Auditions
One of the best parts of being a part of Very Little Theatre is that we encourage everyone to audition. If you’ve never been in a show, or been in a hundred… if you’re 5 or 105… we want to see you. Very Little Theatre is a community place, and we want you! Below you’ll find information about upcoming auditions (we’ll post them as they come up). Have questions? Contact boxoffice@thevlt.com.
UPCOMING AUDITIONS
The Diary of Anne Frank
Saturday, September 19th, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Sunday, September 20th, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Audition Notice for The Shark Is Broken
by Ian Shaw & Joseph Nixon
Auditions: Saturday, May 9th, 1:00-4:00pm & Sunday, May 10th, 6:30-9:30pm
at Very Little Theatre, located at 2350 Hilyard St, Eugene 97405
Auditions will consist of: cold readings from the script
We are casting three roles based on real people, who all happen to be cisgender, young-to-middle-aged white men, but all ages, ethnicities, genders and abilities are encouraged to audition.Be prepared with general familiarity of the three main actors from JAWS – Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, and Richard Dreyfuss. We are not necessarily looking for impressions or impersonations, but we should see some reflection of the essential characteristics of these men; mannerisms, dialect, attitudes, etc.
The characters in this play are the actors themselves, not the characters they play in the movie!
No prior acting or theatrical experience is necessary.
Participants are volunteering to be part of The Shark Is Broken.
Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Click Here to pre-register!
Show Synopsis
The Shark Is Broken follows the three main actors, Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, and Richard Dreyfuss, while they are stuck on a boat together for days, on the open sea, during the famously troubled filming of the final act of JAWS. They are all professional actors in varying stages of their careers, with conflicting dispositions, opinions, and personalities. This piece sees them deal with boredom, claustrophobia, seasickness, substance abuse, ego, personal insecurities, past traumas, and constant frustration with their mechanical co-star, “Bruce” the shark, who is seemingly always broken, thus preventing them from finishing the movie after a long and arduous summer of filming on location around Martha’s Vineyard.
3 Named Roles, and a few recorded voice-over parts
Robert Shaw (Male – late 40s, early 50s) – a respected, classically trained British actor, with an impressive resume, who has now found himself working on a movie that he sees as empty-headed schlock, wondering what has become of his storied career. He has little patience for the faltering production or for his co-stars, and frequently resorts to alcohol abuse, thanks to the many bottles of booze he’s hidden around the set.
Roy Scheider (Male, 40s) – a successful working actor, often typecast as a cop, due to his cool head and handsome ruggedness. He is the most even-keeled of these three, and often assumes the role of moderator between his two hot-headed co-stars. He is also in excellent shape, tanned, and has a scene where he is scripted as sunbathing.
Richard Dreyfuss (Male, late 20s, early 30s) – of the three, he is probably the most familiar and identifiable to modern audiences, but here in 1975, he was barely at the start of his career in Hollywood. He is young, ambitious, more than a little cocky, but also deeply insecure, and probably suffers from impostor syndrome. He and Shaw butt heads frequently.
Ensemble (any gender) – This play includes several off-camera voices of the Hollywood-based film crew – camera operator, sound guy, assistant director, and Steven Spielberg! All voices will be recorded in advance, so there will be no performance commitment
“Please contact the director, Scott Machado, at scottychopp@gmail.com for scripts and related questions about The Shark Is Broken.”
Key Dates participants will need to be at the theatre:
- Costume fittings – individual tbd
- Read through – late May or early June – date tbd
- Strike Previous show – (4:30 start or immediately following show)
- Tech week & Dress Rehearsals, August 17-27
- All performance dates and Strike, August 28 – September 13
- Friday, August 28
- Saturday, August 29
- Sunday, August 30
- Wednesday, September 2, possible pickup rehearsal
- Thursday, September 3
- Friday, September 4
- Saturday, September 5
- Sunday, September 6
- (Speed through rehearsal if needed Thursday, September 10)
- Friday, September 11
- Saturday, September 12
- Sunday, September 13 – STRIKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHOW
We look forward to seeing you!
~ The Shark Is Broken Production Team
Audition Notice for Over the River and Through the Woods
by Joe DiPietro
directed by Karen Scheeland
Auditions:
Saturday, August 29th, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Sunday, August 30th, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
at Very Little Theatre, located at 2350 Hilyard St, Eugene, 97405
Callbacks if needed Monday, August 31st, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Auditions will consist of: cold readings from the script
- All ages, ethnicities, genders, and abilities are encouraged to audition.
- No prior acting or theatrical experience is necessary.
