Milam Community Theater Announces Summer Production of ‘The Fantasticks’ - Auditions Set for May 31

CAMERON — Local theater enthusiasts and aspiring actors will soon have the chance to step into the spotlight. The Milam Community Theater (MCT) Board of Directors has officially announced its highly anticipated summer production: The Fantasticks.

Auditions for the upcoming musical are scheduled for Sunday, May 31, 2026, beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Williams Event Center in Cameron.

To lead the production, the MCT board has selected Central Texas musical theater veteran Christine Couch as director. Couch brings more than a decade of regional directorial experience to the Cameron stage, with recent credits including Sleeping Beauty: The Musical with WATCH Theater and Anastasia with Central Texas Theater. This production will mark her directorial debut with the Milam Community Theater.

“The board is excited to announce that Christine Couch has been selected to helm this wonderful musical,” MCT representatives shared in a recent statement.

The Fantasticks holds the legendary title of the world’s longest-running musical, with its original off-Broadway production running for an astonishing 42 years and over 17,000 performances. Written as a funny and poignant allegory, the story follows two young lovers, Matt and Luisa, whose fathers cleverly stage a fake feud in a reverse-psychology trick to get them to fall in love. The show features a poetic book and a breezy, inventive score that includes timeless, memorable classics like “Try to Remember.”

Audition Information and Casting Opportunities

Director Couch noted that the script calls for a versatile cast of eight actors. In an inclusive approach to casting, Couch emphasized that the characters are not strictly bound by traditional constraints.

“Age, and in many cases, gender, are not necessarily pre-determined,” Couch stated, adding that specific details may be adapted based on the talent that shows up. “Your task in the audition is to show us that you could portray one of these characters, regardless of their age or gender, as written.”

Available roles include:

• El Gallo: The enigmatic and commanding narrator (originally written for a male, baritone, ages 30–45).
• Matt and Luisa: The young, naive lovers (originally written for ages 16–26).
• Hucklebee & Bellomy: A blustery, boisterous, and highly comedic duo playing the bickering parents.
• Henry & Mortimer: Two foolish, theatrical, old-school comic actors.
• The Mute: An omnipresent, non-speaking character who interacts with the cast, sets props, and physically represents the wall separating the families (open to any age or gender).

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script and simple movement exercises. Actors hoping to land a role should also prepare a 30- to 60-second vocal selection—either from The Fantasticks itself or a piece that best showcases their vocal talent. Auditionees may sing a cappella or bring a digital device, as a Bluetooth speaker will be available to play backing tracks. Full character descriptions and specific song suggestions can be found on MCT's website.

Those interested in auditioning are asked to sign up ahead of time via the online form available on the theater's website and come prepared to list any scheduling conflicts.

Rehearsal and Performance Schedule

For those who make the cut, the first table read-through and rehearsals will quickly get underway on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Rehearsals will generally take place at the Williams Event Center on weeknights (Monday through Thursday) from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and on Sunday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A finalized three-times-a-week schedule will be established once the availability of the cast is determined. Crucial tech and dress rehearsals are locked in for the week of July 19–24.

The grand finale of all this hard work will be a two-weekend run of performances. The Fantasticks will hit the stage from July 25 through August 2, 2026, featuring Saturday evening shows at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.

Community members with questions regarding auditions, roles, or rehearsals are encouraged to reach out directly to Director Christine Couch via email at ccouch@verizon.net. For more information, audition sign-up links, or box office details, visit www.milamcommunitytheater.com.