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The Richland Community College Theatre Program is a dynamic and inclusive space where creativity meets opportunity. Our theatre program and auditions are open to both students and community members. The Richland Theatre Program offers a rich blend of coursework, workshops, and hands-on experiences designed to ignite your passion for the performing arts. Whether you’re looking to hone your acting skills, explore stage production, or simply enjoy the vibrant world of theatre, you’ll find a welcoming environment to learn, collaborate, and create unforgettable performances.
Join us and become part of a thriving artistic community that values diversity, creativity, and innovation in every performance.
Auditions
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Richland Theatre is seeking actors (ages 16-60+) to perform in a production The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, based on the children’s novella by Kate DiCamillo.
- Auditions are open to students, staff/faculty, and community members ages 16 – 60+.
- Beginning actors are welcome.
- Experience playing a musical instrument is a bonus (especially guitar or harmonica).
WHEN
- Thursday, August 28 from 6 PM – 8 PM
- Saturday, August 30 from 9 AM – 11 AM
WHERE
- Shilling Auditorium Lobby (Richland’s Main Campus)
Performances are:
- October 24 at 10 AM and 7 PM
- October 25, 26, November 1 & 2 at 2 PM
For more info, email Michelle Stephens (mstephen@richland.edu)
Play Info & Audition Process
Synopsis
Edward Tulane is an expensive toy rabbit made of china. He is loved by a little girl named Abilene, but Edward doesn’t care. He is vain and self-centered. He has no interest in anyone other than himself. On an ocean voyage, Edward is accidentally thrown overboard and sinks to the bottom of the sea. So begins his journey—a journey over which he has no control, for he is a toy rabbit. He can neither move nor speak. As years pass by, Edward meets many different people in many different situations: an older grieving couple who find comfort in Edward’s presence, a hobo and his dog who introduce Edward to a whole community of homeless wanderers, a farmer in need of a scarecrow, a sad little boy and his very ill sister, and finally a doll mender and an old doll who teach Edward an invaluable lesson. Through this miraculous journey, Edward learns what it is to love, what it is to lose that love, and how to find the courage to love again. Based on Kate DiCamillo’s beautiful novel of the same name, the play is a theatrical tour de force for a small ensemble of actors and musicians.
Audition Process
Come to the Shilling Auditorium Lobby (on the Richland Campus) during one of the audition times. You’ll fill out some forms in the lobby and then audition in the theatre. The audition monologue is below. You do not have to memorize the monologue for the audition. Actors audition privately for the director and production staff. The audition takes 5-10 minutes.
Rehearsal Schedule
September
- September 2 – 4 | 5:30 PM – 8 PM
- September 8 – 11 | 5:30 PM – 8 PM
- September 15 – 18 | 5:30 PM – 8 PM
- September 22 – 25 | 5:30 PM – 8 PM
- September 29 & 30 | 5:30 PM – 8 PM
October
- October 1 & 2 | 5:30 PM – 8 PM
- October 6 – 9 | 5:30 PM – 8 PM
- October 13 – 16 | 5:30 PM – 8 PM
- Workday: Saturday, October 18 | 9 AM – 12 PM
- October 20 – 23 | 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Performance Weeks
- Show: October 24 at 10 AM
- Show: October 24 at 7 PM
- Show: October 25 at 2 PM
- Show: October 26 at 2 PM
- Rehearsal: October 30 from 5:30 PM – 8 PM
- Show: November 1 at 2 PM
- Show: November 2 at 2 PM
Audition Material
PELLEGRINA: This story begins with a princess. Once there was a princess who was very beautiful. She shone as bright as the stars on a moonless night. But, what difference did it make that she was beautiful? None. No difference. Because she was a princess who loved no one and cared nothing for love, even though there were many who loved her. And so, her father, the king, said that she must marry. One day shortly after, a prince from another kingdom came. As soon as he saw the princess, he fell in love with her. He gave her a ring of pure gold. Placing it on her finger, he said, “I love you.” But do you know what the princess did?
And so, her father, the king, said that she must marry. One day shortly after, a prince from another kingdom came. As soon as he saw the princess, he fell in love with her. He gave her a ring of pure gold. Placing it on her finger, he said, “I love you.” But do you know what the princess did?
(ABILENE shakes her head.)
PELLEGRINA (cont’d). She took the ring off her finger, put it in her mouth, and she swallowed it. “That is what I think of love,” she said, and she ran out of the castle and into the woods. Deep, deep into the woods she ran, until she finally stopped to catch her breath. Looking around, she realized that she was lost. And she remained lost for many days.
ABILENE. Did the prince come and find her?
PELLEGRINA. Listen. Eventually, she came upon a little hut. She knocked on the door, “Let me in. I am cold.” But there was no answer. She knocked again, “Let me in. I am hungry.” Suddenly a terrible voice from inside the hut said, “Enter if you must.” Opening the door, the princess saw an old witch.
“I am lost.” “What of it?” “I am hungry.” “Not my concern.”
“But I am a beautiful princess. My father is a powerful king. You must help me or there will be consequences.” At this, the witch said, “Consequences? You dare talk to me of consequences? Very well, then, tell me the name of the one you love.” The princess stamped her foot, “Love! Why must everyone talk of love.” “You must tell me the name. Whom do you love?” “I love no one,” said the princess proudly. “You disappoint me,” said the witch raising her hand. Pointing at the princess the witch said one word, “Farthfigery.” And in an instant, the beautiful princess was changed into a warthog. The warthog princess ran from the hut, back into the woods. There she came across several men. They had been sent by the king to find a beautiful princess, so when they found an ugly warthog, they shot it. Pow.
ABILENE. No!
PELLEGRINA. Yes. The men took the warthog back to the castle. There, the cook slit open its belly and found a ring of pure gold. The cook put the ring on her finger and finished butchering the warthog. And the ring shone on the cook’s hand as she did her work. The end.
ABILENE. No!
PELLEGRINA. Yes. The end.
ABILENE. But it can’t be. It came too quickly. And no one is living happily ever after.
PELLEGRINA. Ah, but how can a story end happily if there is no love? Now, it’s late, and you must go to sleep. Tomorrow, a new adventure begins.
Contact Our Team
Michelle Stephens
Professor, Theatre & CommunicationLiberal Arts Division
Richland Main Campus