- Participants are volunteering to be part of Over the River and Through the Woods.
- Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Click Here For Registration Form
Show Information: Over the River and Through the Woods is set in the Gianelli home in Hoboken, New Jersey, in the recent past, several years ago. It is a comedy that focuses on a young man’s relationship with his four grandparents. The two sets of grandparents are in their 70s. Nick, the grandson, and Caitlin are in their late 20s-30s.
The play is a funny, loving look at a family who cares deeply about each other and who eventually accept that times have changed.
Rehearsals start October 5th, with table readings September 7, 14, and 28th.
For a copy of the script, contact the director, Martha Greaney, by email: martha@thevlt.com.
Roles (3 M, 3F)
- Nick Cristano – M: (late 20s-30s): The grandson – central protagonist and narrator.
- Frank Gianelli – M: (70s to 80s): Nick’s maternal grandfather.
- Aida Gianelli – F: Nick’s maternal grandmother and Frank’s wife.
- Nunzio Cristano – M: Nick’s paternal grandfather.
- Emma Cristano – F: Nick’s paternal grandmother and Nunzio’s wife.
- Caitlin O’Hare – F: (Mid-20s to 30s):
Key Dates participants will need to be at the theatre
Note: Rehearsals will be in the evenings or weekends depending on cast availability.
Expect to begin rehearsals in September.
Costume fittings – individual tbd
Mondays in September – September 7, 14, and 28 – Read through and Consent-Based Practice Exercise
Weekly rehearsals to begin October 5th
October 13th to assist with Strike Night of the Living Dead Live (4:30 start or immediately following show)
November 15th – 24 potential Tech week and Dress Rehearsals
Performance dates: November 25, 27, 28, 29, December 3, 4, 5, 6, December 11, 12, 13 (Sunday performances are 2 pm matinees; all others are 7:30 pm evening performances)
Pick up rehearsals Dec. 2 and potentially Dec. 10th
Strike Dec 13th immediately following performance
Over The River and Through the Woods Audition Registration Form
If you have any questions or concerns, need assistance in finding a script, or if you have to withdraw from casting consideration for any reason, please contact the Assistant Director, Martha Greaney, via email at martha@thevlt.com.
We look forward to seeing you!
~The Over the River and Through the Woods Production Team
Auditions for Keely and Du
by Jane Martin
Directed by Leslie Murray
Auditions will be held Saturday and Sunday, February 14th & 15th, 2026 at Very Little Theatre, 2350 Hilyard Street, Eugene, OR. Pre-registration is encouraged for all but not required.
Please take time to read the script before coming to auditions. This play contains extreme subject matter including abortion, sexual assault, kidnapping and domestic violence. We want to make sure all auditioners are comfortable with the material. We will have an intimacy coach at audition.
Folks of all shapes, sizes, races and genders are encouraged to audition.
Audition Requirements and Information:
Auditioners are encouraged to pre-register online by noon on Friday, February 13th. Advance audition registration is recommended but not required. To pre-register, Click Here
Auditioners may choose one of two available sessions: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm on February 14th OR 15th
Walk-ins are welcome on both days but please arrive 30 minutes before starting time to complete registration
Callbacks will be held by invitation on Sunday, February 15th 2:30 pm -4:30 pm
No prior acting or theatrical experience is necessary
Auditions will consist of warmups and cold readings from the script—no memorized monologue is required
Please be prepared to list any past theatre experience you do have. You are also welcome to bring a resume if you have one.
Key Dates:
We will have a few rehearsals in February including a read-through and table work
Most of our rehearsals will be held in March and April
The audition form will provide space to include any conflicts with the rehearsal times and we can work around most conflicts. We cannot work around conflicts with performance dates.
Performances run May 1, 2026 through May 17, 2026 for a three-week run. We have performances on Friday and Saturday evening and a Sunday matinee. The second week of the run will include a Thursday performance.
Character Descriptions:
Character Name: Keely
Character Age: 20s to 30s
Character Race & Ethnicity: Any
Character Ethnicity: Any
Character Gender: Female Presenting
Character Description: Young, very independent woman who has just been kidnapped on her way to have an abortion
Character Name: Du
Character Age: mid-40s to 70s
Character Race & Ethnicity: Any
Character Gender: Female Presenting
Character Description: Member of group who has kidnapped Keely, trained nurse in charge of taking care of all of Keely’s medical needs
Character Name: Walter
Character Age: mid-30s to 70s
Character Race & Ethnicity: Any
Character Gender: Male Presenting
Character Description: One of the heads of the group who has kidnapped Keely
Character Name: Cole
Character Age: 20’s to 30s
Character Race & Ethnicity: Any
Character Gender: Male Presenting
Character Description: Keely’s ex-husband and the father of her unborn child
Character Name: Prison Guard
Character Age: Any
Character Race & Ethnicity: Any
Character Gender: Any
Character Description: non-speaking role, serves as an assistant in the first scene of the play and a prison guard in the last scene
Ready? Click here for registration!
