Excited chatter circulates throughout the Dome. As the lights dim, eager voices fade into hushed whispers. These whispers give way to total silence as the curtain rises. The opening number begins to play and plunges the audience into the masterpiece that Talon Theatre has worked so hard to create.

This is the finished product — the end result of hours of rehearsal that all started with auditions.

The auditions for Talon Theatre’s fall play “Museum” took place on Sept. 14 in the Black Box followed by callbacks on Sept. 15. “Museum” is an ensemble piece that transports its audience into the experience of gallery viewing. The cast includes 33 members that fulfill 44 roles, which gives some actors more than one role. The cast members interact with the artworks as well as each other in a modern art museum gallery in Manhattan.

“For ‘Museum’ I was okay with playing any role because the play is so diverse,” said senior Sam Drust. “Each part is unique in its own way so I was ready to tackle whatever was thrown at me.”

Drust received the role of Gilda Norris, a serious artist who visits the art exhibit to sketch the paintings. The painting she sketches in the play is a blank canvas.

“When I first read for this role it kind of clicked and the spirit of the character came through,” Drust said. “She’s super interesting so I was drawn to take a look into her personality and to take her on as a character.”

The auditions for “Museum”, as for all of fall shows, required very little preparation since they only involved a cold reading. The actors were given the script and a short amount of time to familiarize themselves with it. They were then required to read before judges Amy Luskey-Barth, director of theatre arts, and Tania Ayoub, theatre teacher.

“The judges typically start with the larger roles so that we can find the leads before finding the supporting actors and minor roles,” Ayoub said. “Even when there are several people who read well for the leads, this is still a priority, so we narrow it down before moving on to supporting roles.”

As audition number 27, Drust waited two hours for an audition that lasted mere minutes. This lengthy wait provided plenty of time for reading practice and pacing outside the door. Following the first day of readings is a day of callbacks for determining more specific roles. This was another three and a half hour process for Drust.

“Being accustomed to the audition process as a senior, I was a little less nervous this time around,” Drust said. “However the nerves are always internal and I like to use them to drive myself to do my best.”

Junior Dylan Field also says that nerves can benefit his performance. For Dylan, he was not as nervous at this audition compared to some in the past. He still sticks to a routine in his approach to each audition.

“In order to keep calm I continually practice with the time I am given, usually about 10-15 minutes, I read it in my head and then perform for a friend. I also drink lots of water, and do many breathing exercises so that I don’t psyche myself out,” said Field, who is cast as both Bob Lamb, a condescending art snob, and Bill Plaid, a pessimist who scorns modern art.

“The most stressful part of auditions is being put on the spot when you are given something new because you have to make quick decisions and figure out what the director wants to see and hear,” said senior Mickey Galvin, who is cast as Blakey, a college student who attends the museum exhibit with her friends. “The tension between the multiple actors or actresses who are auditioning for the same role can be difficult to overcome.”

Sometimes, you just have to fake it until you make it.

“The key is to take your time and pace yourself,” Field said. “If you can believe yourself as the role, then everyone else can too.”

Buy your tickets to see Talon Theatre perform “Museum” in the Black Box on Oct. 29-31 and Nov. 1.