William Shakespeare's
As You Like It

Coming to The Learning Center spring 2026

Acting auditions will be held from 11am to 2pm on Dec. 5. Callbacks are the following week, Dec. 12 from 11-2pm.
All auditions are in the Learning Center gym (Southwest Church of Christ, 2600 S 124th St, Omaha). All interested actors should come to the first day of auditions, even if the director is familiar with your work.

Homeschool students ages 13-19 (as of Jan. 9, 2026) are eligible to participate.

We will have paper copies at the auditions, but we ask you to fill out the audition form ahead of time and check with your parents for rehearsal and tech week conflicts.
PARENTAL SIGNATURE ON FORM IS REQUIRED.

You can also download the audition scenes to practice.

AUDITION FORM       AUDITION SCENES        SCRIPT

TUITION
The cost is $220 for tuition and a $48 class fee, which includes costumes, make-up, props, scenery, technicians, and theatre rental.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT AUDITIONS
You will read for one character in one scene of your choosing. I will generally choose your fellow actors unless you have a group ready to go, consisting of people who have not auditioned for other parts. I would rather that the material not be memorized, but you should be familiar with it. If you memorize, please keep the scene in your hands so your scene partner doesn’t suffer if you forget. I highly recommend reading the audition scenes AND the updated script before you decide which part you would like to read for. 

When you audition, READ SLOWLY, LOUDLY and with ANIMATION. Try to show that you understand what is happening in the scene. Reading the updated script is highly recommended. This should help you decide which role you would like to read for.  You don’t need to print the entire script out.

Students may indicate on their audition forms if they are not interested in playing a certain kind of role or are only available for one cast or the other. This would be the appropriate spot to indicate if you only want a Shakespearean role. The fewer conflicts/restrictions you have, the more flexibility I have to cast you. 

I may have you read for other parts on that day. Some actors will be called back to audition the following week.

WHAT WE DO
Every spring the Learning Center stages a family-friendly adaptation of a Shakespearean play. While lines have been abbreviated, the vast majority of the play’s action is retained, including subplots and the most memorable lines and moments. (However, the iambic pentameter has been almost entirely destroyed.) A group of narrators has been added to help explain and enliven the play.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR

Rehearsals have changed slightly:
FRIDAYS
11 Cast: 11am-12:45
105 Cast: 1:05 to 2:50pm.

We've added four narrators and three detectives (“Wise Guys”). The modern part is longer, for better or worse. In addition, a modern narrator crosses into the play and interacts with Shakespearean characters, including some invented scenes.
The modern hook reflects two of the play’s main themes: sibling rivalry and the love-or-hate reaction to nature. We’ve also added screen addiction, which leads to a lot of movie lines.

For the Shakespeare play summary, see Wikipedia.

REHEARSALS
Rehearsals will be held at the Learning Center on FRIDAYS beginning Jan. 9. One cast (the “11 Cast”) will rehearse from 11am-12:45, and the “105 Cast” will rehearse from 1:05 to 2:50pm.
Tech Week: Actors should list their availability, and we will cast them accordingly. No rehearsals are scheduled for Good Friday, April 3. I realize this is a slightly longer rehearsal periods than the last couple of years. I may have some interruptions in March.

PERFORMANCES
Each cast will have two performances, at 4 and 7pm on their performance day. The “11 Cast” completes tech rehearsal April 30 (9am-1pm) and dress/performances May 1 (10am-9pm). The “1:05 Cast” completes tech rehearsal April 30 (2-6pm) and has dress rehearsal and performances on May 2.
All actors must be available for the entirety of their tech/dress/performance. Students will be able to indicate preferences/availability on their audition form.
Tech crew must be available all of the tech, dress, and performance times in addition to load-in/dry tech (TBD, an evening earlier in tech week.)

QUESTIONS should be sent to director Miriam Gutierrez at mirambo3@gmail.com