Director: Dan Chase

AUDITION NOTICE
An Enemy of the People
By Henrik Ibsen | Adaptation by Arthur Miller
Presented by Ankeny Community Theatre

Ankeny Community Theatre announces auditions for Arthur Miller’s politically charged adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People, a bold and uncompromising drama about truth, power, and the cost of dissent. Come be part of a thought-provoking production that asks:
What happens when telling the truth comes at too high a cost? This is a play for artists who are unafraid of ideas—and for audiences ready to be challenged.

Show Dates
April 17-26 2026
Thursday, Friday, Saturday 7:30pm
Sunday 2:00pm​

Rated PG-13

Audition Dates
Sunday, February 22, 2026 6:30 p.m.
Monday, February 23, 2026 6:30 p.m.

If you cannot audition during these times, please contact us at  information@ankenycommunitytheatre.com to arrange a time for your audition. Please either bring completed  audition paperwork  or arrive early to complete it at the theater.

Location
Ankeny Community Theatre
1932 SW 3rd Street, Ankeny, IA 50023

Auditions are open to performers of all experience levels. ACT is committed to maintaining an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and safe regardless of their age, race or ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, or other characteristics that make our participants and patrons unique. We expect all our participants and patrons to conduct themselves in ways that support this commitment and to treat everyone with respect. Everyone who participates in our productions, from directors to actors and other volunteers, agrees to follow this  Code of Conduct.

ABOUT THE PLAY
Arthur Miller’s adaptation of An Enemy of the People is an unapologetically political work. Shaped by Miller’s experiences during the McCarthy era, the play confronts blind allegiance to majority rule, the abuse of institutional power, and the personal
consequences of speaking inconvenient truths.

When Dr. Thomas Stockmann discovers that his town’s celebrated mineral baths are dangerously contaminated, he expects gratitude. Instead, he is vilified, silenced, and branded “an enemy of the people.” Miller reframes Ibsen’s classic as a warning about how fear, self-interest, and public opinion can undermine truth—and how costly it can be to stand alone. ACT embraces the play as Miller intended: a provocative drama that challenges audiences and artists alike to wrestle with moral courage, civic responsibility, and the price of integrity.

AUDITION FORMAT
• Cold readings from the script
• Auditioners may be asked to read multiple roles
• Accents are not required
• Please bring a résumé and headshot if available (not required)

SUGGESTED AUDITION SIDES
Sides will be provided at auditions. Auditioners may be asked to read from scenes including:

Dr. Stockmann & Peter Stockmann – ideological conflict between truth and authority

Dr. Stockmann & Katherine Stockmann – the personal and familial cost of dissent

Peter Stockmann & Aslaksen – political moderation as control

Kiil & Katherine Stockmann – financial pressure and moral compromise

Dr. Stockmann & Hovstad – the press as ally, then adversary

Petra Stockmann & Hovstad – integrity versus expediency

Public Meeting Scene – rhetoric, escalation, and isolation (ensemble)

Actors should be prepared to engage with strong language, moral confrontation, and
heightened political rhetoric in service of character and story.

QUESTIONS
For audition updates, rehearsal schedules, or additional information, please visit AnkenyCommunity Theatre’s website or social media channels.

Main Characters
Dr. Thomas Stockmann – (male presenting, any ethnicity, age early 40’s to early 50’s) The idealistic and principled town doctor who discovers that the town’s spa water is contaminated. He believes in truth and public welfare above all else, even at great personal cost.

Peter Stockmann – (male presenting, any ethnicity, age early 50’s to early 60’s) The town’s mayor and Thomas Stockmann’s older brother. He is pragmatic, power-conscious, and opposes Thomas’s revelations because they threaten the town’s economy and his authority.

Katrine (Katherine) Stockmann – (female presenting, any ethnicity, age late 30’s to late 40’s) Thomas’s devoted wife. She supports her husband but worries about the consequences of his uncompromising stance on the truth. Emotional anchor of the play strength through restraint.

Petra Stockmann – (female presenting, any ethnicity, age mid to late 20’s) Thomas and Katrine’s daughter, a schoolteacher. She shares her father’s idealism and independence but faces difficulties due to his controversy. Intelligent, principled, outspoken, moral clarity and youthful courage; often steals scenes.

Hovstad – (any gender, any ethnicity, age late 30’s to late-50’s) The editor of The People’s Messenger, initially supportive of Stockmann’s findings but later turns against him when public sentiment shifts requires clear shifts in motivation over the course of the play

Billing – (any gender, any ethnicity, age late 20’s to late-40’s) A journalist at The People’s Messenger who wavers in their convictions and follows public opinion. Enthusiastic, unserious, comic undertones, useful contrast to Petra; idealism without backbone.

Aslaksen – (male presenting, any ethnicity, age early 40’s to early 60’s) A printer and influential small-business leader. He advocates for moderation and the interests of the majority, prioritizing stability over truth. “Moderation” as a weapon; power through understatement.

Morten Kiil – (male presenting, any ethnicity, age early 60’s to mid 70’s) Katrine’s father, a wealthy tanner. He has a personal stake in the spa’s fate and tries to manipulate Stockmann’s situation for financial gain. Shrewd, manipulative, darkly comic, financial leverage and moral ambiguity; scene-stealer when cast well.

Captain Horster – (male presenting, any ethnicity, age early 40’s to early 60’s) A ship captain who supports Stockmann and provides him with a space to speak when others shut him out.

The Townspeople – Represent public opinion, shifting from support to hostility toward Stockmann as they fear economic ruin.

Ejlif Stockmann (pronounced “ay-liff”) – (age 8–12): One of the Stockmann children

Morten Stockmann – (age 6–10): One of the Stockmann children The two Stockmann children appear in limited scenes and do not carry political dialogue.

CONTENT ADVISORY (IMPORTANT)
An Enemy of the People contains intense political debate, heated arguments, and themes of public shaming, social isolation, and moral conflict. While two child roles appear briefly, this play is not intended for young performers seeking a light or youth-focused theatre experience, nor is it recommended for very young audiences. Parents of child auditioners should review the material and be comfortable with the subject matter and rehearsal environment.