Audition for a show
Department of theatre
Audition Notice for R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) Staged Play Reading
Saturday, January 31, 2026
2:30-5:30 p.m. in Studio Theatre (Kettler Hall G32)
Audition Format:
The audition will consist of readings of selected scenes. Participants will have the chance to read for multiple characters in these scenes. PDFs of the scenes can be accessed below along with the full play text via the Helmke Library.
Staged Play Reading:
Saturday March 28, 2026, 2:00-6:00pm
Studio Theatre (Kettler Hall G32)
3:00pm Start with Audience Talkback Following
Rehearsal Date:
Saturday March 21, 2026, 2:30pm-8:00pm with Dinner Break 4:30-5:30pm
Studio Theatre (Kettler Hall G32)
Table work, context surrounding the text, themes, purpose, format of play reading, table read, staging, run through, notes.
Notice:
If you audition, you are committing to the above dates and times of the rehearsal and the reading itself.
What is a Staged Play Reading?
A staged play reading is essentially a test or an economical presentation of the text, whereas a full production is a final, realized artistic product. A staged play reading incorporates minimal, if any, costumes, scenery, props, etc. A reading presents the play to its audience as a sort of reader’s theatre, in which actors read from their scripts, without memorization. Moments will be somewhat choreographed and rehearsed for flow and polish.
About the Play:
by Karel Čapek, 1921
Translated by Štěpán Šimek, 2023
R.U.R.—written in 1920—garnered worldwide acclaim for its author and popularized the word “Robot.” Mass produced, efficient, and servile labor, Čapek’s robots remember everything, but lack creative thought, and the Utopian life they provide ultimately lacks meaning. When the robots revolt, killing all but one human, they must attempt to learn the secret of self-duplication. But their attempts at replication leave them with nothing. It is not until two robots discover their capacity for love that Nature emerges triumphant.
In contemporary society, artificial intelligence (AI) has become ever-present and continues to evolve exponentially every day. This 100-year-old play was ahead of its time by shedding light on a powerful collection of themes, related to the meaning of life, what it means to be human, and the ethics of power. This reading and talkback will explore the intersection of art and technology, how they challenge each other, and the reality of being human in the 21st century.
Rating: PG
Content Considerations: war, enslavement, mild discussion of sex, religious tones
To Prepare:
- You may choose to read the play. Access the full play text via the Helmke Library by clicking here.
- Please click this link to access scenes/sides that will be read during the audition. This link also contains additional reading/resources about the play.
- The scenes/sides that will be read during auditions are:
- Domin, Helena, Sulla, Marius (Prologue)
- Gall, Domin, Fabry, Hallemeier, Busman (Act I)
- Robot Helena and Primus (Act III)
- Alquist, Primus (Act III)
- Hard copies of the sides/scenes will be provided at the time of the audition.
Characters:
The characters in this play will be cast from PFW or IUFW students. The gender of the character will reflect the gender identity of the performer reading the role. The cast of readers will consist of 10-15 people.
Narrator, who dictates stage directions from text
Harry Domin, Chief Executive Officer of Rossum’s Universal Robots Company (R.U.R.).
Fabry, Chief Technology Officer (R.U.R.)
Dr. Gall, Director of the Office of Physiological Research and Development (R.U.R.)
Dr. Hallemeier, Director of the Office of Psychology and Education of Robots (R.U.R.)
Busman, Chief Financial Officer (R.U.R.)
Alquist, Director of Physical Plant and New Construction (R.U.R.)
Helena Glory, founding member of the League of Humanity
Nana, Helena’s nurse
Marius, a robot
Sulla, a robot
Radius, a robot
Damon, a robot
Primus, a robot
Helena, a robot
Other Robots
Contact Information:
Should you have any questions regarding the audition itself, accessing any of the content listed above, or the characters and play text, contact:
Austin M. Rausch, Producer/Director, [email protected]
Should you have any questions regarding supplemental material or accessing the full text via the Helmke Library, contact:
Caleb Britton, Information Services and Instruction Librarian, [email protected]