Upcoming KIDSTAGE Auditions:

Issaquah

Everett - Village Theatre Institute (Learn more...)

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Issaquah

For Steve Tomkins Studio, Ensemble Institute, TeenSelect, and Company Originals:

Starting September 1, 2010, Email KIDSTAGEissaquah@villagetheatre.org or call (425) 392-1942 x147 to set up an audition appointment.
General Auditions will take place September 19-20, 2010 for all school-year programs.
Callbacks will take place September 25, 26, and 27 for school-year productions and programs.
Actors need to prepare a one-minute monologue and 32 bars from a song.
Bring piano sheet music in a three-ring binder plus three copies of a photo and resume.
For those auditioning for Company Originals, also bring an original written piece. For details, see Company Originals program description.

STEVE TOMKINS STUDIO (grades 9 - age 20)
About the Studio:
The Studio bridges the gap between regular KIDSTAGE classes and the real world. The Studio focuses on acting at an advanced level including various acting methods and techniques which are explored via scene-work, duets, and dance. This advanced training program will be taught by some of the regions’ finest teaching artists. The Studio will also include master classes (such as stage combat, dialect coaching, callback skills, etc.) taught by special guests. Most importantly, each student will come closer to achieving the ultimate musical theatre goal: becoming a Triple Threat. Each session will culminate in a visit from Village Theatre’s Artistic Director, Steve Tomkins. Past studio students were selected into the casts of the Mainstage productions of Bye Bye Birdie, The Who’s Tommy!, Stunt Girl, Show Boat, and 42nd Street (among others.)

Steve Tomkins Studio students receive priority casting for the Company Originals program and special attention as performance interns for Village Theatre Mainstage.
Studio: The Studio meets Monday evenings from 6:45-9:15 PM, school year study required

Fall: 10/11-12/6, 2010 (9 weeks)
Winter: 1/10-3/14, 2011 (9 weeks)
Spring: 4/11-5/9, 2011 (5 weeks)

Tuition: $640 ($80 a month October-May). Scholarships and Work Exchange are available.

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ENSEMBLE INSTITUTE (Grades 6-9)
About the Institute:
The Ensemble Institute is the first step toward the Village Theatre Institute which will be in full force in the 2011-2012 season. This season the Institute is open by audition for students in 6th-9th grade (younger by permission) who are ready to study, train and perform at an advanced level. The 26 week program will be taught and directed by some of the regions’ finest teaching artists, directors, choreographers, and music directors. Students interested in (or exploring) a vocation in performance and/or who want the experience of excelling in musical theatre to build life skills such as creativity, discipline, teamwork, and collaboration, should consider auditioning. The program goal is to build professional level musical theatre skills and important life skills through a progressive personalized continuum of coursework, rehearsal and performance. Students perform for the public and the emphasis is on the performer, not elaborate sets or costumes. Students will audition for the Institute and be evaluated at the end of the school year by a panel of performance educators along with Village Theatre artistic staff and guest teaching artists. Auditions and Evaluations will allow staff to customize each student’s program for continued growth.

The cast for the April Ensemble production of 13 will be Institute students only.

13

Music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn

About the Show:
13 is a high-spirited musical about the tribulations of early adolescence told with contagious energy and humor. Exiled from Manhattan to Indiana, “the lamest place in the world,” a charismatic and slightly nerdy Junior High student works to entice the schools’ ‘cool’ crowd to attend his bar mitzvah. Along the way, he discovers that ‘cool’ is sometimes found where you least expect it. The engaging story explores the leap from childhood into a whole new fantastic and frightening world of being a “teen.” The characters work to survive classes, navigate cliques, dispel rumors, and eventually find what it means to be ‘cool.’ 13 is infused with an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown that includes magnetic hits such as “What It Means to Be a Friend,” “A Little More Homework,” and “Brand New You.”

Meetings: The Studio meets Monday afternoons from 3:45-6:15 PM, school year study required
Rehearsals: Starting in March, students begin rehearsals for the production and meet 4-6 times a week. For safety reasons, the rehearsal schedule will not be posted online; for information about rehearsals, please call the Issaquah KIDSTAGE office, (425) 392-1942 x147.
Performances: April 7-10, 2011 (venue to be announced, dates subject to change)
Tuition: $140 a month (October -May). Scholarships and Work Exchange are available.

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TEENSELECT PRODUCTION (grades 5–12)
About TeenSelect:
TeenSelect is a school year production program for advanced students. Directed, designed, and produced by adult theatre professionals, the intensive rehearsal process includes script analysis, character development, learning choreography and staging, and strengthening the vocal instrument. The result of this program is a fully-produced musical. Prior participation in KIDSTAGE classes is recommended.

Footloose

Stage Adaption by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie
Based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford
Music by Tom Snow
Lyrics by Dean Pitchford
Additional Music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman

About the Show:
Based on the hit 80’s hit movie of the same name, the stage version of Footloose is a high-powered exhilarating musical. With hit tunes right off the solid gold soundtrack such as “Holding Out for a Hero”, “Let's Hear it For the Boy”, and “Almost Paradise”, this is one show guaranteed to have you dancing in your seat! The 1984 classic movie starred Kevin Bacon, Sarah Jessica Parker, John Lithgow, and Dianne Wiest and netted more than $100 million dollars. Teenage Ren moves from the big city to a very religious small farming town. Things heat up when he insists the high school hold a dance. Footloose blends teenage rebellion, the wisdom of youth, and an explosion of good old-fashioned down-home dance.

