Category: Theater

Auditions: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

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Cumberland ETC Theater is holding auditions for their upcoming production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” on Saturday September 6, and Saturday September 13th, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Cumberland ETC Ruppel Family Theater. Rehearsals will begin in October, and the show will run from December 4-7, (two shows on the 6th) 2025. The production is based on the book and play by Barbara Robinson, and will be directed by Diane Thorp and Chris Hopkins-Hile.
Adults and children who are readers will be asked to read from a script. Children can also come in with a memorized poem or a short song.
The Story:
In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids – probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won’t believe the mayhem – and the fun – when the Herdman’s collide head-on with the story of Christmas. This crowd-pleasing comedy features a few Christmas Carols and lots of laughs.

ADULT ROLES (Ages are “stage age”)
All adult roles are small except for Grace Bradley
GRACE BRADLEY (MOTHER). 30+. A main role who takes over the annual Christmas pageant; mother to Beth and Charlie; wife to Bob.
BOB BRADLEY/ (FATHER). 30+. Husband to Grace and father to Beth and Charlie. A solid family man.
MRS. ARMSTRONG. 50s+. Managerial, in voice and manner; largish, bossy, impatient.
MRS. SLOCUM, MRS. CLARK, MRS. CLAUSING. 30-60+. Pleasant, motherly women very small roles
MRS. McCARTHY. 40s, 50s. A younger, less imperious version of Mrs. Armstrong
REVEREND HOPKINS. 30s+. pastor
2 FIREFIGHTERS Ready for any fire! (appear for a few minutes in one scene)
CHILD ROLES
BETH BRADLEY. 10-12ish. A lead role who is also the show’s narrator. Grace/Bob’s daughter. Beth needs a strong voice and stage presence; is in most scenes dealing with a range of moods and situations.
CHARLIE BRADLEY. 8-9; Beth’s brother – the typical kid brother.
ALICE WENDLEKEN. 10-11. Prim, proper, pain in the neck
MAXINE: 10-11. Beth’s church Sunday school classmate,good reader.
ELMER. 12-13. The minister’s son; dislikes church; not fond of the Herdmans.
HOBIE, DAVID, BEVERLY, JUANITA, DORIS. Various ages, 7-10.
THE HERDMANS — “the worst kids in the history of the world.”
RALPH. 12-13. The oldest Herdman; ragged, scroungy, slouching manner, touch of adolescent cool.
IMOGENE. 11-12 Loud, bossy, tough, crafty. The Herdman leader.
LEROY. 10-11. Tough, very sure of himself.
CLAUDE. 8-9. Tough, combative. A crime buddy to Ollie.
OLLIE. 8-9. Boy Always looking for trouble. Claude’s usual partner in crime.
GLADYS. 7-8. Small, wiry, feisty, mean. Often funny
ADDITIONAL ROLES
Various ages, 6-up. Angel Choir members; baby angels, shepherds

 

Auditions: Diary of Anne Frank

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Audition Notice!

Auditions for The Diary of Anne Frank will be held at ETC on Friday, August 29 from 5-7pm, and Saturday, August 30 from 10am-12pm.

Summary

During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Anne Frank began to keep a diary on June 14, 1942, two days after her 13th birthday and twenty-two days before going into hiding with her parents, sister, and three other people. Hiding in the sealed-off upper rooms of the annex of her father’s office building in Amsterdam, Anne and the others cope with the day-to-day struggles of life in cramped quarters, as the spectre of tragedy looms, ever-present, over their every move.

Available Roles

Anne Frank – Stage age: ~13–18 (typically plays 13–15)
A spirited, witty, and perceptive adolescent. Warm, impatient, hopeful, and emotionally complex as she matures under duress. 

Margot Frank – Stage age: ~15–20 (often around 16–17)
Quiet, studious, obedient, intelligent, and caring. She’s a peacemaker and a steady, respectful presence in the annex. 

Mrs. Edith Frank – Stage age: ~40–45 (mid‑40s)
A reserved, cultured, devoted mother, torn by her strained relationship with Anne. Tries to maintain harmony under intolerable stress. 

Mr. Otto Frank – Stage age: ~45–55 (mid‑40s to early‑50s)
Wise, compassionate, optimistic, and the group’s anchor. Anne’s beloved father and moral center, responsible for arranging their hiding. 

Mrs. Petronella (Auguste) van Daan – Stage age: ~40–45 (mid‑40s)
Loud, egotistical, flirtatious, and often meddling. Clings to comforts like her treasured fur coat, but still has moments of vulnerability. 

Mr. Hermann van Daan – Stage age: ~45–55 (mid‑40s to 50s)
Selfish, quarrelsome, often sarcastic. He’s critical of Peter and others, and central to escalating tensions in the annex. 

Peter van Daan – Stage age: ~15–20 (around 17–19)
Introverted, shy, awkward. Gradually grows close to Anne and matures, forming a tender bond of friendship and first love. 

Mr. Albert Dussel (dentist) – Stage age: ~45–55 (mid‑40s to 50s)
A pedantic, hyper‑critical, stubborn man. Troubled by cramped quarters and Anne’s adolescence; adds tension by his presence. 

Miep Gies – Stage age: ~25–40 (often ~33)
Loyal, courageous helper. Brings supplies and news, boosts spirits, and ultimately preserves Anne’s diary.

