NEIU students from diverse backgrounds and experience levels came together to audition for the spring theatrical production, Witch, by playwright Jen Silverman and directed by Dan Wirth, Senior Instructor of Communication, Media and Theatre (CMT). The production will run for seven official performances April 17-26, 2025 at Stage Center Theatre (SCT).
Among those auditioning for this spring’s production of Witch is Valerie Cotsiopoulos, a 24-year-old Secondary Education major, who resonated with the character Elizabeth. Cotsiopoulos is no stranger to SCT, having played Marie Antoinette in Fall 2022’s production of The Revolutionists, a production she recalled fondly. She admitted that she had approached her prior starring role with a more spontaneous mindset. However, this time she had prepared more rigorously by studying the monologue, practicing movements with each line and fully immersing herself in Elizabeth’s persona.
Upon first glance at the script, Cotsiopoulos felt that she was reading about her own life. “Even her character description says she’s an outcast, and I kind of grew up similar,” Cotsiopoulos said. “I felt alone, and I really want to audition as her.”
Also auditioning for Witch is Xavier Becerra, a 27-year-old CMT major graduating in May, who is also well-acquainted with SCT, having either auditioned or taken part in several plays such as In the Belly of the Whale, Black Bear Island and Millions and Millions of Stars, just to name a few.
Becerra recalls his reaction to the script after thoroughly reading it, “It’s pretty comedic. I like how contemporary the writing is. [This is] my last show before I graduate. I figure I might as well go out with a bang.”
Becerra is auditioning for the role of Frank, the adopted son. He pointed out how he could resonate with the character, “I think being the golden child that then kind of has his downfall just sort of resonates with me…. it just seemed like a really interesting and fun character.”
Balancing academics, work and theater is no easy feat, yet Cotsiopoulos has found ways to manage it all. During The Revolutionists, she juggled rehearsals with coursework and a job and used every spare moment to study. “I would just take any downtime for studying [and] do my homework immediately to get it out of the way,” Cotsiopoulos said.
This production will be Cotsiopoulos’s first time working closely with Wirth. “I have met him once before in the past, but I don’t think I’ve worked closely with him on any kind of production specifically,” Cotsiopoulos said. “I look forward to working with him, if I do get chosen for the part.”
Becerra is a former student of Wirth, but this will be his first time working closely alongside him. “He’s a great instructor so I’m sure from my experience and from what I’ve heard, he’s also a really good director, so I’m looking forward to it. This is my first time working underneath him in a production.”
In Cotsiopoulos’s experience, having a smaller cast like in the four-character, all-female play, The Revolutionists, poses its challenges. “If it’s a smaller cast, there’s obviously a lot more dialogue for each character to have, so it’s a lot more memorization but it’s not impossible,” Cotsiopoulos said. “I was able to do it before, and it’s awesome [and] it’s possible.” Witch will be having a cast of at least six characters, according to the official audition calling email sent to all students.
When asked what she would do differently while acting compared to her last time on the stage, Cotsiopoulos said she desired to do a lot more thoughtful acting. “I want to see my peers’ thought process[es], how they do their lines [and] how they make decisions with their characters,” Cotsiopoulos responded.
As an experienced trouper in SCT, Becerra has served as a mentor to less experienced student thespians, “I like [the] older brother type of scenario where I’m overlooking the younger students. I think students coming in already have a good understanding as to where they stand and what needs to be brought out of them during production.”
Becerra recalls mentoring younger students during the production of Millions and Millions of Stars, “I was the only upperclassman in the entire production so I did kind of feel as if I needed to take the reins and be kind of that elder voice in the student body for them.”
When asked what being on stage means to her, Cotsioupoulos responded, “You’re telling the audience the story; you’re conducting it, and it’s an art piece,” continuing, “I think that’s what it means to me, and just trying to get that story across to the audience.”
When asked about what an ideal future for SCT might look like, Becerra encouraged SCT to recruit younger students. “I would like the faculty and staff to try and advocate more for the younger students coming in to try this out.”
While Becerra has a plethora of experiences in the thespian world, Cotsiopoulos considers herself to be an intermediate-level performing stage artist because “I have been in school plays, [and] my theater near me did some fun classes [like] improv and little mini plays, but I’ve never done anything professional.”
“I’ve always loved acting, since I was a kid, and just doing it makes me happy,” Cotsiopoulos said. “Even if I have a small part, I’ve always loved doing theater.”
As auditions conclude and rehearsals prepare to begin, Cotsiopoulos offered remarks to students who are considering auditioning for a theatrical production: “Take a shot at it even if you’re nervous, and you can do it,” continuing, “Just make sure you practice. Don’t wing it like I used to. [The] worst thing they can say is ‘no’ and that’s not that bad, so just do your best.” Whether she lands the role of Elizabeth or not, one thing is certain––Cotsiopoulos has found a home on the stage, where storytelling and self-expression come to life under the spotlight.
Auditioning for a play can be intimidating, but it’s also an opportunity for growth––both on and off the stage. Whether landing a lead role or simply gaining experience, every audition is a step forward. Theater challenges students to step outside their comfort zones, build confidence and refine their craft. “As we get older, we tend to think back and reevaluate where our standing was last year as opposed to now,” Becerra said. Taking the leap to audition today might just be the milestone students look back on with pride next year. Students can either avoid auditioning and regret it later, or do as these two brave individuals––Becerra and Cotsiopoulos––did and try to get a desired role while being proud no matter the outcome.