The KSC Theatre and Dance (TAD) Department is preparing to stage its first two plays of the fall 2024 semester.
Auditions for “After the Blast” and “Next to Normal” were held on Thursday, Aug. 29 at the Redfern Arts Center’s Wright Theatre, with acting hopefuls filling out the sign-up sheet.
The two shows, which kickstart the TAD’s upcoming season of live stage plays, are scheduled ahead of KSC’s upcoming performance of Arthur Miller’s “The Creation of the World and Other Business,” which will hold auditions at the end of the semester.
Associate Professor of Theater and Dance Kirstin O’Brien is directing “Next to Normal,” a Tony Award-winning rock-pop musical by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt.
The show contains themes related to mental health and trauma. O’Brien said covering these topics through musical theater and storytelling can foster healthier conversations and humanize the topic.
“Theater is a conversation. Instead of discussing things as set in stone, humanizing the issues and experiences through storytelling can make these topics more relatable. We’re all human, and we’re hoping you walk away with a new lens to see through,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien is collaborating with Interim Dance Program Coordinator Molly Lynch-Clark and senior Allyson Crisa to develop a never-before-seen dance routine for the show. Crisa said “Next to Normal” provides an opportunity for TAD students to work together.
“Our programs are usually very separate,” Crisa said. “There’s not always as much overlap as one would think, and this project brings two worlds together. The [TAD] community is very close-knit, but we operate in different fields. It’s very special to have a chance to collaborate like this,” said Crisa.
“Next to Normal” will run from November 20 to November 23 in the Redfern Arts Center’s Main Theatre.
Professor of Theater Tyler Keyes is directing “After the Blast,” written by acclaimed performer and playwright Zoe Kazan. Taking place in a post-apocalyptic subterranean setting, Keyes said the show puts a unique spin on post-apocalyptic stories.
“Most of these stories are focused on the desolation and harshness of an apocalyptic environment,” Keyes said. “This story is more focused on what life looks like for people who are already surviving in this world, what their struggles look like and how it affects them in a more human way.”
“After the Blast” will run from October 9-12 at the Redfern Arts Center’s Wright Theatre.
Senior Sasha Drakoulakos auditioned for “After the Blast.”
“I actually heard about the play over the summer coincidentally and then found out we’re performing it this year. Tyler Keyes directs a lot of the types of shows I enjoy doing, and he’s great to work with,” said Drakoulakos.
Senior Wilson Hines auditioned for both “After the Blast” and “Next to Normal.”
“I knew I was going to audition regardless. Each year KSC offers a dense variety of shows and incredible directors. There’s a lot of great taste here, and it’s really fun to be a part of,” said Hines.
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