You do not need to prepare a monologue for Ten-Minute Play Festival Auditions. Sides from the shows auditioning will be provided. At your audition you will be paired with others in the same time block. You may be asked to read more than once, please do not leave until you are released. 

The sign-up sheet for Ten-Minute Play Festival Auditions is now open.

Ten-Minute Play Festival Auditions

If you have any trouble accessing the sign-up sheet, please email Samantha Goblirsch-Paradis for assistance.

By Registering for auditions you hereby expressly agree to allow broadcast and distribution of your performance on any medium, including but not limited to the University of Iowa YouTube Channel, Marketing videos, Iowa Public Radio, or via live stream at the discretion of the University of Iowa without any remuneration to you.

The Performer Bank is not used for Ten-Minute Play Festival Auditions.

Spring Show Dates (Rehearsal - Close)

• Stained Glass (December 8 - 12 & January 17 - February 1)
• How to Defend Yourself (December 1 - December 12 & January 13 - February 14)
• Ten-Minute Play Festival (January 26 - February 22)
• Love Pentagram (February 2 - 28)
• All That Glitters (February 16 - March 14)
• Head Over Heels (Music Rehearsals December 9 - 12 | Choreography Workshop January 16 - 17 | Staging Rehearsals January 21 - March 14)
• Uncle Vanya (March 2 - April 25)

Important Dates & Holidays:

August - December 2025

6/27 Muharram, 8/25 Fall Classes Begin, 8/27 Ganesh Chaturthi, 8/30-9/1 Labor Day Weekend, 9/1 Labor Day (Observed), 9/5 Mawlid al-Nabi*, 9/6 Anant Chaturdashi, 9/22 Equinox (Mabon), 9/22-9/24 Rosh Hashanah*, 9/22-10/2 Navaratri, 10/2 Dasara/ Dussehra,​ 10/2 Yom Kippur*, 10/6-10/13 Sukkot*, 10/13 Indigenous Peoples' Day, 10/13 Columbus Day (Fed. Observed), 10/13-10/15 Sh’mini Atzeret *, 10/15 Simchat Torah*, 10/20 Diwali, 10/31 Halloween/ All Hallows Eve, 11/1 All Saints Day, 11/1 Dia de los Muertos, 11/1 Samhain*,  11/2 Daylight Saving Time Ends, 11/4 Election Day, 11/5 Loy Krathong, 11/11 Veteran’s Day (Fed. Observed), 11/22-11/30 Fall Break, 11/27 Thanksgiving Day (Observed), 11/30 Advent Begins, 12/8 Bodhi Day, 12/14-12/22 Hanukkah*, 12/15-12/19 Fall Finals, 12/20 -1/19 Winter Break, 12/21 Solstice (Yule/Litha), 12/25 Christmas (Observed)

 * Holidays marked with an asterisk (*) begin at sundown on the previous day.

