Act1
Theater
Audition Information
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!
Auditions Tuesday, Aug 19that 6:30pm and Thursday, Aug 21th at 6:30pm and Saturday, Aug 23rd at 1:00pm
What is ACT1? ACT1 is a community theater with a focus on wholesome entertainment. Now in our 14th year, we’re proud to bring you top-quality theatrical productions. You’ll find us in performance in several major productions each year. Among our many full-length shows have been Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Wind in the Willows, Annie, The Sound of Music, and many others. Our most recent production was The Boy Friend
ACT1 is the proud recipient of several Metropolitan Atlanta Theater awards for the 2005-2006 season, including 5 for our production of Fiddler on the Roof. We are sponsored and supported by Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, and provide entertainment to the community without religious bias.
In addition to using many experienced theater folks, one of the objectives of our work is to provide a venue for actors and crew who have never tried anything like this before. We enjoy having new folks discover a love of theater – whether that’s acting on the stage, or building sets, or making costumes, or as a stage hand, lighting technician or sound technician. As new cast and crew members “learn the ropes” and become seasoned pros, they may decide to try their hand at stage managing or directing. All of our cast, crew and management are volunteers. But, no matter what role you choose, this will be the most fun that you’ve had in a long time.
Tell me about this play In this hilarious Christmas tale, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids-- probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won't believe the mayhem-- and the fun-- when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on! What am I committing to? By coming to auditions you’re not committing to anything. Come try us out and see what you think. If we offer you a part, and you accept, then you are definitely making a commitment to attend every rehearsal possible. That means you can’t miss a rehearsal unless it’s absolutely necessary and you’ve told the Stage Manager in advance. No absences during the last two weeks of rehearsals. Even if you have your part down pat, and don’t feel you need to be there, remember that your fellow actors are dependent on you being where you’re supposed to be. If someone has a line to deliver to you, and you’re not there, it makes it very difficult to stay in character and keep the scene running smoothly. A major factor in a production not getting to a polished, professional level, is a cast that is erratic in attendance. OK, enough preaching – just want you to understand the importance. When are Performances? Currently, there are plans for 10 performances of this show, Nov 28th – Dec 20th. Here’s the performance Schedule:
Tickets cost $12-$15, and you can have all your fans call the box office at 770-663-8989 to make their reservations. Each cast member will get two tickets free. In addition, cast members may buy more tickets at a discount, for family and friends. What about rehearsals? Our schedule calls for 3 rehearsals a week , for the fall, followed by 4 weeks of performances. Our first rehearsal is scheduled for Sunday, Aug 31st. Rehearsals are normally on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30pm and on Sunday at 1:00 (Please note – if you have worked with ACT1 before, this is a slight change in the Sunday Schedule). Not everyone is scheduled at every rehearsal – at least in the beginning. As we work individual scenes, only the actors in those scenes need to be there. We take very seriously your commitment and your time. The schedule will be laid out in advance, and only vary rarely deviated from. You will never be expected to hang around waiting for the director to get to your part. The very first rehearsal will be a “read-through” and will include the entire cast. It’s just what it sounds like – we’ll all sit around and read the script, and listen to the music. It’s the time to meet your fellow actors, hear the Director’s vision for the show, begin to assimilate your character, work on any tricky pronunciation, etc. We’ll give you your copy of the script, the schedule, and any other material you’ll need. After that, the next set of rehearsals will be broken down, scene by scene, and we’ll do the “blocking”. Blocking is the term used for any stage movement – crossing from one side to the other, sitting down, standing up – all the stuff that supports your lines. Bring a pencil and make notes in your script as you work. Once everything is blocked, the next few rehearsals will go back through those scenes and work on them some more. By this time, you need to have your lines memorized for the scenes that we’re working that day. Once we’re through these “working” rehearsals, we’re now about 4 weeks in, and we’ve worked on every scene for at least 3 rehearsals, and it’s time to combine them, and run the full act, and later the full show, fine-tuning as we go. There might be one or two added rehearsals near opening, if we seem to need them. Can I Review the Script in Advance? Scripts are available in the office for check-out (after 8/5). We do not charge for them, but they must be returned within 1 week, or no later than Aug 18th, whichever comes first, (please note – this is before the first audition) and are subject to availability.
Who Will Be Working on This Show?
Jennifer Englund will Direct this show . Robin Thornett will be Stage Manager.
