by Bill | Apr 25, 2012 | Announcements
CALLING ALL THEATER PARENTS! With the auditions coming up soon, your kids may be getting a bit nervous – especially if they have never auditioned for a musical before. Well, every scary thing they are imagining . . . IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO HAPPEN ! ! !
Calm down, just kidding. There’s really nothing to worry about. Let me give you quick rundown of the audition process. It often helps to know what you are walking into
Auditions are being held on two different days – Thursday the 3rd and Saturday the 5th. You only need to come to one or the other. We’re expecting that the bulk of the kids will come Saturday morning, so if you want less hassle, you may want to consider coming Thursday evening. Just my opinion.
When you get to the auditorium, you will get an audition form to complete. If you’d like to help us out, you can download the form beforehand (right HERE) and bring it to the auditions already completed. That will be easier for you and will save everyone lots of time.
As you come in, each auditioning child will be given a name tag with a number on it. That will help us remember each kid – with the large number of children we expect, keeping everyone straight gets hard. We’ll take some pictures and video the auditions. (These pictures will NOT be used for the show program – we’ll take those at a later date.)
The first thing we will do is take the kids and teach them a relatively simple dance routine. Depending on the size of the group – we may do this in several sessions. The kids (in a group) will then demonstrate their ability to remember the dance.
As groups are finished with the dance, they will go and learn the audition song. Everyone will sing the posted songs from Winnie the Pooh regardless of which show they will be cast in. We just need to find out how well they sing in a group and by themselves. (If they are not auditioning for a solo role they only have to sing with the group.). Once again, learning the song beforehand will save a lot of time so please check out the song links in a previous post.
The final step will be running the kids through a script read IF they want a speaking role. If not, they can skip this step.And that’s it! Easy, right? So no more stressing. This will be easy and fun.
Once we decide on the casting, the results will be posted right here on our web site. We fully expect to post the list no later than Monday. Probably sooner. And we will try to accommodate all special casting requests you put on the audition form. “Can my three kids all be in the same show?” “My daughter want to be in the same show as her friends.” “We’re going to be on vacation during the first show” “My son wants the lead.” (OK, maybe we can’t promise to satisfy that last request.)
And while the kids are going through the process, the producers will meet with the parents to let you know how you can help out and to answer any questions you might have.
Any questions? Any answers?
OK, then we’ll you at auditions!
by Bill | Apr 20, 2012 | Announcements
Based on some feedback we’ve received from the parents of our future stars, we are making some adjustments to our audition plans.
Originally we had planned on one audition date with callbacks. Forget that! Auditions are now on Thursday, May 3rd at 7:00 PM AND on Saturday, May 5th at 11:00 AM. The kids can audition ON EITHER DATE but not both. So pick whichever date is most convenient for your schedule.
All kids will audition with the same music from Winnie the Pooh regardless of which show they will be in. We just need to hear the kids sing so we can assess their skill level. (Links to the music are listed further below if you want to practice beforehand.) Most 2nd through 5th graders will likely be cast in Winnie the Pooh and 6th through 8th graders in Into the Woods, but we may shuffle things a bit based upon casting needs and talent.
The following song segments will be used at auditions:
If you want to listen to the clip, you can find it at the following links:
Further, if a speaking role is desired, here are some script excerpts that may be used for that purpose. (We may also post some script excerpts from Into the Woods.)
In order to make auditions proceed smoothly, we will also be posting the audition form so it can be filled out beforehand and brought to the auditions. We’ll have that in a few days, so check back. (If you sign up to “Follow the blog via email” in the column to the right, you’ll be notified anytime we update this site.)
So, that’s the latest. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
by Bill | Apr 11, 2012 | Announcements
Here’s the information you were waiting for . . . information on auditions for Into the Woods, Jr and Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, Kids.
Auditions are scheduled for Thusday, May 3rd from 7:00 to 10:00 PM and callbacks are scheduled on Saturday, May 5th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Both sessions are being held at the Highland Elementary Auditorium on Lindenthal Avenue in Highland.
One session will be held for both shows and the students will then be cast in one show or another. Auditions are open to all children currently in grades 2 through 8. We do ask that one parent or guardian be present to help fill out audition forms and answer any questions that the directors might have.