January - June 2026

12/20 -1/19 Winter Break, 1/1 New Year’s Day (Observed), 1/3 Mahayana New Year, 1/6 Epiphany, 1/7 Christmas (Orthodox), 1/14 New Year (Orthodox), 1/14 Tamil Thai Pongal Day, 1/14 Makar Sankranti, 1/16 Lailat al Miraj*, 1/19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Observed), 1/20 Spring Classes Begin, 2/1 Thaipusam, 2/2 Groundhog Day, 2/3 Lailat al Bara*, 2/8 Superbowl, 2/14 St. Valentine's Day, 2/15 Nirvana Day, 2/16 Presidents’ Day (Fed. Observed), 2/15-2/16 Maha Shivaratri, 2/17 Seol-nal, 2/17 Chinese New Year (Year of the Horse), 2/17 Tet Nguyen Dan, 2/17-3/19 Ramadan*, 2/17 Mardi Gras, 2/18 Ash Wednesday (Beginning of Lent), ​​​​2/18 Tsagaan Sar, 2/18-2/20 Losar, 2/23 Beginning of Lent (Orthodox), 3/3 Magha Puja Day, 3/3 Purim*, 3/4 Holi Phagwa*, 3/7 Nuzul Quran*, 3/8 Daylight Savings Begins, 3/15-3/22 Spring Break, 3/16 Laylat al-Qadr*, 3/17 St. Patrick's Day, 3/19 Ougadi/Ugaadi, 3/20 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)*, 3/20 Equinox (Ostara), 3/26 Ram Navami, 3/29 Palm Sunday, 3/31 Mahavir Jayanti, 4/1-4/9 Passover*, 4/2 Theravada (New Year), 4/3 Good Friday,  4/5 Qing Ming Jie, 4/5 Easter, 4/10 Good Friday (Orthodox), 4/12 Easter (Orthodox), 5/1 Beltane-Samhain, 5/1 Vesak - Buddha Day, 5/5 Cinco De Mayo, 5/10 Mother's Day, 5/11-15 Spring Finals, 5/14 Ascension Day, 5/16 Commencement, 5/16 Armed Forces Day, 5/21-23 Shavuot*, 5/24 Pentecost, 5/25 Memorial Day (Observed), 5/31 Pentecost (Orthodox), 6/14 Flag Day, 6/19 Duan Wu Jie, 6/19 Juneteenth (Fed. Observed), 6/20 Summer Solstice-Litha, 6/21 Father's Day

* Holidays marked with an asterisk (*) begin at sundown on the previous day.

Spring Production Lab Cast vs Crew Chart:

There is no conflict survey for Ten-Minute Play Festival Auditions.

Below you will find the links to show information for the productions and readings being produced.

Spring 2026

Stained Glass

How to Defend Yourself

Ten-Minute Play Festival

Love Pentagram

Head Over Heels

All That Glitters

Uncle Vanya

Below you will find links to the callback lists and the folder of callback sides. 

Note: callback lists will not be posted until the conclusion of General Auditions on Saturday, November 15 (approximately 4:30pm). Callback sides will be added to the folder throughout the General Auditions. Please continue to check back as needed.

Callback Lists:

Stained Glass

How to Defend Yourself

Love Pentagram

Head Over Heels

All That Glitters

Uncle Vanya

Callback Sides:

Callback Sides Folder

Hard copies of the sides will be available at each callback.

Callback Schedule:

Below you will find links to the cast lists. 

Note: cast lists, except for How to Defend Yourself, will be posted at 5:00pm on Friday, November 21. The cast list for How to Defend Yourself will be posted by 11:00am Friday, November 21.

Cast Lists:

Stained Glass

How to Defend Yourself

Love Pentagram

Head Over Heels

All That Glitters

Uncle Vanya

• First, know that everyone in the audition room wants you to do well and are excited to see you. We want you to audition and are grateful you have taken the time to prepare something for us. Directors and other casting personnel are pulling for you to do well. They're on your side. They want to discover new talent. They also want to see the growth you have made since they last saw you. The audition is a good chance for them to see you in new ways.

• A prepared piece gives you the advantage over a "cold" script reading because you can choose something that shows you off best. Remember that you, not the plays, are auditioning. A well-done prepared piece can cause a director to change their thinking about a role before they see you again.

• Suggestions for Selecting a Monologue: The audition is your opportunity to perform--not a hurdle or cruel and unusual punishment. Do something you enjoy. This is probably more important than anything else.

  1. Try to pick a piece from a play that is not hugely popular.  The piece should not be over-used. A piece that begins, "To be or not to be..." must be performed far better than one from a good but lesser-known play in order to make a positive impression in an audition.

  2. Make sure the piece is active (not reflective or remembering a moment from the past). Pieces are usually more successful when they convey a clear want, need or intention by your character. Choose accordingly.

  3. Pick a piece that showcases your strengths as an actor. Ask yourself if the piece demands qualities that you can project well. Don't choose a piece said to be a good piece if it doesn't compliment you. You are the important one in the audition.

  4. In professional and regional theatres, actors play their own ages. Choose a role that you could conceivably play.

  5. You should not have to set the piece in context by explaining who is talking to whom, etc. If you must explain anything, the piece is probably not a good audition piece.

