James & The Giant Peach

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JAMES & THE GIANT PEACH Audition Information

Audition Workshop at TRYPS from 1-4PM:  Sunday, April 1 for students entering grades 3-8 in Fall 2012

Auditions at TRYPS from 6-8PM:  Monday, April 2 for students entering grades 3-5 in Fall 2012 

                                                                              Wednesday, April 4 for students entering grades 6-8 in Fall 2012 

 Callbacks at TRYPS from 6-8PM:  Thursday, April 5

 

THE CREATIVE TEAM:

Jill Womack, TRYPS Executive Artistic Director 

Kate LaRose, Assistant Director & Choreographer

Tariq Shah, Mainstage Dialect Coach 

Carol Schmitz, Production Music Director 

Pamela Hulen, Production Costume Designer

 

 

JAMES & THE GIANT PEACH will have two ensemble opportunities:

K-3 REVIEWCAST will perform in the TRYPS Little Theatre on June 16 & 17

MAINSTAGE CAST will perform in the TRYPS Little Theatre on July 12-15 

No auditions for the Review ensemble. Roles will be cast during the first meeting. Mainstage actors MUST audition for a role.

Help your child, the cast, and the company by:

  • Reviewing the audition schedule completely prior to the audition workshop.
  • Making a commitment for your child to attend all of the rehearsals and performances.
  • Getting your cast member to rehearsal on time.
  • DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO AUDITION if he/she will miss any technical or performance dates.

 

 

AUDITION INFORMATION:

Actors wishing to be cast in the Mainstage casts must attend auditions.

Actors wishing to participate in the Review casts need only sign up for the class.

K-3 Review - Open to students entering grades K-3 in Fall 2012   Enrollment Form Link

Mainstage – Open to students entering grades 3-8 in Fall 2012

   

 

TRYPS LITTLE THEATRE PRODUCTION TUITION:

MAINSTAGE CAST – $200 tuition + $25 “Opt Out”

K-3 REVIEW CAST – $175 (“Opt Out” is not required.)

• Tuition is due at the Parent/Cast meeting at the first rehearsal.

• Tuition payments may be arranged with the TRYPS staff:  (573) 449-4536

• Tuition must be paid in full by the first performance.

 

Tuition includes:

  1. A production t-shirt for the cast member
  2. Comp tickets:     Mainstage: 3-4 complimentary tickets to family watch night on July 15    Reviews:  2-6 complimentary tickets to each of the two recital performances 
  3. Costume except for shoes

  

 

K-3 REVIEW REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE DATES – LINK to calendar

- Rehearsals on Mon-Fri from 9A-12P on June 4-15

- Performances on Sat & Sun, June 16 & 17 

- Two recital performances in the TRYPS Little Theatre

 

MAINSTAGE REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE DATES - LINK to calendar

- Parent/cast meeting on Saturday, June 9

- Rehearsals on Mon-Fri from 1-5P on June 11-July 6

- Independence Day break on Sat-Wed, June 30-July 4

- Tech rehearsals on Sun-Wed, July 8-11

- Performances on Thurs-Sun, July 12-15

- Five performances in the TRYPS Little Theatre

             

Auditions require the following:

  1. Attending the scheduled audition workshop
  2. Providing all of the required paperwork at the audition workshop
  3. Attending the auditions
  4. Attending the callbacks if your name is listed
  5. Willingness to accept any role in the play in which you are cast

 

 

MANDATORY AUDITION WORKSHOP:

There is a mandatory audition workshop on Sunday, April 1 from 1-4PM at TRYPS.

Actors who wish to participate in the Mainstage Cast must attend the audition workshop.

There are over 20 featured speaking roles and excellent opportunities for both young men and young ladies.

Actors must turn in their paperwork:

  • Resume form with a current photograph staple to it – LINK

                   The photograph WILL NOT be returned to you.

  • The production permission slip – filled out and signed – LINK
  • The conflict calendar – dates reviewed and form signed – LINK

                    Review and disclose all pre-existing conflicts.

                    DO NOT audition if you have more than two conflicts.

                    DO NOT audition if you would miss a technical rehearsal or any performance.

  • Scholarship application (if needed) – LINK

  TRYPS will award a partial scholarship of $50, $75, or $100 toward tuition based on need (Free/Reduced Lunch Program, WIC, Food Stamps).  PLEASE apply for assistance at rehearsals, as we must make a scholarship determination before casting. We cannot award a scholarship without this paperwork.

 

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE AUDITION WORKSHOP?

1. Parents do not stay for the audition workshop. “Kiss and fly!”

2. Actors will be introduced to the creative team.

3. Actors will line up by height and grade level and introduce themselves briefly.

4. Actors will divide into three groups: singing, acting, and dance.

5. Actors will rotate with their group to singing, acting, and dance.

6. Actors will receive coaching and instruction for the audition songs, the audition choreography, and read the audition scenes aloud.

7. Actors may be asked to read any role in the play. It is possible that a student may read a role at auditions that may or may not be right for him/her. At the workshop, we are attempting to hear all the actors read, understand the audition technique of reading a scene, and making good character choices.

