MARQUETTE, Mich.—Northern Michigan University will cast all of its fall-semester theater productions and related events over a single weekend. Auditions are open to students and community members. Roles will be filled for mainstage productions Compleat Female Stage Beauty and the musical A Year with Frog and Toad, along with the First Nighters Haunted Theater, a new play reading and senior lab shows.

A theater interest night is scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, at Forest Roberts Theatre. Auditions open to students and community members will be held in the same location at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, and 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3. Necessary callbacks are at 1 p.m. Sunday.

To sign up for an audition time, visit mysignup.com/forestrobertstheatre. Participants will each have up to three minutes for interviews with the directors and to present comedic and/or dramatic pieces that demonstrate their performance ability. At least one audition piece must be non-musical. Musical pieces are encouraged for those wishing to be considered for the musical. An accompanist will be provided.

The format is a departure from previous years, when separate auditions were held in advance of each show or event.

"We hope to get more freshmen in the productions," said Ansley Valentine, professor and director of Forest Roberts Theatre. "Many come for the first audition and if they aren't cast, never come back to try again. With a general call, we are looking to cast 60-plus actors. Casting the full semester also allows everyone to plan more effectively and make better use of available resources.

“This level of advance planning has extended to other areas. We met over the summer to design all mainstage productions and figure out how to implement cost-saving measures. For example, three productions require a similar pit covering, so we designed one that will work for all three, saving labor and plywood.”