What are the roles available? This show requires adults, teens and children age 7 and over. Some of the cast will play multiple roles. Grace Bradley: 35ish / Mother of Beth and Charlie, and new director of the Christmas pageant. She's determined to make the pageant the best one ever, even with the Herdmans. Bob Bradley: 35-40 / Grace Bradley's husband, is your average American father, but doesn't want to go to the pageant almost as much as the kids. Helen Armstrong: 50 ish / In charge of the Potluck supper, Bazaar, and Christmas Pageant, until she broke her leg, and then everything went to the dogs, or, Herdmans. Charlie Bradley: 9-11 / The cute younger brother that could never do anything wrong, until that fateful day Leroy stole his lunch... Beth Bradley: 11-13 / The oldest Bradley child, who is somewhat like the voice of reason, at least a little bit. (Narrator) Alice Wendelken: 11-13 / The goody-two-shoes girl that the adults love. Alice is just considered to be annoying to her peers, including her best friend Beth. She's always Mary in the pageant, but Imogene Herdman made her change her mind... Maxine: 11-13 / The narrator in the pageant, just like Alice, just not as "goody-goody" Elmer Hopkins: 11-13 / Son of the reverend, perfect kid, an example to his fellow students, and is hating every second of it. He's always Joseph, but he's too afraid of Ralph Herdman to argue. Hobie Clark: 9-10 / The kid with all the excuses. He was already bored with the pageant, but now he has to share it with the worst kids in the world. David: 9-11 / Charlie's best friend Reverend Hopkins: 40-50 / Elmer's father, who basically doesn't want anything to go wrong, and can see nothing but that happening if the Herdman's are involved. Mrs. Slocum Mrs. Clark variety of ages / These are the women who Mrs. McCarthy make up the “grapevine” in town Mrs. Clausing Ralph: 12-13 / The biggest of the Herdmans. Always getting hit by Imogene and Gladys, He's Joseph, but he doesn't really know or care what that means. Imogene: 11-12 / She tells them what to do, and they listen because, well, she's Imogene. She's Mary, and that's the way she likes it. Leroy: 10-11 / The schoolyard bully who always steals Charlie's lunch. He heard about the refreshments at Sunday school and passed the information on to his siblings. Although he's sort of like a thug, he gives the gift of a Ham to Jesus. Ollie: 8-9 / Always looking for trouble in anything. Claude: 9-10 / likes to set people on fire. Gladys: 7-8 / She's the smallest, but she's fast, and she's mean, and she bites. Gladys is now the Angel of the Lord, who she thinks is her favorite comic book character, the Mighty Marvo.
What will auditions be like? We’ll have you sign in and fill out an audition form to tell us about yourself. Don’t worry if you’ve never done this before – experience is not required. If you have a headshot, bring it along. If not, we’ll take a picture to help us remember who’s who after you’re gone.
Everyone who’s auditioning will be in together, and you’ll be asked to read scenes from the play. It’s known as “cold reading”, because you’re not expected to memorize anything in advance. The material you need will be given to you. However, you may want to review the script in advance, to become familiar with the characters. The Director and Stage Manager will run the auditions, and you’ll be asked to come up a couple of times to read. We’re all friendly, so we promise that it won’t be intimidating. You may be asked to read a part that you’re obviously not suited for, or that you have no interest in. It doesn’t mean you’re being considered for that part, but rather helps us gauge your flexibility and range.
No parts are pre-cast, and everyone who gets a part will have auditioned at one of the 3 scheduled times, unless special arrangements are made in advance. We don’t generally do “Call-backs” (that’s when a short-list is compiled and some people are asked to re-audition), but will choose a cast based on the regular auditions.
Among the things we’ll be looking for are: · Speaking voice quality – Can you project, so that you’ll be heard from the back of the auditorium? · Energy – can we hear the interest and excitement in your voice? · Facial Expression – Does it match the words you’re reading? · Character – Can you “be” the person you’re reading? · Willingness – Can you follow instructions and give it your best shot?
How will you pick the cast? Many things go into putting a cast together. Of course, your performance at the audition is important, but so are other things that are not in your control. The script dictates to a large extent who will be cast. As an example, The Bradleys and the Herdmans should look like they could be families. So casting is a process of finding good actors, of an appropriate age, who fit in combination with the other actors.
When will I know if I’m cast? If we are able to cast you, we will call you no later than the day after the last audition. For this show, that means we’ll call by Sunday, Aug 24th . If you don’t hear from us, we were not able to use you this time. The number of people who audition prevents us from calling everyone. But remember, that doesn’t mean you did a poor job, and please – come back to audition for another show.
What about….?
For any other questions that I forgot to cover, please give me a call – Lisa Matchen, 678-371-3079, or email to lkmatchen@bellsouth.net. |