For students who don't make the cut for the MSU Department of Theatre's productions, or who just like to act but don't like the pressure of a university play, four theater venues currently are open for auditions.
Riverwalk Theatre, Lansing Civic Players, Sunsets with Shakespeare and the Lansing Community College Humanities and Performing Arts Department all are seeking enthusiastic thespians to join them in their musicals and plays.
Each group has a policy of open auditions for the community and encourages MSU students to join the ranks.
"Our goal is to give people the opportunities to do shows, that's it," said Todd Heywood, artistic director of Sunsets with Shakespeare. "If someone wants to act as a profession or as an emotional outlet, we will work with that."
Sunsets with Shakespeare puts on five to eight shows per season, LCC offers 10 faculty-directed shows and Riverwalk Theatre directs more than 10 plays and musicals per year.
MSU offers about six department shows per season and most of the 140 theater students audition for those shows, said Lamont Clegg, a professor in the department. However, the Department of Theatre encourages non-theater majors to try out as well.
The cast of the February play "Blues for Mister Charlie" was composed of only about half theater students. Other students with majors in math, communication and business participated as well, Clegg said.
Mark Peterson, an MSU theater sophomore, said off-campus organizations provide more opportunities than MSU sometimes can.
"With on-campus theater I haven't been in a lead role, but with Sunsets with Shakespeare there's more opportunities - they don't pull from the same pool of students every time," he said.
Peterson said he also enjoyed the controversial topics Sunsets with Shakespeare tackles in its shows. Issues such as domestic violence have been addressed in the past.
Although the other venues are not as inclined to spark dialogue, they also offer chances for students to participate in plays and musicals.
Michael Siracuse, director of Riverwalk Theatre, said MSU students, both theater and non-theater majors, have participated with his community theater troupe.
But most of the actors at Riverwalk Theatre perform simply because they like acting, not because they need to add a show to their résumé, Siracuse said.
This also is true for members of the Lansing Civic Players.
"Most people are doing it as a hobby because it is community theater and it's not paid," said LCP office manager Audrey Putman. "They're actor wannabees who can't support themselves that way, but enjoy it."
Joining community plays also is a great way to get to know people in the area and become situated in East Lansing, Siracuse said.
"Especially for someone who is new in the area and want to meet other people with like interests in theater, it's a great family," Siracuse said.
Bringing students and community members together creates a great environment and better theater, said Andrew Callis, head of the theater faculty at LCC.
Clegg said he recognizes the opportunities available for students who take the chance to audition for off-campus shows, but said they always should consider MSU productions, too.
"I encourage all students, theater majors or not, to audition and maybe they will find a passion they didn't know they had," he said.
