Spring 2025

VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE
by Christopher Durang

  • Director: Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson
  • Scenic Designer/Technical Director: Dathan Powell

About the Play

In this 2013 Tony Award winning play, middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia share a home in Bucks County, PA, where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. Old resentments flare up, eventually leading to threats to sell the house. Also on the scene are sassy maid Cassandra, who can predict the future, and a lovely young aspiring actress named Nina, whose prettiness somewhat worries the imperious Masha.--Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

Schedule

OPEN Auditions and OPEN Crew Interviews: Tuesday, January 21 & Wednesday, January 22, 2025

(Callbacks for some Actors on Thursday, January 23 at 7:00pm)

For both Tuesday, January 21st and Wednesday, January 22nd, the beginning times are

6:00pm for the Open Crew Interviews and 7:00pm for the Open Auditions.

Location

The Studio Theatre, Performing Arts Center–Level 1, UIS Campus

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. There is nothing to prepare.

1 Minute Contemporary Monologues are appreciated, but not required. Headshots/Resumes are also appreciated, but are also not required.

VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE Performances are set for Friday, April 4, Saturday, April 5, Sunday, April 6 & Thursday, April 10, Friday, April 11, Saturday, April 12, 2025.

All performances will begin at 7:30pm, except for the Sunday, April 6th matinee beginning at 2:00pm.

Roles Available

4 women and 2 men. (Character descriptions here are taken from the script):

VANYA
  • 50s, living in Bucks County. Resigned to his life, more or less, at least compared to Sonia.
SONIA
  • his adopted sister, early 50s, living with him in Bucks County. Discontent, upset, regretful.
MASHA
  • his sister, 50s, glamorous and successful actress who goes gallivanting around the world.
NINA
  • lovely, sincere would-be actress, early 20s, visiting her aunt and uncle next door. Star struck, earnest and energetic.
SPIKE
  • an aspiring actor, 29 or younger, Masha's new companion. Sexy, self-absorbed, but otherwise outgoing and friendly.
CASSANDRA
  • cleaning lady and soothsayer, any age, any race. In the original production, she was played by an African-American actress in her 20s.

For an electronic copy of the audition application form or crew interview form, please contact either the Director of this production, Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson (ethib1@uis.edu) or Scenic Designer/Technical Director, Dathan Powell (dpowe5@uis.edu). Please Note: Audition application forms and Crew interview forms will also be available at the Crew Interviews and Auditions.

Scripts will be AVAILABLE at the Brookens Library front desk (on the UIS campus) for 24 hour reserve checkout, beginning in December.

Work Behind the Scenes

Those interested in working backstage (stage managers, props crew, sound research, costumes, dresser, running crew) only need to attend one night of the crew interviews. Be sure to fill out a crew application form prior to the crew interviews start time via the online form or in person at the crew interviews and indicate the area of interest backstage. The technical director will schedule time to meet with you to discuss your area of interest.

Actors

Please fill out an audition form via the online form prior to arriving at the audition start time OR first thing when you arrive to audition. Auditions will consist of “cold readings” from the script. Be prepared to make some bold choices, take some risks and have fun! Prepared monologues and headshots/resumes are appreciated, but are NOT required.

UIS Theatre invites all theatre artists to audition for roles or apply for backstage work for one of our upcoming productions. Currently enrolled UIS students are given primary consideration in casting roles and backstage assignments, as well as in determining each production. UIS Theatre strives to have our productions reflect the diversity of our world. As such, actors of all races, ethnicities, gender identifications and abilities are welcome and encouraged to audition for all of our productions.