SF State theatre students are preparing for the upcoming auditions for the theatre arts department’s spring production, “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

The play’s director, Rhonnie Washington, is holding auditions on Monday, Nov. 17 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. There are 55 five-minute time slots available for students to audition.

“The actor’s responsibility, during the audition, is to demonstrate that he or she is a good actor. I like to call back all good actors,” Washington said. “[But] I sometimes callback actors because I saw some unrealized potential during the auditions.”

Students auditioning for “A Streetcar Named Desire” must prepare one comedic and one serious monologue to perform for Washington. “I want to get some idea about the emotional range of the actor,” Washington said.

Students who receive a callback will return for the second phase of auditioning on Nov. 19. Unlike the first round of auditions where actors audition individually, callbacks involve acting in a group setting. “During callbacks, I usually invite all the actors into the room at the same time,” Washington said. “I pair the actors up, I give them instructions, and the competition begins.”

From the group of students who participate in callbacks, Washington will cast between 12 and 16 actors to be a part of the production. Actors are chosen months ahead of time so that they can clear their schedules for the spring semester to allow for plenty of rehearsal time.

“A Streetcar Named Desire,” written by playwright Tennessee Williams in 1947, tells the story of a refined Southern woman with a troubled past and a man who is a member of the immigrant class. The Pulitzer Prize winning play dealt with controversial issues for its time, such as rape and mental instability.
SF State theatre veteran Neil Higgins has his own techniques for auditioning. “When I’m waiting for my turn I listen to music,” Higgins said.

Higgins offered his advice for students auditioning for an SF State production for the first time. “Just do your best and don’t read too much into how the director reacts to your auditions,” Higgins said. “You never know what they’re looking for.”

Theatre student Celine Massuger is eagerly preparing for the upcoming audition process. “I already have my monologues picked out,” Massuger said. “I really want to be a part of ‘Streetcar’ because it’s my last semester at SF State and I want to go out with a bang.”