Following are frequently asked questions (FAQ) we receive about The Hyperion Players. This page will expand as we receive more!
What’s the point of The Hyperion Players?
When we get this question, we start by referring you to our mission statement, which guides who and what we are, but probably doesn’t answer your question in full. Hence the FAQ.
The point of Hyperion is to create art, and to send it out into the world. Some people just can’t help but tell stories, and tell them in a particular way. That particularity requires them to put in hours and hours of work over the course of weeks, committing random words to memory, laboring in scratchy costumes, rushing to get to rehearsal on time after work ran late or after their kid needed to be dropped off at practice, volunteering their evenings to cover old flats in a fifteenth layer of paint, digging through the Habitat ReStore for a period piece of furniture that doesn’t exist, stressing out because their friends keep saying they’ll come to opening night but won’t buy a ticket…and in the end, glorying in the lights and the sweat and the nerves and the camaraderie, because this is what it is to be an amateur actor.
Hyperion exists because we love theatre.
We exist because Hamilton County is growing, and every community deserves the opportunity to go to live theatre on the weekend.
We exist because we believe there’s an appetite for more art in our community, and room for a young, vibrant performing arts company.
We exist because our founders had a dream, and decided to do that very American thing and try to bring the dream from restaurant napkin to reality.
We exist because we want to give opportunities to existing artists, yes, but also to develop new talent. We want to find ways to do theatre a little differently. We don’t yet know precisely what that means, but we’re going to try a variety of things as we go along. We’re going to do some things right, and we’re going to make mistakes, and hopefully we’ll be around long enough to share many, many stories with you.
At the end of the day, everyone has a story, and every story is worth telling. The point of Hyperion is to tell stories, and we want to continue to discover and be delighted by stories for as long as we can.
What kind of plays do you do?
We have many ideas for the future, but at present, we’re generally focused on comedies and dramas with small casts and relatively straightforward sets. We’ll also perform the occasional original show by a Hoosier playwright.
Are your plays appropriate for children?
It depends on the play. We present a variety of shows, some of which are appropriate for general audiences, and some that are better suited for adults.
We encourage you to look up a play before you bring your children along. Some shows, like The Glass Menagerie, aren’t inappropriate per se, but are thematically heavy and will likely not be interesting for children of a certain age. Other plays, like God of Carnage, probably earn an R rating for language. Still others, like Call Me Sister, should be fine for kids as young as 8. We’ll add a disclaimer if there’s content to monitor.
How do I apply to direct a show?
If you’re interested in directing for Hyperion, please contact us. The application window to direct opens the August prior to the season, and closes at the end of September (so, for the 2023-24 season, applications open August 2022). We evaluate applications in October and finalize our season by the end of December. Season lineups are announced in the spring.
No previous experience with Hyperion is required to apply. Prior directing experience is preferred.
How can I audition / what if I don’t want to act or direct?
If you’re interested in auditioning for one of our productions, keep an eye on the Auditions page. You can also follow us on social media to see what’s coming up.
There’s a lot more to shows than just acting, of course. Costuming, set design, sound board operation, ushering – every aspect of our productions is done through volunteer work, and we’d love to have your help. Contact us if you’re interested.
Does it cost money to be in a show?
There are no fees associated with performing in, designing, or volunteering for a show. We’re always happy to accept donations, whether it’s a monetary donation or the donation of a prop or costume. We often ask during a show if a cast or crew member has a particular item they’re willing to donate, but this isn’t a requirement for participation.