AUBURN - For nearly 50 years, the Auburn Players have been committed to the idea of creating quality theater within the community, using the area's rich base of resources and talent, from writers to performers.

On Sunday evening, auditions were held for the second annual Auburn Players Short Play Festival, a project that began with the idea of encouraging and nurturing the talent of both writers and performers from the Auburn area.

“We wanted to do something for playwrights to encourage them to submit their work for our consideration,” said Bourke Kennedy, producing director of the Auburn Players Second Stage.

“This year we've picked five pieces with a surprise, we'll say for now.”

Kennedy said the pieces chosen for this year's festival are mainly dramatic in theme, with 12 roles spread over the five main selections.

Kennedy, who will also be directing the pieces, which will run approximately 15 minutes each, was looking for a diverse range of characteristics from the performers who auditioned.

“We're looking for versatility in acting range,” Kennedy said, “age appropriate to the characters, of course. But the idea is to get people from the community involved in the performances, so a lot of knowledge or experience isn't really necessary.”

Among those trying their hand was Tom Hoey, of Auburn.

Hoey said he first got involved with the Auburn Players in the early 1970s, an experience that in many ways helped to shape the direction of his life.

“I love the theater,” Hoey said. “I'm 66 now, so I'm old enough to have been a part of this early on. I was first in the ‘The Sound of Music' in 1973. Really my experience with the Auburn Players sort of helped to shape the direction I took with my life.”

Hoey said that for a time he left the Auburn area, working as a DJ in various clubs and performing with a variety of regional theater groups, as well as with the Hollywood Playhouse.

Recently, Hoey said he performed with the Auburn Players Second Stage in October, performing in an one-act comedy skit, as well as in “Godspell'.

“It is a great group,” Hoey said. “And I think it is great they are doing things like this locally and getting local people involved to create these performances.”

Other aspiring thespians, such as Marcus Brumberger, also got their start with the Auburn Players.

Brumberger said he began his career with the recent production of “Godspell” and was eager to continue after this first stage experience.

“I've always liked the theater,” Brumberger said. “And I wanted to get more involved and this seemed like a great way to do that. I had a great experience doing ‘Godspell' and I just wanted to do more shows with the group.”

Kennedy said she planned to begin rehearsals as early as possible on Monday with a 10-week window to get the pieces ready to be performed at the Auburn Public Theatre Sept. 26 through Oct. 5.