverse group of actors to play 7 male presenting/identifying characters and 5 female presenting/identifying characters. All roles are open to actors of any race, ethnicity, gender identity, size, and ability.

Callbacks will be on Friday, August 22, 2025.

Callbacks will consist of readings from the script, and additionally for Spelling Bee, a dance call and singing from the score. We’ll provide song cuts and sides with the email inviting you to callbacks.

WHAT TO PREPARE

Prepare any of the below monologues. It doesn’t matter which monologue you choose; any monologue will serve as your audition for either show. Monologues do not have to be memorized.

FOR THE MUSICAL, please ALSO prepare 16-32 bars (approximately one minute) of a musical theatre song. If you bring sheet music, the musical director can accompany you. Otherwise, please have a link to a backing track. Some suggestions for show songs and backing tracks are below.

MONOLOGUE CHOICES

Please choose one of the following monologues to prepare for the audition. Monologues don’t have to be memorized! Any monologue will serve as your audition for both shows.

Choices from Misery

ANNIE. I was married, you know. Years ago. In Denver. That did not work out. That was very, very hard. I was a nurse at a big hospital, so I threw myself into work just to get through the days. I worked nights too. Night shifts can be slow at a hospital so I had a lot of time to read. That was when I first discovered Misery. She came right at the point I needed her most. And after her horrible childhood, her miserable stepfather, to keep fighting like she does, she’s always been a fighter. The whole world can be against her, but she knows that there’s a justice higher than that of man, that God rewards the good in us. She makes me know I’m not alone in the world.

PAUL. I think you’re really going to dig this. Misery and Ian get into a big fight, I’m sure you know the drill; “I never loved you, blah, blah, blah:’ She storms out and takes Barkley with her ... you know, Barkley, her dog, her big Irish setter ... well, they go to a hotel. An inn. At the bar, over a few drinks, she tells Barkley how awful Ian is. One thing leads to another, they head upstairs and well, can you guess what happens? She fucks her dog!

Choices from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

RONA LISA PERETTI. Ladies and gentlemen, all the children you see on stage are here because of their extraordinary ability and love of language – but only one of them can go on to compete in the National Spelling Bee! And this year, to celebrate our silver anniversary, our local sponsors, the Putnam Optometrists, are offering today's winner a two hundred dollar savings bond toward his or her future education. I'd like to take this moment to ask you to please turn off all cell phones and other distracting devices, and put away cameras – sorry, no photos at the bee. I'm Rona Lisa Peretti, and I'm pleased to be back for my 9th consecutive year as your host. Unfortunately, our usual word pronouncer, Superintendent Spriggs, has fallen ill, so please join me in welcoming back Vice Principal Douglas Panch from Lake Hemingway Junior High.

LEAF CONEYBEAR (goofy). (picks up the phone) Hello, Leaf speaking. Uh huh. Uh huh. You’re kidding! I’m going to represent the Basin in the Bee? Wow, I can’t believe it. (puts down the phone) Mom, Dad, Marigold, Brook, Pinecone, Raisin, Landscape, Paul – you’re not going to believe this! I made the county finals in the spelling bee! I know that I came in third in my regional competition, but they just called and said that the person who came in first has to go to their Bat Mitzvah and the person who came in second has to attend the Bat Mitzvah, so they want me to do it!

OLIVE OSTROVSKI (innocently). I'm thinking about does flagellate have one L or two – and also about how if you take the "w" of answer and the "h" in ghost and the extra "a" in aardvark and the "t" in listen, you could keep saying "what" but nobody would hear, 'cause the whole word would be silent. (A cell phone rings.) Oh – sorry – it's mine – it's my dad – can I answer? I know it’s against the rules, but Miss Peretti, maybe you could answer to tell him I made the finals. Oh, and that I need the twenty-five dollar entrance fee! My mom couldn’t make it because she’s in an ashram in India. But I hope that she’ll send for me soon…

MITCH MAHONEY. You can’t comfort these damn kids. They don’t yet know that the good don’t always win, so there’s nothing you can say to cheer them up when they lose. I want to tell them disappointment doesn’t last, but from what I’ve seen disappointment lasts like hell. I want to tell them words don’t matter; but from what I’ve seen words can get you killed. I just want to beat them up a little, so they understand that pain has degrees, and this is nothing, this is nothing, you little freaks. But that would violate my parole. So I do what I can. I give them a hug and a juice box. I’m here to give comfort.