Mr. Kraler – Stage age: ~35–45 (around 35–45)
Trusted friend of Otto Frank, aids in food provisions and hides the annex’s inhabitants. 

 

Cumberland Cabaret: “Love Notes” 2025

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Date: Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025
Time: 7pm

Get ready for a night of romance as our community’s gifted musician’s take the stage for our second year of “Cumberland Cabaret: LOVES NOTES” – a talent showcase dedicated to love songs. 

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, our local performers will be delivering soulful renditions of classic, contemporary, and even original love songs. Bring your family, friends, or that special someone, and immerse yourselves in the magic of live music – an experience that promises to make this a perfect date night to remember! 

AUDITIONS:
To audition, please email etccumberlandwi@gmail.com

Audition Dates are; 
Jan. 25, 2-4
Feb. 1, 2-4

 

The Gift of the Magi

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This year’s Christmas play, “The Gift of the Magi”, is brought to us by director  and longtime ETC talent, Eva Srubar. 

Performances will be help December 12-14 at 7pm, and December 15 at 1pm & 4pm. 

Adult Tickets $12, Student Tickets $6

Tickets can be purchased in person at Peter & Annie’s in Cumberland, or online here!

 

AUDITIONS! – “Graceland” & “Asleep on the Wind”

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Added audition dates this Thursday & Friday, June 20 & 21, 6pm at ETC stage.
If interested but can’t make audition dates, know of anyone who may be interested, or have any questions regarding the play please contact the director, Sheila Shaffer, at lucidreamersheila@gmail.com .
Looking for actors for 2 companion one-act plays “Graceland” a dramedy, and “Asleep On the Wind” the prequel by Ellen Byron.
Performance dates: September 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 /matinees 22 & 29.
For ‘Graceland‘:
1 woman, Bev – age 40-60
1 woman, Rootie – early to mid 20s, Cajun/Southern accent
For ‘Asleep On the Wind’:
1 girl, Rootie – 11-15, Cajun/Southern accent
1 male, Beau – age 18-30, Cajun/Southern accent
Auditions will include readings from selected scenes. Please bring a list of your conflicts for the audition form.
Rehearsals will begin August 1st and will be Monday through Thursday through Sept 12th. Then may include the Friday & weekend prior to opening if needed.
*** TRIGGER WARNING!!  Please be advised there are references in the scripts of bullying and domestic abuse.
**** Also looking for an acapella trio or quartet to sing “Aura Lee” and one singer on acoustic guitar to sing “Love Me Tender”.

THE STORIES:
GRACELAND. The place is the front entrance of Graceland, the late Elvis Presley’s Memphis mansion, the time, five o’clock in the morning, three days before the estate is to be opened to the public. Two ardent Presley fans, Bev and Rootie, are camped out before the gates, each determined to be the first to enter the sacred precincts. Bev is a bewigged, middle-aged lady with too much make-up and a brassy down-home style; Rootie is young and shy and somewhat intimidated by the raucous Bev.
ASLEEP ON THE WIND. The time is ten years before the time of GRACELAND, the place, a small clearing in Bayou Teche, Louisiana, the “special place” that Rootie refers to in the other play. This is where Rootie and her favorite brother, Beau, a handsome, sensitive and restless young man come to talk in private and to escape her other two brothers who seem to delight in pestering their shy, reclusive sister. This time Beau has a double purpose for their meeting: to persuade Rootie to try to stick it out at home and in school; and also to tell her that he has enlisted in the army and has requested service in Vietnam.

Beauty and the Beast

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Get ready to be transported to the enchanted world of Beauty and the Beast as ETC brings the Broadway Musical to life on stage at the Enrichment Through Culture Theater on the dates shown below.

 

Buy Tickets at Peter & Annie’s in Cumberland, or use our new online feature.

Beauty & The Beast Auditions

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Hello everyone! Beauty and the Beast auditions are coming quick to work with the CHS Drama Club show schedule and Cumberland’s spring break. Auditions will be March 3rd from 1-5 in the Cumberland HS Choir Room, enter through the Middle School Bus door E4. Come prepared with a song you’re comfortable with and your best dance move! We will have scenes for you to do and do a quick vocal range test. Please also bring a list of your conflicts for the audition form. There is a potential for callbacks to happen from 4-6 pm on March 7th in the ETC basement if needed!
All parents! First, If your kiddo is under the age of 14 we will need you to join them for the audition process. Also, we will need your help with watching kids in the basement during rehearsal when they’re not on stage, getting them ready for dress rehearsals and shows, and getting them where they need to be. A sign up will be sent out once casting is complete. This is a big cast, our small directing team cannot do it all on their own!
Can’t make it but want to audition? Have questions? Please contact Emilie Springsteen at emiliespringsteen@gmail.com. We hope to see you there! Thank you so much!
-Directors Emilie Springsteen and Hannah Paul

“FOX ON THE FAIRWAY”

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Join us at ETC for the play “The Fox On The Fairway”, a comedy-farce by Ken Ludvig.
Performances on Thursday, Friday, Saturday Sep 28, 29, 30, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday Oct 5, 6, 7 – with curtain time at 7pm, and Sunday, Oct 8 for a 2pm matinee.
Tickets $12 at Peter and Annie’s, at the door, or call 715-822-8514 and follow the prompts.
Please be advised this show contains mature content not recommended for young children.