The kids will all be taught one song that they will be given the opportunity to sing in groups if they want a chorus part, or individually if they are seeking a named singing part. We will also teach them a simple dance step as well. Finally, those students wanting a speaking role will also be given the opportunity to read briefly from the script.
The auditions on Thursday will allow the directors to meet the kids and form some ideas as to where they might best fit in either show. The Saturday callbacks will be to finalize the assignment of individual roles.More information will be posted as it becomes available.
by Bill | Apr 5, 2012 | Announcements, Auditions
Auditions for All Shook Up are scheduled for 6:30 on Wednesday, May 23rd at the Highland Elementary Auditorium (Lindenthal Avenue in Highland). Callbacks will be at 7:00 on the following evening, May 24th.
Unlike your typical auditions, you are asked to prepare a song FROM All Shook Up. Please select one of the songs that are appropriate for your voice and rehearse your part. The reasoning behind this is simple…the music is not standard Broadway style. Therefore, singing “Memory” from Cats tells us nothing on how well you can sing “Hound Dog”. Get it? And in case you were wondering, an accompanist will be at auditions so you won’t have to sing a cappella.
Here’s the music from which you can choose:
A cold read of the script will also be required during the audition.You will be asked to learn and then perform a short dance routine, so be sure to bring comfortable shoes and clothes.
The cast is made up of actors of ALL AGES. Teen through Senior Citizen ….WE WANT YOU!
On to the fun stuff…..Characters!!!
- Natalie Haller/Ed : Soprano – A young woman and excellent mechanic. She’s much more at home in a greasy overall than a dress.
- Chad: Baritone – A great looking, motorcyclin’, guitar-playin’, leather jacketed drifter.
- Jim Haller: Baritone – Natalie’s widowed father. Middle-aged and mess, he still longs for his wife.
- Sylvia: Belt (Alto) – The no-nonsense and slightly pushy owner of Sylvia’s Honky Tonk.
- Lorraine: Belt (Soprano) – Sylvia’s teenage daughter. Pretty, smart, and a total romantic.
- Dennis: Tenor – An awkward young man. He aspires to be a dentist.
- Miss Sandra: Alto – The beautiful, intellectual caretaker of the town’s museum.
- Mayor Matilda Hyde: Alto – The town’s very conservative mayor.
- Dean Hyde: Tenor – Matilda’s teenage son. He spent his youth in the military boarding schools and he has never disobeyed his mother
- Sheriff Earl: Baritone – The law in town and a man of not many words. He loyally follows the Mayor wherever she goes.
Ensemble roles also available for all ages.
Theatre resumes and headshots are gratefully accepted, but not required.If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the director, Evan Fifer, at fiferdirect@gmail.com
by Bill | Apr 5, 2012 | Announcements, Shows
At long last, here is our summer lineup of shows:
Kid’s Shows – because of the great response, we have added an extra kid’s show this season
Into the Woods, Jr. – June 21st through June 24th. The Brothers Grimm “go Broadway”
as Sondheim offers up a cockeyed fairy tale where all of your favorite characters—Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk) and The Witch—meet and interact on their journeys. This is a great show for some of the older members of our kids troupe. Paul Kruta, who has directed many of our previous kids shows, will be back to lead the kids in this fan favorite.
Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, Kids – July 12th through July 15th. 
Welcome to the Hundred Acre Wood, where Winnie the Pooh is once again in search of honey. Along the way, he meets his pals Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit and Owl, but soon discovers that Christopher Robin has been captured by the Backson! As they prepare for a rescue operation, the animals learn about teamwork, friendship, and sharing snacks! Gentry Nessel, a veteran director of kids shows, will be directing this as her first show for Hard Road.
Adult & Teen Show
All Shook Up – July 27th through 29th & August 3rd through 5th. Inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley. Into a square little town in a square little state rides a guitar-playing roustabout who changes everything and everyone he meets in this hip-swiveling, lip-curling musical fantasy that’ll have you jumpin’ out of your blue suede shoes with such classics as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.” You’ve seen Evan Fifer on stage in Hard Road shows – now look for him in the director’s chair.
CALLING ALL THEATER PARENTS! With the auditions coming up soon, your kids may be getting a bit nervous – especially if they have never auditioned for a musical before. Well, every scary thing they are imagining . . . IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO HAPPEN ! ! !