Rehearsals: Rehearsals will start in November and will be after school three days a week and on Saturdays. For safety reasons, the rehearsal schedule will not be posted online; for information about rehearsals, please call the Issaquah KIDSTAGE office, (425) 392-1942 x147.
Performances: January 8-16, 2011 at the Bellevue Meydenbauer Theatre
Tuition: $575 (if cast). Scholarships and Work Exchange are available.

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COMPANY ORIGINALS (grades 9-Age 20)
About the Company Originals Program:
KIDSTAGE Company Original productions are original musical projects created by emerging theatre artists. After a competitive audition process, students will create their own original material under the mentorship and guidance of a professional writing, composing, and directing team. The program will culminate in a reading (or readings) for an audience. The Company Originals production is written by, for, and about teens, and it addresses some of the most important issues facing teens today. Past original teen works include: Last Exit, In Your Eyes, A Perfect Fall, Save As…, and The Last Shot.

Company Originals Acting/Writing/Composing Program 2010-2011:
This year will be an amazing journey for the student interested in a completely transformative artistic exploration. KIDSTAGE artists will be working with 10-12 students here in Issaquah, as well as groups of students in North Carolina, South Africa and the Philippines to create cross-cultural collaborative original pieces.

Artists in the Company Originals program must be current Steve Tomkins Studio students and/or taken the Fall Acting Intensive.

Fully mentored by an adult musical theatre professional writer, composer, and director.
Fall writing, composing, and brainstorm sessions will start October 10, 2010 and will be after school one to two days a week and Sundays. In January, week-day meetings will shift to evenings two to three days a week and Sundays. For safety reasons, the schedule will not be posted online; for information about the schedule, please call the Issaquah KIDSTAGE office, (425) 392-1942 x147.
The process will include writing, composing, music theory, intense team and character building exercises, learning to pick up material quickly, advanced improvisation and acting techniques, and the unique opportunity to connect with students from different cultures.
Final Workshop Reading or readings the last week of March, 2011.
Tuition: $100 a month (October-March) if cast. Scholarships and Work Exchange are available.

Additional audition item needed for Company Originals:

• Bring original written piece.

We acknowledge that artists have different strengths, but this year we are hoping to cultivate the entire individual. All artists selected for the program will be participating in all aspects of the project. In addition to a monologue and song, all students auditioning for Company Originals will need to write something for the audition. The writing piece can be, but is not limited to, a song, scene, short story, poem, Haiku, advertisement, etc. Please have your writing reflect on one of the following themes:

• Prejudices
• Saints and sinners
• Community

There is no right or wrong to this project. Bring your original written work to the audition.
Dare to do amazing things fearlessly!

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Everett

PERFORMANCE TRACK (grades 4-8 & grade 9-age 20)
Description:
Institute students in the performance track, perform showcases for the public and receive exclusive or priority casting in certain productions and readings. Students audition for the Institute Performance Track in September and are evaluated at various times throughout their term in the Institute by a panel of performance educators along with Village Theatre artistic staff and guest teaching artists. Auditions and evaluations will allow staff to customize each student’s program for continued growth.

Audition Appointments: We will begin taking audition appointments starting September 1, 2010
Contact: Call (425) 257-6371 or email kidstage_everett@villagetheatre.org
Auditions: September 13-14, 2010
Come Prepared: Song and monologue that best demonstrates your skills (each a minute in length). There will also be a dance call so bring clothes or come dressed to move.
Dates & Times: Mondays, September 27-February 21, 2010, time varies per student but must include a Studio or Company class.
Showcase rehearsals: December 20-February 15. During the daytime in December and generally Wednesday/Thursday evening and Saturdays.
Tuition: $160 per month for full Institute program. (October-Februrary) Tuition may vary according to each student's level of participation.

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COMPANY ORIGINALS TRACK (grade 9-age 20)
Description:
Description: Student writers and composers work with professional writers in the fall class. Those who would like to be considered for Company Originals as writers and composers must submit examples of their work and interview for the program. Following class study, Company Originals writers and composers will create original material, which is then shaped into a new musical and is brought to life as a staged reading. Company Originals writers and composers are encouraged to take the Institute Performance track as well. Actors for Company Originals readings are selected from the Institute Performance Track students. View more information about the Company Originals Program.

Audition Appointments: We will begin taking audition appointments starting September 1, 2010
Contact: Call (425) 257-6371 or email kidstage_everett@villagetheatre.org
Auditions/Interviews: September 13-14, 2010

1. Complete an application form
2. Complete the following samples:

• Writers/lyricists: Submit 4-8 typed pages of contrasting examples of your writing.
• Composers: Submit 3-5 minutes of recorded contrasting examples of your composition work.

Need more information? Click here for some helpful examples.

Dates & Times: Tuesdays, October 5-December 14, 2010, and Wednesdays/Saturdays January 5-February 19.
Tuition: $100 per month for Company Originals. Institute Performance track students add $50 per month to full Institute tuition (October-February). Tuition may vary according to each student's level of participation.