“I Just Can’t Wait to be King!” “The Circle of Life.” “Hakuna Matata.” What do these great songs have in common?
They are all a part of Disney’s musical “The Lion King.” And it is the selection for the Soo Youth Theatre’s spring musical!
Disney’s Lion King JR will take the Soo Theatre stage on April 19, 20, 21, and 22, 2018. These all student performances have become a regular offering each spring as a part of the Soo Youth Theatre program at the Soo Theatre. Kicking of the 2018 season, Lion King JR will be sure to thrill if you are a fan of the popular movie, or have had a chance to see the spectacular Broadway production. And chances are that you just may have a family member, friend, or neighbor involved in this exciting production.
Director Karen Hughes Beacom, production manager Kristin Flickinger, and costume director Kathy Flickinger, have been hard at work with preparations for Lion King JR. And one of their first tasks – AUDITIONS!
Auditions have been scheduled at the Soo Theatre over three separate days, including a free audition workshop! The workshop is an extra event that has been created to help students with or without previous experience to have a leg up on audition day. The audition workshop will take place on Saturday, January 27, 2018 from 2:00-4:00pm at 534 Ashmun Street.
GROUP AUDITIONS
If you cannot make this workshop, it is recommended that all new auditionees sign up for the group audition on February 4th from 2:00-4:00pm. This will be a time to see actor/singers in a group and is recommended for all students who are 8 and 9 years old, as well as any first time performers! Kids who attend this session for their main audition will still be considered for a solo or a named role and may be asked back to sing a solo audition or to a callback.
SOLO AUDITIONS
Everyone else will have the opportunity to audition one at a time at one of three solo auditions. Those who sign up for a solo audition will be expected to have one verse of a song from musical theatre or a traditional song (no pop music allowed) memorized and ready to perform at their audition. An accompanist will be provided, but all are welcome to bring their own pianist, as a piano will be available in the audition room. After they sing their solo piece, they may be asked to read lines from the script. Scenes slides will be provided. Solo audition times will be offered on Sunday, February 4 from 4:00-6:00pm, Monday, February 5 from 6:30-9:00pm, and Tuesday, February 6 from 7:00-9:00pm.
SIGN UP IN ADVANCE at www.sootheatre.org
Due to the large turnout in recent years, we are asking that everyone fill out an online audition form in advance. A specific audition time will then be given to each applicant. Audition times will be emailed out by February 3rd. Those auditioning should plan to arrive fifteen minutes ahead of their scheduled time and can expect to be seen within a fifteen-minute time frame of their audition time. If all is running smoothly, the time commitment should be around a half hour. Families with multiple applicants will be scheduled together.
CALLBACKS
Some students may be asked to come to a callback. This does not indicate casting one way or another. Many roles will be cast without needing a callback and typically only a handful of students will need to be seen again, often to best place them in the best role.
Please contact sooyouththeatre@gmail.com with any questions. Casting will be limited to 50 actors. Please encourage your young performer to consider a backstage role if they are not cast on stage. There are opportunities for costume design, set design, lighting and stage management and are all necessary components of live theater. We encourage all of our company members to take a role behind the scenes every few shows, to support all of the artistic needs in putting on a show. Details regarding these additional opportunities are included in the audition form.
There’s Something for Everyone at the Soo Theatre Project. www.sootheatre.org 906-632-1930 sooyouththeatre@gmail.com
Information for Auditions is now available! Character Bios, Important Dates, Audition Information and even Final Dress Rehearsal Schedules can all be downloaded here!
