Auditions
Announcements
The call for SUBMISSIONS has been reopened through June 30, 2026. The audition call has been updated to reflect open roles.
Magnolia Theatre Company, Dayton’s feminist theatre company, announces auditions for UTOPIA: AN MTC Theatre Festival.
Magnolia Theatre Company (MTC) is teaming up with three other Dayton Theatre organizations:Dayton Playhouse, Dayton Theatre Guild, and TheatreLab Dayton to launch UTOPIA, a collaborative Festival aimed at supporting Dayton's emerging artists while pushing our own artistic possibilities.
Auditions will be held via submission. If you are in the Dayton area through the end of June 2026, please indicate that in the audition form to arrange an in person audition.
Eligible auditioners and technicians must be an Early-Career Artist (ages 18-22 and/ or just graduated from college or university at the start of rehearsal). Everyone is asked to prepare two monologues, contrasting in style, not to exceed 3 minutes.
This is a Festival format, with a condensed rehearsal process. All shows will be performed off book, with specific technical parameters.
All actors and technicians will be paid a stipend to be a part of this Festival.
Personnel: Gina Handy Minyard and Annie Pesch (MTC), Philip Drennen and Mackensie King (TLD), Shanna Camacho (DPH), Melissa Kerr Ertsgaard (DTG)
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Magnolia Theatre Company (MTC)
Athena by Gracie Gardner
Director: Annie Pesch
Rehearsal Start Date: August 23, 2026 (flexible)
Rehearsal Frequency: 5-6 days a week, staggered call- 2 consecutive days off a week (weekdays will be held in the evenings, while weekend rehearsals will be late mornings, to mid-afternoon.)
Tech/Dress: September 6, 2026
Performance Dates: September 12, 2026 matinée
Location: Rehearsals and Performance location is TBD.
Content Disclosure: choreographed stage combat/fencing, profanity, underage drinking, references to drugs, birth control, medical conditions, assault, and suggestive sexual dialogue
Description: Mary Wallace and Athena are brave, and seventeen, and fencers, and training for the Junior Olympics. They practice together, they compete against each other, they spend their lives together. They wish they were friends.
Roles: MARY WALLACE – Seventeen, passionate, driven, and an A+ student. She likes to be the best. Somewhat sheltered and accustomed to practicing on her own at home. She lives in a New Jersey suburb.
Actors auditioning for ATHENA and MARY WALLACE will also be under consideration for the role of JAMIE/UNDERSTUDY
Dayton Playhouse (DPH)
macbitches by Sophie McIntosh
Director: Shanna Camacho
Rehearsal Start Date: August 23, 2026
Rehearsal Frequency: 5-6 days a week, staggered call- 2 consecutive days off a week (weekdays will be held in the evenings, while weekend rehearsals will be late mornings, to mid-afternoon.)
Tech/Dress: September 7, 2026 evening
Performance Dates: September 11, 2026
Location: Rehearsals and performance location is TBD.
Content Disclosure: Strong language, depictions of alcohol and substance abuse, emotional abuse and high-intensity bullying
Description: When freshman acting major Hailey unexpectedly scores the coveted role of Lady Macbeth, her upperclassmen rivals immediately invite her over to “celebrate.” As the Fireball and Svedka flow, the young women interrogate their own ambitions as well as the power structures that have shaped their education—and when the night spirals into violent and shocking acts of betrayal, they come to learn that what’s done cannot be undone.
Roles: ALEXIS LAPP (Lady Macduff) is a senior BFA acting major from Minneapolis, MN. She has previously been seen on UMNC’s mainstage as Kitty in The Drowsy Chaperone, Maria in Twelfth Night, Mary Warren in The Crucible, and others. “This one’s for you, Mom.”
TheatreLab Dayton (TLD)
Matt & Ben by Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers
Director: Mackensie King
Rehearsal Start Date: August 23, 2026
Rehearsal Frequency: 5 days a week, staggered call- 2 consecutive days off a week (weekdays will be held in the evenings, while weekend rehearsals will be late mornings, to mid-afternoon.)
Tech/Dress: September 8, 2026 evening
Performance Dates: September 12, 2026 - evening
Location: Rehearsals will be held at the TheatreLab Dayton Space, 116 N Jefferson St, Ste 200, Dayton, Ohio, 45402, Second floor. Performance location is TBD.
Content Disclosure: strong language
Description: Matt & Ben depicts its Hollywood golden boys – before J-Lo, before Gwyneth, before Project Greenlight, before Oscar… before anyone actually gave a damn. When the screenplay for Good Will Hunting drops mysteriously from the heavens, the boys realize they’re being tested by a Higher Power.
Roles: UNDERSTUDY for MATT DAMON and BEN AFFLECK - 2 aspiring actor/writers in their 20s
Dayton Theatre Guild (DTG)
Occupation by Merri Biechler
Director: Melissa Kerr Ertsgaard
Rehearsal Start Date: August 23, 2026
Rehearsal Frequency: 5 days a week, staggered call- 2 consecutive days off a week (weekdays will be held in the evenings, while weekend rehearsals will be late mornings, to mid-afternoon.)
Tech/Dress: September 9, 2026 evening
Performance Dates: September 13, 2026 - matinée
Location: Rehearsals will be held in TBD, performance location is TBD.
Content Disclosure: TBD
Description: It’s America. Almost now. An underground movement of young women calling themselves Civilians are strapping bombs to their backs and blowing up Government Officials. Bombs are the new black. Someone has to bury what’s left of these dead girls. Someone has to stand up for the Government Officials. And someone has to tattoo the girl’s identity to her foot before she makes her delivery. In this new world, five women persist in finding hope and humor in their new role as survivors.
Roles: Tattoo Mother: Rough around the edges. Claims to be a coward; angry she’s a survivor.
Garden Mother: Tie-dye and lavender. Wants to remain useful. Given the chance, she’d do everything different.
Patriot Mother: Visibly pregnant. A good girl. Devout. She proudly displays her Patriot pin on her lapel. All optimism and hope. She honest-to-god glows.
Tap Dance Daughter: 15, never removes her tap shoes. As her desperation grows, her dance outfit becomes more and more elaborate. Dripping in sadness.
Considering Understudies: TBD