  6. Most casting people know most plays. Do not waste your audition time by explaining or telling the story of the play.

• Time: You have 3 minutes to perform 1 or 2 monologues.  You do not need to use the full 3 minutes. 

  1. Time your pieces by doing them several times aloud for someone. You should be aware that directors form an impression of auditioners in the first minute. The second minute is for confirmation. 

  2. If a director needs to see more, they will call you back or talk to you.

  3. Auditions will be timed. This is done in order to be fair. Without it, the large number of actors who deserve to be seen, couldn’t be. The monitor will sit in a seat fairly close to the stage. They will signal when you have 10 seconds remaining by raising their hand, and will say "stop" when your 3 minutes are up. Timing will begin after you say your name and the names of your pieces. 

• Prepare yourself well. If you can, choose and prepare your pieces well ahead of time. You never know what good things may come from proper and full preparation. Give yourself the best chance you can.

  1. Know your material well. Rehearse it thoroughly. It is expected that pieces will be memorized for these auditions. However, in cases of not auditioning at all versus an audition using a script, an audition with script is preferable. A well-prepared audition is an indication that you care about your audition and the opportunity it presents. If need be, bring a copy of your pieces with you to the audition, in case you need to refer to it.

  2. Immediately before the audition, while you are waiting your turn, give yourself some time to concentrate and focus on yourself and the intentions of the character you are going to play.

• You will be asked to Slate your piece before you begin, which means giving the following information, your name and what pieces your are about to perform.  An Example: "My name is (your name). My pieces are (character's name) from (play title) and (character's name) from (play title)." OR if it is for a musical audition: "My song is (title) from (title of musical)."

  1. Pause briefly before you begin and again between pieces. Almost everyone is nervous before an audition (just like before any performance). Nerves can help you become more vibrant. Use the extra adrenalin energy to spur you on. Open yourself up to it and it can work for you.

  2. Don't be afraid to be extravagant and enjoy yourself. If you enjoy yourself, those watching will as well.

  3. When you are finished, thank those watching and leave the stage briskly. If someone wants to ask a question, they will. Time is precious to the others who are auditioning. Use your time fully, then move on so that others can do so.

Recording Your Audition

• Find a quiet space.
• Record Horizontal not Vertical.
• Phone Camera or Web Cam will work great! (DO NOT buy a new camera for auditions, it is not necessary).
• Record in HD -1080p at 30 frames or SD 720p. (No need to us HD 4K as it will make the file larger and harder to upload.)
  • How to check resolution on an iPhone: settings>Camera>Record Video> (Set to 1080p at 30fps)
  • How to check resolution on an Android: in the camera app, swipe from "Photo" to "Video." in either a dropdown menu (which you can open by tapping the arrow) or the Settings Menu (tap the Gear Symbol), you will have the options of resolution (choose 1920x1080 or 1080p) and Frames Per Second (choose 30)
• Frame the shot at Full body or 3/4 quarters if possible.
• Natural Lighting is great, just make sure you are visible.   Try to avoid large shadows, including casting large shadows on the wall behind you.
• Camera at eye level if possible.
• Filming orientation should be horizontal and ideally a full body shot is best. We don't recommend a close-up shot.
• Neutral Background. Declutter the space as much as possible so we are not distracted by your background/surroundings. You could hang an neutral colored ironed sheet for your background, get rid of the wrinkles.
• Make sure you slate at the top of your video (Your name, name of the play your piece is from, and playwright). Timing of piece will begin after the SLATE.  You have 3 minutes for your monologue(s).  You can end the piece with a simple "Thank you".
• No crazy edits please, keep it simple and have fun!

Uploading Your Video

• Once recorded, upload your video to YouTube.
  • Watch this video to learn how: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT9ScMAe5yQ
  • If you want to make the video only accessible to the Team Leader and Directors, set the privacy setting to "unlisted". Then only those with the URL link will be able to view your video.
    • Watch this video to learn how: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poGiVTXuqS8\
• Send the link to your video to  samantha-paradis@uiowa.edu
• Questions? Email Samantha Goblirsch-Paradis, Production Stage Manager at samantha-paradis@uiowa.edu