Ed. Note: The following is a news release for College of the Canyons

The College of the Canyons theatre department will host a series of open audition dates for students and community members for roles in the college’s upcoming spring semester productions.

The COC theatre department’s spring productions include “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” by Bert V. Royal, “In the Heights” a musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda —writer of the Broadway sensation, “Hamilton” — and the 16th Annual New Works Festival.

Auditions will take place at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8 and Tuesday, Feb. 9 in the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center (PAC) Black Box Theater.

Callbacks will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, Feb. 13, by invitation only.

Auditioning actors should prepare a one-minute monologue while those auditioning for the musical should prepare 16 bars of music.

Actors cast for roles in these productions will be required to enroll in a spring semester theatre production class at the college.

“Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” is an exploration of what characters from the famed Peanuts comic strip might be like if they were teenagers.

The “unauthorized parody” explores adult themes such as eating disorders, violence, and a search for identity.

The play contains language and situations some may find offensive and is recommended for mature audiences. Performances will take place March 18-20 and March 24-26 in the Black Box Theater.

Matt McCray will direct the COC theatre department’s production of the Tony Award-winning “In the Heights” with performances running April 29 through May 8, on the PAC main stage.

“In the Heights” tells the story of a tightknit, vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood on the brink of change, and characters full of hopes, dreams and pressures.

The 16th Annual New Works Festival will be held in April in the college’s Studio Theatre featuring four days of new and original work written and produced by students and community members across the country.

Over the last 16 years many of the plays premiered at the New Works Festival have gone on to be produced at venues across the nation.

More About College of the Canyons Theatre

Part of the college’s School of Visual and Performing Arts, the COC theatre department offers a highly regarded transfer program with three degree options available to students in the field of theatre.

Students interested in attending a performance or learning more about the program are encouraged to contact the department at theatre@canyons.edu.