8. Actors will be leave with a packet of scenes and lyrics to practice prior to auditions.

9. The Creative Team begins their casting ideas at the Audition Workshop.

Students should realize the their focus, manners, and willingness to try are also part of the casting process. A positive attitude and a smile are important to creating a winning team!

 

CASTING INFORMATION & EXPECTATIONS:

We will strive to cast every actor who auditions in the cast and role best suited to challenge the actor and strengthen the production. 

  • Casting is a responsibility that TRYPS takes very seriously; we labor to cast each actor in a role that will help him/her grow and make the play as strong as possible.
  • TRYPS does not pre-cast roles without disclosing this information. For example, the title role of “Scrooge” was closed to auditions as it was performed by a professional actor. Unless there is a disclaimer for a specific role and play, it is safe to assume that no role is pre-cast.
  • Our policy to cast the best actor for each role based on the work seen at auditions! 
  • The exceptions are AGE and HEIGHT. “Juliet” can’t be a 10th grader and “Romeo” a 3rd grader.” “Tiny Tim” can’t be 6’ tall.

Roles are cast based on:

  • Strength of the audition – acting, singing, & dance
  • Character choices – dialect, attitude, commitment to the character
  • Ability to take direction, to listen and to remain focused
  • Best potential for each role
  • Chemistry between actors
  • Height
  • Age
  • Best challenge for each actor
  • Number of rehearsal conflicts

 

AUDITION PREPARATION:  Link to character descriptions

HOW DO I GET A FEATURED ROLE?

  1. Read the book the play is based upon.
  2. Watch a film based on the play. It will help with dialect, attitude, character choices.
  3. Review clips from films or other productions available on YouTube
  4. Practice what you learn at the audition workshop – choreography, music, and practice all the scenes out loud.
  5. Practice different character choices: bully, shy, mean, sweet. Rehearse while looking in a mirror; it helps you see what the directors will see. Good stuff!

 

PRODUCTION AUDITIONS:

  1. Actors stay the entire time. Parents “kiss and fly.”
  2. Actors will read for many roles during the evening.
  3. Scenes are not required to be memorized at auditions.
  4. Actors will be asked to sing solo in front of a group of actors and directors.
  5. Actors should be prepared to read for any role in any scene. This material will be provided in the workshop packet.
  6. Be brave! Read with confidence, a bold voice, and do your very best! We are 100% behind all of you doing a great job!!!
  7. If you cannot attend auditions on the night requested, you may attend the alternate evening. 

 

PRODUCTION CALLBACKS:

The callback list is posted on the web site: www.trypskids.com

Actors are called from both evenings of auditions.

This is a final opportunity for the creative team:

• To pair actors, 

• To change combinations of actors, 

• To assemble the strongest casts possible.

  1. Actors stay the entire time. Parents “kiss and fly.”
  2. Actors will read for many roles during the evening.
  3. Scenes are not required to be memorized at auditions.
  4. Actors will be asked to sing solo in front of a group of actors and directors.
  5. Actors should be prepared to read for any role in any scene. This material will be provided in the workshop packet.
  6. Not all actors who are cast will be asked to return for callbacks! Only actors who are candidates for several roles or when there are several outstanding candidates for a role will be asked to return.
  7. If you will not consider being cast in any role in any of the ensembles, please notify Jill Womack prior to callbacks – trypskids@gmail.com
  8. We will not share any casting information with actors before the cast list is posted.

 

 

THE CAST LIST: 

The final cast list is posted on the web site: www.trypskids.com

  • The cast list is the culmination of a minimum of 20 hours of auditions and diliberation.
  • We will not change casts, performances, or rehearsals after the cast list is posted to accommodate an individual’s calendar.
  • If your child will not accept any role offered – mark that on the rehearsal calendar due at auditions or reconsider auditioning.
  • If a student drops out of a show after the cast list is posted FOR ANY REASON, he or she will be precluded from auditioning for the following TRYPS production. 

 

REACTION TO THE CAST LIST:

  • TRYPS does offer positive, constructive feedback for the actors. We encourage students to email a request for feedback – trypskids@gmail.com 
  • Please do not call the office within 24 hours of the cast list being posted. We will offer feedback. This is not a means to air grievances. 
  • Parents and actors should NOT call the office when they are angry to vent grievances and disappointment or to criticize casting decisions.  
  • We support all of the students who audition for the productions. 
  • We believe that auditions are a learning process and want students to learn to improve their skills and their confidence.

 

 

REHEARSAL EXPECTIONS:

Joining the cast of a production is a huge commitment: time, effort, and responsibility.

