Maggie Zo, contributor

I’m sure you’ve heard the gossip, felt the buzz… something’s coming. The fall show, “Annual! Perennial!” of course! If you’re anything like us, you’ll know that auditions for “Annual! Perennial!” were in full swing on Monday, Sept. 22, and Tuesday, Sept. 23. Monday’s session drew a larger crowd, pulling in over 25 auditionees, in comparison to four on Tuesday. 

A key element and draw for the fall show is that it is a devised piece, the directors Madeleine Rowe and Jay Eisenberg bring a basic idea or framework to a selected company, and the action within the show is created experimentally, imagined and devised by the actors, facilitated by the directors. What this allows for is a beautifully personal and complex project where “the sky’s the limit!”

What is “Annual! Perennial!” about? I’m glad you asked! The show follows a family farm, as they prepare to recount the “mysterious myths and local lore” of their family, according to the Augsburg University Theater website. The show plans to be fun, weird, silly, and somewhat supernatural, if the synopsis is anything to go by. The website features a slightly more detailed synopsis, and closes the paragraph with this: “Everyone in the farmily has a job to do, and a story to tell. Even the ghosts.” 

During the auditions, Jay spoke about how he loves to explore the nature of clowning, failing with fun and experimentally expressive exercises like creating inanimate objects out of peoples’ bodies, an impromptu sound effects competition and even an improv choir. What made this audition process stand out for all in attendance was how unconventional the preparation was. No monologue, no rigorous dance call, no singing (Ok, I lied, there was some singing, but you already knew that). Instead, the audition was more workshop-centred, working  toward exploring commitment to the ridiculous and how an audience and ensemble respond to that. Participant Avery Cheeseman had much to say about the audition process. “Everyone was very supportive and cheering […] each other [on]. It already felt like there was a community being built. I am really excited to dive into clowning as a theatre technique in this production.”

And what better way to create, support and uphold the theatre community? Opportunities

like these do not come around often, and one thing is for certain: this is a project not to be

missed. Who knows what lies ahead? “Annual! Perennial!” is set to perform November 13-15 and 19-23, so come check it out!