Bowie Community Theatre. "The Boys Next Door." 7:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday at Bowie Playhouse, Whitemarsh Park, Route 3 South in Bowie. Callbacks 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15. Needed: one male, age 32; a male, 55-60; four males to play mentally handicapped men, ages 20-45; two women, ages 20-45. Performances are April 27 to May 12. Call 301-858-9314.
Arena Players. "Outdoor Recess." Needed: a woman, age 20; two women in their mid-30s; two women, 30s or 40s; and two men, 30s or 40s. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 and 11 a.m. Feb. 17 at the theater, 801 McCulloh St. Call 410-728-6500.
Maryland Arts Festival. Auditions for this year's Towson University summer arts program will be held at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Feb. 17 at Towson University Center for the Arts, Room 342, Osler and Cross Campus drives. Callbacks 1 p.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 18. For "Side Show" and "Some Enchanted Evening" prepare 16 bars in appropriate style. Bring sheet music, pianist will be provided. Prepare a one-minute comedy monologue for "Born Yesterday." Resume and head shot are also required. To schedule auditions, call 410-704-2076.
Morris A. Mechanic Theatre. Two African-American young boys, ages 4-6 and not taller than 40 inches, are needed to play the role of "Little Coalhouse" during the Baltimore run - Feb. 27 through March 4 - of the Tony Award-winning musical "Ragtime." There will be no advance appointments; sign-in starts 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at Mechanic Theatre, Hopkins Plaza. Considerable concentration is required. The paying role is non-speaking and has limited stage time during the finale of the performance. The young actors will be needed for rehearsals the day of the audition. For information, call 410-625-4230.