  • All rehearsals are mandatory – We plan over 60 hours to rehearse and prepare for a Mainstage and Encore production. When an actor misses rehearsal, it is impossible to keep the entire production on schedule.
  • A cast member is expected to have his/her script, a pencil, a bottle of water, and wear appropriate shoes (no crocs, sandals, clogs, high heels, flip flops) to every rehearsal.
  • Actors are required to write down character information, blocking notes, choreography, at each rehearsal. It is the only way a cast member can review work from week to week.
  • It is a hardship on the entire CAST if a student arrives without his/her script. A director or stage manager must stop and find a spare script for that actor to use during rehearsal.
  • It is a hardship on the entire CAST if a student has not written down blocking. It requires the entire cast to stop and recreate work that has already been done.
  • Cast members MAY NOT cut or change their hairstyle without consent from the creative team.
  • Cast members MAY NOT take any part of their costume out of the performance space.
  • Cast members MUST conduct themselves with safety and manners at all times.
  • Lines and/or songs will be reassigned to other actors if a student is not able to memorize lines, cues, choreography, blocking or shows a lack of commitment, energy and focus. This is always a last resort, but necessary to help the entire team.

REMEMBER:  Leading role equals LEADERSHIP. 

It is exciting to have a lead in a production; it is also a tremendous responsibility. 

Actors cast in leading roles will attend a special parent/cast meeting.

LEADERSHIP – You must be the person who:

  1. Gets the job done happily, responsibly, and quickly. 
  2. Has their lines memorized first.
  3. Doesn’t talk during rehearsal and distract other cast members.
  4. Comes to rehearsal full of energy and focus. 
  5. Leads by example.
  6. Is thoughtful – not boastful.
  7. Encourages others to stay on the ball.

A production’s success depends on the example actors in leading roles set for the rest of the cast.

A production’s success depends on every actor to be prepared – memorized, script in hand, pencil in hand, energy, positive attitude.

A production’s success depends on every actor to have lines, choreography, and lyrics memorized from week to week.

 

ADDITIONAL REHEARSAL TIME MAY BE REQUIRED IF:

TRYPS makes every effort to maintain rehearsals on our original calendar.

This occurs when:

  • Cast members do not review their lines, blocking, and choreography during the week. 
  • If cast members do not remember their lines, lyrics, choreography, and blocking from one week to the next.
  • If cast members do not rehearse with full emotion and commitment.
  • If cast members are not prepared for tech week and performance.

 

For the best interest of the production and cast:

  • We reserve the right to include or exclude an actor from work rehearsed during any absence. Each absence requires three rehearsals to get that actor back up to speed. Exclusion from a scene or song isn’t meant as a punishment; it helps the show stay on track.
  • We reserve the right to re-assign lines or singing solos to cast members who do not know their lines as the memorization dates are due, miss rehearsals, or who show a lack of energy/commitment as a role demands.
  • We reserve the right to re-cast a role if an actor has more than three absences, does not learn his/her lines, or exhibits a lack of respect to the creative team.

 

OPT OUT FOR MAINSTAGE CAST:

“Opt Out” is a mandatory $25 fee collected with tuition.

“Opt Out” helps TRYPS keep your tuition low because we do not have to hire extra painters, carpenters, seamstresses, PR managers, etc. 

Your “Opt Out” fee is refunded after ten volunteer hours have been completed.

Volunteers are asked to help with costumes, set build and painting, prop building or shopping, flier distribution, marketing, coordinating Stars & Roses, coordinating Raffle Baskets, running crew, and special events.

  • We ask every family to volunteer 10 hours
  • We ask that adults supervise children and work with them to fulfill hours
  • If you cannot volunteer, “Opt Out” is a tax-deductible donation.

• “Opt Out” hours DO NOT include ushering or Stars & Roses volunteers. Ushers and Stars & Roses volunteers receive a free ticket for that evening’s performance.

 

ADDITIONAL EXPENSES & PURCHASES

TRYPS endeavors to keep all tuition costs inclusive with tuition.

Cast members will need to provide:

  • Shoes for their character; information will be provided by the costume designer.
  • An item for the raffle basket (raises money for the scholarship fund)
  • Make-up (items that may be found at Wal-Green’s or Target)
  • Tights or socks
  • A laundry basket with the actor’s name, role, and cell number on the rim
  • Items for the cast party (sandwiches, brownies, etc.)
  • POSTER – We will take production photographs and design a production poster.
  • DVD – We will video a performance when the rights are available for purchase. These are for private home viewing – not church, scouts, school or other public viewings.
  • T-SHIRT – Additional show t-shirts may be purchased for parents or siblings.

     Mainstage: Poster – $20, DVD – $15, T-shirt – $15

     Review:  T-shirt – $15

 

LOAD IN / LOAD OUT

The amount of time required for installing (“load in”) and removing (“load out” or “strike”) a production into a performance space depends upon the venue.

TRYPS rents and produces plays in three different theaters each year:

  • TRYPS Little Theatre at Columbia Mall in the fall and summer
  • Columbia College’s Launer Auditorium in the spring
  • Rock Bridge High School’s Performing Arts Center in the summer.

Each cast member and his/her family are REQUIRED to assist with load in and strike.

• THE LITTLE THEATRE AT COLUMBIA MALL:

These productions usually demand the least amount of time and muscle to accomplish.

Families are asked to clean the space, move scenery to our storage facility, launder costumes, and restock items to our storage areas.

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