On Wednesday Sept. 2, 2026 Eastern Michigan University’s School of Performing Arts is hosting its annual block party to welcome in the new school year. Auditions for EMU Theatre’s fall shows will be held that evening after the party.
The block party will be outside in the space between Alexander Music building and Judy Sturgis Hill building on campus, 3:30-5 p.m.
The event will be open to anybody that wants to join, not just performing arts students. The event will offer games, and theater-related student organizations such as EMU Players and Alpha Psi Omega will table the event. Attendees can also receivetours of Judy Sturgis Hill and Alexander Music buildings and free food.
"It is just going to be a chill opportunity for people to gather together and hang out, and meet and greet one another, and learn more about the School of Performing Arts and where we hope to go moving forward," said Pam Cardell, assistant managing director of the School of Communication, Media and Theatre Arts.
Following the block party, theater auditions will be held in Judy Sturgis Hill building, 6-9 p.m. Acting and singing auditions will be from 6-8 p.m. and dance auditions will be from 8-9 p.m., said information on the CMTA website. Auditions will be for three shows: "Jumpin' Jamboree," the Applied Drama and Theatre for the Young graduate program's fall tour show; "Ride the Cyclone," the December musical; and "Someone is Speaking, Someone is Silent," a student-directed lab show.
Auditions are open to all students, not just students majoring in the School of Performing arts, Cardell said. The casting calls ask for actors of any race, ethnicity, gender or ability. Students must complete the audition form prior to showing up for auditions and make directors aware of any rehearsal scheduling conflicts.
Upon arrival to the Judy Sturgis Hill building's main lobby, students will be checked in to ensure they have completed their audition forms, have their picture taken and be assigned a number for reference before moving into the Lab Theatre to audition individually. Once dismissed, students may stay or come back for a dance audition, or leave if they are not interested in a dance audition, Cardell said.
Auditionees must audition with a one minute-long contemporary monologue of their choice, the website states. Sample monologues will be provided in office 103 Judy Sturgis Hill ahead of auditions, which students can choose to use. In addition to the monologue, auditionees will perform a 16-bar song cut from "Ride the Cyclone" or of similar style if auditioning for "Ride the Cyclone" or "Jumpin' Jamboree."
Students auditioning for "Someone is Speaking, Someone is Silent" do not need to complete a dance audition, but students auditioning for "Ride the Cyclone" or "Jumpin' Jamboree" do.
Those interested in being a part of the tech crew for any of the fall shows can fill out the crew interest form.
Callbacks will be held Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in the same location as auditions.
Additional audition information may be found online.
