Performing at Dartmouth
Opportunities to take the stage abound in the Department of Theater throughout the year. MainStage productions, honors thesis performances, and student-driven projects all offer students the chance to perform.
Amari Young '21 performing in "Citrus", Spring 2018. Photo Rob Strong.
Upcoming Performance and Audition Opportunities
FALL 2026
The First-Year Project
directed by Keith Coughlin, music direction by Kevin David Thomas
Performances: Friday, October 9th and Saturday, October 10th at 7:30pm
The Bentley Theater
No auditions required! Come to the first meeting on Sunday, September 27 @ 1pm in the Bentley Theater.
Fall Term Little Student Production
PROPOSALS DUE: Friday, September 18 @ 5pm ET
Performances: Friday & Saturday, October 23 & 24 - 7:30pm
The Bentley Theater
Fall MainStage Production: The Cherry Orchard
directed by Carol Dunne
Performances: Friday & Saturday, November 6 & 7 - 7:30pm, Thursday-Saturday, November 12-14 - 7:30pm, Saturday, November 7 & 14 - 3pm
The Roth Studio Theater
Auditions: Wednesday & Thursday, September 15 & 16 - 7-9pm
Callbacks: Friday September17 - 7-10pm
WINTER 2027
Winter Term Little Student Production #1
PROPOSALS DUE: Friday, Jaunary 8 @ 5pm ET
Performances: Friday & Saturday, January 22 & 23 - 7:30pm
The Bentley Theater
SPRING TERM BIG STUDENT PRODUCTION PROPOSALS DUE: JANUARY 29, 2027 @ 11:59PM ET.
Winter Term Little Student Production #2
PROPOSALS DUE: Friday, Jaunary 8 @ 5pm ET
Performances: Friday & Saturday, February 5 & 6 - 7:30pm
The Bentley Theater
Winter MainStage Production: The Language of Mermaids
by Mariana de Althaus, translated by Mary Ann Vargas
directed by Michael Alvarez
Performances: Friday & Saturday, Februrary 26 & 27 - 7:30pm, Thursday-Saturday, March - 6 - 7:30pm, Saturday, February 27 & March 7 - 3pm
The Moore Theater
Auditions: Wednesday, January 6 - 6pm-9pm & Thursday, January 10 - 7pm-10pm.
Callbacks: Friday, January 8 - 6pm-9pm
SPRING 2027
Spring Term Little Student Production
PROPOSALS DUE: Friday, April 2 @ 5pm ET
Performances: Friday & Saturday, April 23 & 24 - 7:30pm
The Bentley Theater
Spring Term Big Student Production
PROPOSALS DUE: Friday, January 29 @ 11:59pm ET
Auditions: Wednesday, March 31 - 7-10pm & Thursday, April 1 6-9pm
Callbacks: Friday, April 2 - 6pm-9pm
Performances: Friday & Saturday, May 14 & 15 - 7:30pm, Saturday, May 15 - 3:00pm
The Bentley Theater
About Performing at Dartmouth
Auditions take place during the first week of classes each term for our MainStage productions and for the many student productions that take place throughout the year: Honors Thesis projects, student workshops or full productions, Studio Lab projects, Frost & Dodd Student Play Festival readings and staged productions, and more.
Upcoming audition details are typically posted on the second floor of Sudikoff Hall and announced via this website, as well as via campus-wide eblast, the Department's e-newsletter (click here to be added to that email list!) and on the Department's Instagram. Callback information and final cast lists are typically distributed by email and/or posted in Sudikoff. Department auditions are open to all undergraduates, regardless of either previous theater experience or major; both first-year students and non-majors appear in department productions regularly.
Sometime during the first week of each term, the Department of Theater hosts a Theater Preview. Open to all students, the Preview is an opportunity for students across campus to learn what performance opportunities are available in that term.
We also believe that performers must be invested in creating their own opportunities, taking an active role in the creation of the projects that they are passionate about and want to be involved with. We strongly encourage student performers not to wait for the "right" part, but instead to get involved in producing their own work. Opportunities exist for both majors and non-major performers to create and drive their own performance projects via the various student production tracks: YourSpace, Studio Lab, and/or student workshops or full productions. Click here for more information about student productions.
Those interested in academic courses in performance have a range of classes to choose from each term, including Acting I & II, Acting for Musical Theater I, Acting Comedy, and/or Speaking Voice for the Stage. A complete listing of performance course descriptions can be found HERE.
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Kerrigan Quenemoen '20 and Owen Page '19 in "1984", Winter 2018. Photo Rob Strong.
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Edward Lu '21 in "Cabaret", Fall 2017. Photo Rob Strong.
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Virginia Ogden '18 in "Cabaret", Fall 2018. Photo Eli Burakian.
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hannah Montgomery '21 in "Medea", Fall 2018. Photo Rob Strong.