With nearly 40 roles available, students and community members are invited to audition their talents for a chance to be featured in the casts of three upcoming COC theatre department productions.

The COC theatre department’s spring lineup includes productions of “Mr. Marmalade” and “Rent” as well as a collection of original works selected for inclusion in the college’s annual New Works Festival (NWF).

In all, there will be approximately 40 roles available for actors between the ages of 18 and 35.

Those interested in auditioning for one or all of the department’s spring productions should make plans to attend one of two open audition dates, being held Monday Feb. 10 and Tuesday, Feb. 11 in the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center (PAC) Black Box Theater, located on the college’s Valencia campus.

Actors will then be asked to read sides from the specific plays during callback auditions, to be held Wednesday, Feb. 12 (“Mr. Marmalade”) and Thursday, Feb. 13 (“Rent”). No callback auditions will be held for the NWF.

Each audition date will begin at 7 p.m. in the Black Box Theater.

“We will finish the 2013-14 season with two contemporary productions which explore some very mature themes,” said Paul Wickline, chair of the COC theatre department. “We are searching for a young, talented, ethnically-diverse group of actor/singers for our production of the Tony Award-winning ‘Rent’ and a small ensemble of actors for ‘Mr. Marmalade.’

“There are a number of excellent roles available this semester,” added Wickline. “Don’t miss the chance to be involved in these productions.”

“Mr. Marmalade”

In this dark comedy, four-year-old Lucy is a girl with a very active imagination, and an extraordinarily troubled imaginary friend named, Mr. Marmalade. Add to that the fact the Lucy’s real life friend, Larry, is suicidal, and you have the makings of a roller coaster saga about what it takes to grow up in today’s troubled times.

The COC theatre department’s production of “Mr. Marmalade” will include roles for four men and two women.

“Rent”

Based loosely on the Puccini opera “La Boheme,” Jonathan Larson’s “Rent” is a story about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Set in the East Village of New York City, the play follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

While the physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of several main characters, others in the group must also deal with themes of infidelity, unstable relationships, remaining true to one’s self, and how to avoid feeling like an outsider to life in general — combining to form a musical story that resonates with audiences of all ages.

The COC theatre department’s production of “Rent” will include roles for five men and four women, as well as an ensemble cast of eight additional actors.

New Works Festival (NWF)

The annual NWF is a collaboration between the college’s theatre and English departments which gives aspiring playwrights — from the Santa Clarita Valley and beyond —the opportunity to see their work brought to life through a unique workshop experience that focuses on taking the writer’s work to the next level.

Using a blind reading process, playwrights are selected to have their works developed for the NWF each year. The 2014 NWF will contain roles for an ensemble cast of 10 to 15 actors in a variety of original scripts.

For more information about any of the College of the Canyons theatre department’s spring productions or for additional details about the audition process, [click here].