Knoxville Children’s Theatre (KCT) will hold auditions on Thursday, September 8 for the upcoming stage production of “The Haunting of Hill House.”  The novel by Shirley Jackson (author of “The Lottery”) was a Finalist for the 1959 National Book Award.

The audition will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at KCT at 109 E. Churchwell Avenue.

Auditions are by appointment only. Auditioners may choose from the following appointment times: 4:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Six auditioners will be seen at each appointment time; a maximum of 42 auditioners will be seen.

Dr. Montague, an investigator of the supernatural, gathers three strangers at Hill House, a mansion with an 80-year history of unusual disturbances.  Eleanor is a reclusive, young woman who has spent years caring for her invalid mother.  Theodora is a flamboyant bohemian artist, and Luke is a member of the family who owns the mysterious house.  During their stay, the house has a disturbingly unexplainable effect on the inhabitants.

There are at least 12 available roles. There are large roles for males and females.  The minimum age to audition is 12 years old, and the maximum age is 18.

There are at least two roles for actors making their KCT debuts.

Auditioners should prepare a SHORT one-minute monologue from a play or novel. The monologue should express dramatic emotion and a theatrical level of volume and expression. The play’s genre is ghost story / terror novel.

Choose an appropriate monologue with large emotional ranges. No songs or poems. Monologues will be evaluated on loudness of volume, clearness of diction, and depth of emotional expression.  Ability of physical transformation is a major plus.

Auditioners should bring their calendars. All actors will be asked to list all conflicts with the rehearsal schedule. The director will make every attempt to work around conflicts, whenever possible.

Rehearsals will begin on or around Wednesday, September 21, continuing through Thursday, October 27.  Rehearsals are held Sunday through Thursday evenings.  Actors should expect to attend most, but not all, rehearsals.  Tech rehearsals, from October 23 through 27, are mandatory.

Actors must also be available for all 14 regular performances: October 28 through November 13, Thursdays through Sundays.

To make an audition appointment: e-mail dennis@childrenstheatreknoxville.com

Website submissions only for audition appointments.

KCT Producing Director Zack Allen will direct the production.