Auditions for River Stage’s fall season were held Sept. 8 and 9 at the Cosumnes River College Black Box Theatre.

River Stage is the producing arm of CRC’s Department of Theatre & Dance Arts. Their fall season will feature “Birdmocking,” “Rent” and “Story Explorers.”

“Birdmocking” is an original play by theater professor and playwright Anthony D’Juan, said director Matthew Miller. Based on Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the play shifts the focus to Tom Robinson, a falsely accused Black man awaiting trial in an Alabama jail.

“I’ve known Tony for a long time, so it’s always a great pleasure to work together like we have in the past,” Miller said. “I thought it was also really interesting to take a piece that’s so well known and to breathe new life into it from a different point of view.”

“Rent” is a musical about struggling young artists in New York City, and “Story Explorers” is geared toward children with autism and special needs, according to the River Stage website.

Miller said he enjoyed seeing students take an interest in the performing arts during auditions. When casting, he looked for people who aligned with his vision of the characters.

“It’s a matching game, it’s a puzzle,” Miller said. “Throw all the pieces together and see which ones fit the best.”

Bella Brusa, a 20-year-old business and psychology major, was the first to audition for “Rent.” To prepare, she watched the film adaptation and Broadway recordings on YouTube.

“I was nervous, especially being the first one, but I think it went well,” Brusa said. “Everyone’s nervous, so you just try to do your best and see what happens.”

Breana Rodriguez, a 17-year-old theatre arts major, auditioned for all three productions. She said her experience in high school theater solidified it as both a hobby and a potential career.

“I feel like I should do something that I want to do for the rest of my life,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like I have enough drive and talent to bring to River Stage.”

As an experienced actor, Miller said students should enjoy the audition process. While rejection is inevitable, he advised aspiring performers to persist.

“It’s a very, very difficult career route,” Miller said. “Enjoy the ride. It’s no good if you’re miserable.”

Miller said the next step after casting is to have students read from the script to see how well they can “lift it off the page.” He then encouraged students to get involved with the theater community on campus.

“Come out and audition, but if you’re not up for that, at least come out and watch,” Miller said.

More information about upcoming River Stage productions can be found on Instagram @seeaplayatcrc.