Madison Public Theatre 2026-27 Season Auditions

Produced by Madison Public Theatre at Bartell Theater's Drury Stage, 113 E. Mifflin St. , Madison

Performances: August 13, 2026

Performance Times:

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Auditions

Auditions will be held on the following days:

8/13/2026

Madison Public Theatre will be holding auditions for our 2026-27 season on August 13 from 6:30-9:30 PM in the Evjue at the Bartell Theatre.

The shows included in our season are Taking Sides, The Rivals, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and Switzerland. Please note that Switzerland is already cast.

What to Prepare: Come prepared with 2 one minute monologues of your choosing. We will provide sides if needed.

Taking Sides – Written by Ronald Harwood and directed by Stephanie Monday, this show will be presented in the Evjue at the Bartell Theatre, running October 9-24, 2026. Rehearsals will take place at Dale Heights Presbyterian Church, 5501 University Avenue, beginning in late August.

Characters:

Major Steve Arnold, an anti-elitist American army investigator, vulgar, and prejudiced against the arts.

Wilhelm Furtwangler, the famous dignified conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic who argues that he stayed in Nazi Germany to protect German culture.

Lieutenant David Wills, a young Jewish-American assistant to Major Arnold who acts as a moral compass.

Emmi Straube, a young German secretary who assists the interrogation team. Her father was a German officer executed for his involvement in the plot to assassinate Hitler.

Helmuth Rode, a violinist in Berlin Philharmonic who testifies about the conditions under which musicians were forced to operate during the Nazi regime.

Tamara Sachs, an anti-Nazi refugee and widow of a Jewish musician.

The Rivals – Written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan and adapted by Murray Fane, directed by Julia Houck, this show will be presented in the Drury at the Bartell Theatre, running February 12-27, 2027. Rehearsals will take place at Dale Heights Presbyterian Church, 5501 University Avenue, beginning in mid-December with a holiday two week break.

Characters:

Sir Anthony Absolute, The Master, 50’s-60’s

Captain Absolute, The Young Master, in disguise as Ensign Beverly and in love with Lydia. 20’s-30’s. Lydia Languish, a wealthy young lady in love with Ensign Beverly. She doesn’t know he is Captain Absolute. 20’s.

Julia Melville, Lydia’s cousin and lover of Faulkland. 20’s.

Faulkland, lover of Julia. 20’s-30’s.

Mrs. Malaprop, Lydia’s aunt, trying to ensure that she marries for wealth. 50’s-60’s.

Sir Lucious O’Trigger, in a lover’s correspondence with Mrs. Malaprop believing her to be Lydia. 50’s-60’s.

Acres, a suitor for Lydia. Mrs. Malaprop replaces him for the Captain. 20’s-30’s.

Fag, Captain Absolute’s man servant. Any age.

David, Sir Anthony’s footman. Becomes Acre’s manservant. Any age.

Lucy/Narrator, Lydia’s maid. Presents as a fool, but sharp as a tack.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead – Written by Tom Stoppard, and directed by Karl Stoll, this show will be presented in the Evjue at the Bartell Theatre, running from March 12-27, 2027. Rehearsals will take place at Dale Heights Presbyterian Church, 5501 University Avenue, beginning in mid-January.

Characters:

Rosencrantz, a gentleman and childhood friend of Hamlet.

Guildenstern, a gentleman and childhood friend of Hamlet.

The Player, the leader of traveling actors known as the Tragedians. His cunning wit and confident air suggest he knows more than he is letting on.

Tragedians, a group of traveling male actors.

Hamlet, the prince of Denmark. In crisis when his father dies and his uncle takes the throne and marries his mother.

Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle and the new king of Denmark. A sinister character who tries to exploit the friendship between Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Hamlet.

Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother and queen of Denmark. In disgrace from marrying so soon after her husband’s death but sincerely cares about Hamlet’s well being.

Polonius, a member of the Danish court and adviser to Claudius. Shifty.

Ophelia, the daughter of Polonius and Hamlet’s former beloved. Laertes, the son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia. He appears as a corpse in the final scene.