DUAL "ROLES": What It's Like to Be Auditioner & Auditionee

If you’ve never auditioned for a part– or been the one making casting decisions – here’s a behind-the-scenes glimpse at each person’s “role.”
 
GreenMan Theatre Troupe partnered with Elmhurst History Museum for its “History of Her: Women Who Shaped Chicagoland” exhibition to cast actors for biographical monologues for three notable Chicago-area women: Bertha Honoré Palmer, Audrey Wagner and Frances Willard.
 
Carolyn Thomas-Davidoff will direct the performances. Victoria Rebeck will perform her role as Frances Willard on August 11, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the museum.
 
Thomas-Davidoff: “I came into the “History of Her” auditions knowing the choices were going to be hard. I was delighted to have so many people auditioning. With Frances Willard, I wanted someone who could really get worked up about how so many women and children had been treated badly by drunken men.
 
“Victoria Rebeck made it known in advance that she was passionate about Frances Willard. I was impressed that she cared enough about this character to come in prepped specifically for her.
 
“During auditions I was looking for actors with the ability to both speak – and move. Some are great vocal artists but not so great with movement. Acting is heightened realism. I wanted these actors to use more space than they would in everyday life.
 
“The actor was going to have to be able to interact with the audience. People might just blurt out a question in the middle of the performance. I interrupted everyone during their audition on purpose. I wanted to see their verbal response to a question from the audience and their ability to be personable with the people in the room.” 
 
Rebeck got very excited when she learned GreenMan Theatre was looking for an actor to play the role of 19th-century, Evanston-based temperance advocate and suffragette Frances Willard.
 
Rebeck: “I really wanted the opportunity to portray Frances Willard. She’s an unsung hero.  I knew something about her because she was a Methodist, as am I. She was a feminist who really cared about temperance and the women and children who were vulnerable to the abuses that could happen to them by drinking husbands and fathers. The right for women to vote was also a big concern of Willard’s.”
 
So how did Rebeck feel going into the audition? “I was not nervous before the audition. I’ve done some auditioning, mostly involved with storytelling. But when I saw who else was auditioning, heard their readings and thought they were really good, I got very nervous. So, I just tried to do the best I could.”
 
Rebeck admits the need to memorize Willard’s biographical monologue is a bit daunting. “I’m a little nervous about learning a long monologue. It’s about nine minutes. Memorization is always pretty demanding, but I’ve done stories that were longer than this.
 
“I’m hoping that because I’m so enthusiastic about Willard that that will help me remember my lines.”
 
GreenMan Theatre invites you to come out and support Carolyn and Victoria, as well as Debbie Proska who will portray Bertha Honoré Palmer on Sat., June 20 at 2 p.m., and Kathi Campbell whose performance will celebrate Audrey Wagner on Sat., July 11 at 2 p.m. All performances will be at Elmhurst History Museum. The museum is located at 120 E. Park Ave. 
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