Get your monologues, get your applications, and get your charisma. The stage is waiting. While the terrifying ordeal of an audition isn’t really a pleasant experience for anyone, the benefits of being casted far outweigh any initial worry.

The Tiger Theatre Company will be holding auditions for its fall shows on Thursday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. The two fall shows, “Dracula” and “The Shakespeare Project,” will both be cast at this time. Each auditioner will need to prepare a 30 to 60-second monologue (perhaps two shorter monologues if auditioning for both shows), get a recently taken headshot and fill out an application. All students are welcome.

Anyone wishing to audition should visit the theater call board—right across from PAC Room 1—to pick up an audition packet and sign up for an audition time slot. Any additional information needed is available in each of the packets.

New theater teacher Lisa Newton will be running the auditions and casting the shows with the help of additional director and teacher Amy Kemp and technical director Trent Hanna. Newton is excited to present local audiences with a classic rendition of “Dracula,” returning to the darker original story.

“‘Dracula’ is basically a retelling of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’,” Newton said. “I picked this particular form of ‘Dracula’ because of everything that’s been in the media. All the shows, the Twilight movies, all that has gone so far from the original novel. There was nothing about romance, love, anything with Dracula. He wants to kill…This is going to be a very gothic take on ‘Dracula’.”

In contrast to the deeply traditional telling of “Dracula” that Newton has planned, “The Shakespeare Project” moves a step beyond contemporary and is instead ground-breaking. This show will combine the traditional syntax and themes of Shakespeare with a few new twists.

“‘The Shakespeare’ Project is just a one-act play,” Newton said. “You’re going to speak the lines in Shakespearean language with the Shakespearean rhythms but you’re going to be in modern settings.”

These modern settings include a press conference for the famous Marc Antony monologue from Julius Caesar and a wrestling ring for a scene between The Taming of the Shrew’s Petruchio and Katherine. This show will be performed at the Texas Thespians Society festival beginning Dec. 3. Meanwhile, “Dracula” will be performed here on campus in the John Sullivan Theatre Oct. 22.

For those wishing to earn a role in one, or potentially both, of these shows, the audition is a critical 90-second chance to dazzle the directors. Newton does offer a few tips for those new to the process.

“Please write a complete application legibly,” Newton said. “And have a monologue that in some way relates to the show. And if you don’t have a monologue, come see me and I’ll help you find one. I provide sides (director provided monologues) for students who don’t know how to find their own monologue. However, if you do one of the sides the director gives you, they’re hearing the same thing over and over again. At least if you pull something yourself it’ll be kind of new and will catch their attention.”

Newton also offers a few tips that are a little more general. These would apply in many situations, including the auditions.

“Be prepared,” Newton said. “That’s my biggest tip. The other thing is get there early. Another thing is to smile. When you get finished, say thank you. You’ve done the best you can do. There’s no point in going back outside and beating yourself up. And if you think you messed up, don’t show it until you are out of the director’s sight. Walk off like you nailed it.”

These auditions will kick off this year’s Tiger Theatre Company season. Regardless of if someone is auditioning for the first time or the 15th time, everyone has an equal shot at ending up onstage. Confidence, capability and preparation are really all it takes.

“You should be confident in what you’re saying,” Newton said. “Be prepared to just come out there and knock our socks off.”