VICE PRINCIPAL DOUGLAS PANCH. Thank you Rona, and I would like to say as to the incident 5 years ago, I'm in a much better place now. *[Ad lib note: Here, the actor reading for Panch has the option to ad lib some reference to ''the incident" at his digression. As originally written, the line reads: "It's amazing what a change of diet can do for a man. Thank you." The original line would be a fine choice, but you have the option to change it] And may I add, Ms. Peretti here is not only one of Putnam County's top realtors, she's also a former spelling champion herself. Beautiful. And now for the Pledge of Allegiance led by our comfort counselor, (Checks writing on the palm of his hand) Mr. Mitchell M. Mahoney

MARCY PARK. Camouflage. (to herself) Dear Jesus, can't you come up with a harder word than that? (responding to JESUS's voice, which she hears clearly in her head) Jesus? Hi! How are you? Jesus ... I was wondering what would happen if I didn't win today. What I mean is, would you be disappointed with me if I lost? You're saying it's up to me then?(she returns to spelling) Camouflage. C-A-M ... O-U (still deciding) F-L. .. A ... J (and as soon as she dares miss the first letter, she takes more and more joy in getting it wrong) ... Z!!. .. H!!! Camaflajzh!

CHIP TOLENTINO. Tittup. T… I… (reluctantly, but he knows it) T… U – Oh wait. Two t’s. You heard both, right? Backing up, T-I-T-T-U-P. Tittup (Ding) No, but, I wasn’t sure if you heard both t’s. I obviously know how to spell it…That’s not fair. I got it right. I can’t get out on a word I spelled right. Miss Peretti, can I have one more chance? Please?

LOGAINNE SCHWARTZANDGRUBENIERE. This bee is as confusing for me as Father's Day! As the daughter of 2 gay dads, I'd like to know who scheduled Father's Day and Gay Pride weekend, within 7 days of each other?! Well anyway, to celebrate Gay Father's Pride week, which is what we call it in my family, we went to go see "Cinderella Man" starring Russel Crowe - but it wasn't exactly what we were expecting…

Show Suggested Songs

Please prepare 16-24 bars (approximately one minute) of a musical theatre song. If you bring sheet music, the musical director can accompany you. Otherwise, please have a link to a backing track.
You can listen to the songs from the musical here: 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee Original Broadway Cast Recording
You can choose to sing a cut from one of the songs in the musical for your audition. Email julie.dixon@indstate.edu for a packet of song cuts and accompaniment tracks.

You can find accompaniment tracks here: Tracks Folder

THINGS TO KNOW

Show/Rehearsal Information - Misery

Rehearsals for Misery will begin Wednesday, August 27th and will likely be 7:00-10pm Sunday through Thursday, though that could change based on actor's conflicts.
Misery opens Thursday, October 9th at 7:30pm with additional performances on Friday, 10/10 and Saturday, 10/11, 7:30pm (note that Saturday is ISU Homecoming), and Sunday, 10/12, 1:30pm

Show/Rehearsal Information - Spelling Bee

Rehearsals for Spelling Bee will begin Monday, September 15 and will likely be 6:30-10pm Monday through Friday, though that could change based on actor's conflicts.
Spelling Bee opens Thursday, November 13 at 7:30 pm with additional performances on Friday, 11/14 and Saturday, 11/15, 7:30pm and Sunday, 11/16, 1:30pm.

General Information

Students cast in the show will be registered for 1 production credit if they’re carrying less than 18 credits for the semester. If you have questions, please contact Julie Dixon at julie.dixon@indstate.edu.
Recipients of the Department’s C & P Scholarship who consider themselves primarily actors are required to audition and accept a role if offered (if not involved in either production in another capacity).

QUESTIONS?

Contact Julie Dixon at julie.dixon@indstate.edu.