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YOUTH
AUDITIONS
BY SHIRLEY JACKSON
Adapted by Duncan Graham
Directed by Piper J. Distel and Lori Robinson Distel
SHOW DATES
OCTOBER 9-12, 2025 at Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre
(9 Princess St. East. Waterloo, Ontario, Canada)
AUDITION DATES
Friday, June 6th from 6:00-10:00 PM
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
(810 King St. East. Cambridge, ON.)
In this bold reimagining of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, psychological terror meets physical theatre in a visceral exploration of fear, memory, and the fragile boundaries between the real and the imagined. When Dr. Montague invites a group of strangers to the notorious Hill House for a paranormal study, he expects cold spots and creaking doors — but the house has other plans. At the centre is Eleanor Vance: lonely, sensitive, and haunted long before she ever arrived. As Hill House tightens its grip on her psyche, the walls seem to breathe, shadows move with intention, and the past bleeds into the present.
Using stylized movement, ensemble-driven choreography, and immersive sound, Hill House blurs the line between body and architecture. The cast transforms into the house itself — undulating hallways, grasping staircases, and watchful windows — making the building an active, malevolent force on stage. Scenes morph seamlessly from reality to dreamlike sequences, mirroring Eleanor’s descent into obsession and madness.
PRODUCTION INFO
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO AUDITION?
THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE is a youth production, open to performers ages 14-30! No experience necessary. Penny & Pound Theatre is committed to offering diverse and equitable theatre to all. We highly encourage full participation from performers who identify as IBPOC, 2SLGBTQIA++, disAbled as well as those of all body types, societal and economic backgrounds and religious beliefs! We are committed to meeting the needs and expectations of all those who participate in our productions.
WHAT TO PREPARE
Nothing! The audition will consist of a cold-reading from the script.
Auditionees will be asked to read for various characters.
Those auditioning for a ‘dance’ role will be required to attend the movement portion of the audition.
SHOW FEE
In order to participate in THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, performers are asked to pay a show fee of $80. This fee covers the costs of producing high-quality theatrical productions, and DOES NOT pay the Creative Team. If you require a payment plan, we would be happy to discuss the options. All those who pay the fee receive the following:
- 1 complimentary ticket to the show
- A professional-quality headshot
- A bound copy of the script
IMPORTANT DATES
REHEARSAL DATES
Monday and Thursday evenings from 6:00-10:00 PM in Cambridge, ON.
FIRST REHEARSAL
Monday June 16th, 2025
TECH WEEK
October 6th-8th, 2025
SHOW WEEK
Thursday, October 9th at 8:00 PM
Friday, October 10th at 8:00 PM
Saturday, September 11th at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Sunday, September 12th at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
ELEANOR VANCE | Feminine
A shy, emotionally fragile and deeply lonely young woman. She finds a strange connection with Hill House, and her psychological unraveling is pivotal to the story.
THEODORA | Feminine
Bold, free-spirited and witty, Theodora is an emotionally intuitive psychic who develops romantic feelings for Eleanor.
DR. JOHN MONTAGUE | Masculine
An academic and investigator of the paranormal. He’s passionate about proving the supernatural scientifically and orchestrates the experiment at Hill House.
LUKE | Masculine
Charming, sarcastic, and somewhat disinterested in the seriousness of the investigation. He’s the heir to Hill House and represents the family's disconnection from its dark history. Luke often provides comic relief
MRS. DUDLEY | Feminine
The daytime caretaker of Hill House. She is stiff, formal, and eerily repetitive in her warnings: “No one can hear you in the night. In the dark. In the night.”
MR. DUDLEY | Masculine
Mrs. Dudley’s husband and Hill House’s groundskeeper. Less prominent, but equally distant and unsettling.
MRS. MONTAGUE | Feminine
Dr. Montague’s bossy, spiritualist wife. She arrives later in the story, bringing with her planchettes and séances, undermining her husband’s scientific approach.
DANCE ENSEMBLE | Any Gender
A group of versatile dancers and movers who add to the tension and dreamlike atmosphere of the story.