Audition information for The Play that Goes Wrong, Directed by Mike Eserkaln Seeking a cast of male and female actors 16 years old or older
Auditions Auditions will be held January 28th or 29th from 6pm-8pm. You may attend either day. Location: The Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St Abrams, WI
The audition will consist of a short reading from the show. You are welcome to come with your own monologue prepared, although not required. If you have a conflict with audition times, please reach out and we will try to accommodate you. There will be paperwork to complete prior to auditioning.
Rehearsals Rehearsals will begin the last week of March (date to come). Rehearsal dates and times will be scheduled around availability, however typical rehearsals will be: Sundays 5pm-8pm, Tuesdays 6pm-8pm and Thursdays 6pm-8pm. There will be a Tech Week of rehearsals May 4th-7th. These rehearsals are mandatory.
Performances
There will be 8 performances of The Play that Goes Wrong.
May 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 at 7pm
May 11 and 18 at 1pm
All performances are mandatory.
If you have questions, you may contact us via email at theater.aspi@gmail.com or call the box office at 920-826-5852.
Let us rise for a reading from the Gospel according to Matthew… to the tune of Godspell!
Godspell is based on the Gospel of Matthew, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. (Yes, the same composer for WICKED!)
In this timeless tale of friendship and love, an eclectic group teams up with Jesus, using a blend of parables, songs, games, and dare we say tomfoolery, to play Jesus’ life out onstage. In this new age production, Jesus’ message of kindness, tolerance, and love shines vibrantly!
Director Liz Jolly-Haslitt is seeking a cast of male and female actors, aged 16 and older, and will host auditions December 18th and 19th from 6:00-8:30 pm at the Nancy Byng Community Theater (you only need to attend one of those dates).
Performances will be March 13-23, 2025, and there will be nine performances instead of the usual eight!
In preparation for auditions, director Liz Jolly-Haslitt is looking for an openness and lack of ego in her actors, as this will not be a “just learn your lines” kind of show. There will be movement and singing, and she is relying on the actors to help create the piece.
The best experiences Liz has had as an actor is when the director lets the actors really play, and she hopes to give that experience with Godspell. For the upcoming production, Liz is challenging herself to go back to her drama school roots because one of the most fun aspects of Godspell is that it’s a production that is completely what you make of it! While she will have parameters and “direction” in the production, she plans to let go of control and just let the theater flow.
In preparation for your audition, Liz suggests being open and flexible! Over prepare, but then let that prepared-ness go to be able to see what happens in the moment.
If you have never auditioned for a production before, you may actually be at an advantage! Seasoned actors sometimes get stuck in their way of doing things. Just make sure you’re prepared as possible, and then trust yourself!
Also, Liz recommends, though it may feel incredibly awkward at first, to practice your audition in the mirror. Pay attention to your movement, and make sure it’s purposeful and that your face is conveying what you want.
And don’t forget to BREATHE! If you feel nervous, take a deep breath. Nerves cause you to tense muscles which affects everything.
Stay connected by following ASPI on social media so that you don’t miss a single update on auditions and the 2025 production season!
If you have any questions please call the Box Office at 920-826-5852 or visit abramstheater.com!
Seussical the Musical is fun. It has brightly colored sets and costumes. It has lots of singing and dancing to all kinds of music that makes you want to sing and dance and think. In fact, it starts with a boy who loves to think and wonder and dream. He meets the Cat in the Hat and it’s a wild adventure from then on. He meets many characters from the books by Dr. Seuss, whose stories have been woven together with amazing music that ranges from jazz to Beach Boys rock’n’roll to a heartfelt melancholy ballad to a soft and sweet lullaby ending with a “drum-intense” big band swing number.
First seen here at ASPI in 2011, Seussical was a big step for us then, our first Broadway musical (with a brand-new lighting system – all those colors!). Thirteen years later, it is my great pleasure to present it to you again. I am so grateful to our cast and crew who have worked since September to sing, dance, build sets and props, create costumes and most of all, bring to life these funny, sweet, sour, cool, sassy, and loving characters and their stories. On the technical side, we have put every special effect we could find into this show, so be prepared for the unexpected. Be prepared for stars, colors, flashes, thunder, fog, bubbles, spooky tap dancers, and a few surprises.
I hope you enjoy all of it and find some new “thinks” of your own.
I was nervous when I stepped onto the stage to audition for Seussical the Musical, but by the time I hit the last note of my audition song, I felt like a Broadway performer. What a rush! Now I know why the actors love being on stage with Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc.
I’m Joan Koehne (AKA Mrs. Mayor in Seussical). I haven’t been in a show for 20+ years, not since I performed with my kids in the first ASPI shows. ASPI founder Nancy Byng would be amazed by the transformation. The theater has come so far! Instead of performing at the Abrams Town Hall, ASPI has a newly renovated theater facility. Instead of performing shows written by Nancy Byng, ASPI performs intricate Broadway shows, with talented singers, dancers, and actors.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the opportunity for community members like me to participate in a show. I am having a lot of fun. I leave behind my everyday life and become someone totally different. I get to sing, dance, and interact with “theater people” of all ages.
Since 2003, ASPI has presented so many amazing shows for the community to enjoy. None of these performances would be possible without our valued volunteers and generous sponsors. Thank you for your generosity in the past. You have helped ASPI produce remarkable shows and upgrade its facility. In 2024, ASPI repainted the theater a stunning midnight blue, installed an outdoor, lighted ASPI sign, purchased a lawn mower, and worked on foundation and landscaping projects.
ASPI is run 100% by volunteers. The theater plays an important role in the community, offering involvement and entertainment opportunities not found in other rural communities. So, I earnestly ask for your sponsorship, so ASPI can achieve its goals in 2025 and beyond. Please make a tax-deductible donation as a Silver, Gold, Platinum or Corporate Spotlight Sponsor. Simply complete the portion below or donate securely online by going to www.abramstheater.com and clicking “Support.” Thank you!
Sincerely, Joan Koehne, ASPI Volunteer and Performer
Twenty-five years ago, Nancy Byng had a really big think! She thunk of a theater here in Abrams. It started out impossibly small in the town hall with sheets and wires for curtains and Nancy writing her own scripts. But a theater is a theater no matter how small.
Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. grew and grew to where we are today. Who knows where our theater thinks can take us next! ASPI has been through a lot of transformations, especially the last couple of years. This year, you probably noticed our building changed colors, and we have a lit sign facing the street. Less obvious are the improvements we completed to the building’s foundation and exterior staircase. Plus, we now own a super-sized, commercial riding lawnmower.
But wait, there’s more! ASPI is going beyond just a theater and shows to becoming an arts campus! Our future is as bright as a spotlight, and it shines on us, the community. Let’s work together to really make it shine! We invite you to be part of our theater family. Your support and generosity are what turns a simple think into something grand.
Thanks to all of the ASPI supporters in 2024. Let’s make 2025 even more spectacular.
