Riverland Theatre’s final production of the 2021-2022 season will be an evening of one-act plays: The Actor’s Nightmare by Christopher Durang and The Audition by Matt Thompson.

An actor wanders out onto the stage, only to discover he is now performing in an unknown play he has never rehearsed. A group of actors present their audition monologues, only to have things descend into chaos and mayhem. This pairing of the one-act plays The Actor’s Nightmare by Christopher Durang and The Audition by Matt Thompson takes an absurd and hilarious look behind-the-scenes of an actor’s experience.

Susan V. Hansen directs. The technical direction is by John Deyo. Costumes are by Emma Waters. Maddie Bartlett stage manages. The Actor’s Nightmare stars Ryan Flanders (George), Nadia Hummel (Meg), Enoch Parks (Henry/The Executioner), Claire Tolman (Sarah), and Cassandra Westcott (Ellen). The Audition stars Maggie Bremner (Robin/Actor #5), Nora Curtis (Kelly), Sebastian Emeline (Jules), Blythe Johnson (The-Artist-Formerly-Known-As-Question-Mark), Lily Martin (Stage Manager), and James Zschunke (M.R. Irving).

Hansen says, “The Actor’s Nightmare is an example of an anxiety dream that many people have, whether it is about taking tests, corporate meetings or high-pressure work, this is in the realm of someone expected to perform. The Audition gives an entertaining glimpse into the varied personalities and processes of casting a show. Both comedies are intended to release our anxieties through laughter.”

The Actor’s Nightmare and The Audition will be performed April 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. and May 1 at 2 p.m. in the Frank W. Bridges Theatre on Riverland’s Austin Campus.

Individual tickets to The Actor’s Nightmare and The Audition are $10. Tickets are currently on sale at www.riverland.edu/tickets 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The online ticketing system allows customers to pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. The on-campus box office will be open for in person sales in the theatre lobby one hour prior to each performance. Riverland students receive two free tickets with a valid student ID. Contact the box office at 507-433-0595 or by emailing boxoffice@riverland.edu.  

Riverland Theatre strives to provide quality productions that are entertaining and challenging to both the audience and the artists.  Because we reach such a diverse audience, some audience members may find some subject matter, language, or situations objectionable. If you have concerns about a specific production, we encourage you to become familiar with the material before attending the performance.

Riverland’s Theatre Department is a high-energy performance-oriented program. Plays produced vary from classical tragedy to modern comedy and from full-scale large cast musicals in intimate small cast plays. Students are encouraged to get involved in all areas of theatre production including, but not limited to, acting, stage managing, set building and painting. Strong academic offerings provide challenges in and out of the classroom.