If you have any questions, please contact us at violettrout@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you at auditions!
-The Keely & Du Production Team
Audition Notice for The Diary of Anne Frank
by Francis Goodrich and Albert Hackett; newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman
Auditions: Saturday, September 19th, 1pm – 4pm and Sunday, September 20th, 11am – 2pm
Callbacks if needed Monday, September 21st, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
If you cannot make one of these times, but would like to audition, please email: tmay33@uoregon.edu
at Very Little Theatre, located at 2350 Hilyard St., Eugene, 97405
Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
Please arrive on time and plan to stay for a few hours in order to read with others.
Please bring a photo and a theatrical resume if you have them. A prepared monologue from a drama is appreciated, but not a requirement to be considered for a role. (Monologue should be approximately 1 minute long. You may be requested to end your monologue early in the interest of time management.) If you don’t have a photo or theatrical resume, no worries! Reading from the script is what we will be doing.
- All ages, ethnicities, genders, and abilities are encouraged to audition.
- No prior acting or theatrical experience is necessary.
- All participants are volunteers; there are no paid roles.
- Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Please arrive 15-30 minutes early to fill out paperwork if you do not pre-register.
The Diary of Ann Frank pre-registration audition form
Performances: January 22 – February 7, 2027
Rehearsals: Nov. 9 – Jan 21 (with breaks for holidays – see Key Dates below)
Show Synopsis: Wendy Kesselman’s contemporary adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank re-imagines the classic 1950s play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. It incorporates newly published, uncensored material from Anne’s real-life diary – portraying Anne as a more passionate, complex, and modern teenager confronting the growing specter of the Jewish Holocaust during the Nazi occupation of Holland. Eight people live in a concealed attic space above an Amsterdam office building – the secret annex – the Frank family (Anne Frank, her mother Edith, her father Otto, and her sister Margot), the Van Daan family (Mr. Van Daan, Mrs. Van Daan, and their son Peter), and later Mr. Dussel, the dentist.
Director’s aim: This show will be concerned with the hope, the resilience, and the joy that Anne embodies – these are the elements of resistance!
Roles: (5 F / 5 M / 2-3 extras)
- ANNE FRANK (age 13-15)
- EDITH FRANK (Anne’s Mother)
- OTTO FRANK (Anne’s Father)
- MARGOT FRANK (Anne’s Sister, age 16-18)
- MIEP GIES (the non-Jewish friend of the family who helps hide them)
- PETER VAN DAAN (age 15-17)
- MR. VAN DAAN (Peter’s Father)
- MRS. VAN DAAN (Peter’s Mother)
- MR. DRUSSEL (a Dentist)
- MR. KRALER (the Building Owner)
- Two or three Nazi soldiers (final scene only; may also serve as stage crew)
Key Dates – please read and verify your availability for these important dates:
General Notes: Rehearsals are expected to begin on November 9th. Rehearsals will be in the evenings and/or weekends. (Typically 10:30 am-2 pm on Sundays; 6-9:45 pm weekdays). We will break for the holidays (Nov. 26-28; Dec. 4-5; Dec. 23-26; Jan 1-2). We will make every effort to work around your religious, work, and child-care schedules.
The following dates of dress rehearsals and performances are REQUIRED:
- Read Through and Consent-Based Practice Exercise/Intimacy Choreography intro: Nov. 9 & 10
- Strike of previous Main Stage show: Dec 13th (4:30 start or immediately following show)
- Tech week and Dress Rehearsals: Jan. 15 – 20 (specific dates/time TBA)
- All performance dates including strike: Jan. 21, 22, 23, 24, Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, Feb. 5, 6, 7. (Sunday performances – 2 pm matinees, and all other performances – 7:30 evening.)
- Pickup rehearsal: Jan. 27 and potentially Feb. 4
- Strike: Feb 7 (after the show)
The Diary of Ann Frank pre-registration audition form
If you have any questions or concerns, would like a PDF copy of the script, need accommodation to audition, or need to withdraw from casting consideration for any reason, please email the director, Theresa May, at tmay33@uoregon.edu.
We look forward to seeing you!
~ The Diary of Anne Frank Production Team
Keep checking; more coming soon!
