By Sue Suchyta
Aspiring actors will have many opportunities to hone their craft and feed their theater habit this summer as local theaters announce auditions for both modern and traditional musicals, as well as dramas and classics.
‘RENT’ AUDITIONS AT DEARBORN’S WEST SIDE THEATRE PROJECT
Dearborn’s West Side Theatre Project will hold auditions for the Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning musical “Rent” from 6 to 9 p.m. June 7 and 8 at Dearborn High School, 19501 Outer Drive in Dearborn. Those auditioning must be at least 18 years old.
Mike Mosallam will direct the show, which will be performed in Dearborn in mid-October. Greg Phillip Viscomi will produce the show. The proceeds will be used to support educational theater in the region.
Those auditioning should prepare a pop or rock vocal music selection suitable for their range. They may also select a song from the “Rent” score. The West Side Theatre Project will provide an accompanist for auditions. Mosallam discourages a cappella auditions as well as the use of CD accompaniments. Actors may also be asked to take part in a movement audition.
“Rent,” which features music, lyrics, and libretto by Jonathan Larson, is set in the late 1980s, and follows a year in the life of a group of struggling young artists in New York City. It is one of just eight musicals to ever win the Pulitzer Prize for drama.
To request an audition leave your name and phone number for Viscomi at (313) 827-1647, the West Side Theatre Project hotline.
GUILD AUDITIONS FOR ‘SHENANDOAH’ AND ‘ON GOLDEN POND’
The Players Guild of Dearborn, in cooperation with The Henry Ford, will hold auditions for the Civil War musical “Shenandoah” at 7:30 p.m. June 6 and 7 at the playhouse, 21730. The show will be performed at 8 p.m. Aug. 12, 19 and 20 and at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 14 and 21 in historic Anderson Theatre at Henry Ford Museum.
The Guild also will hold auditions for “On Golden Pond” at 7:30 p.m. July 25 and 26, with performances weekends from Sept. 16 to Oct. 2, with 8 p.m. performances Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees. For more information call (13) 561-TKTS or go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org.
SOUTHGATE COMMUNITY PLAYERS ANNOUNCE SUMMER, FALL SHOWS
The Southgate Community Players will present “Wait until Dark” July 15, 16, 22 and 23 at the Corner Playhouse, 12671 Dix Toledo Road in Southgate as part of their summer season. The suspenseful thriller pits a blind woman against ruthless criminals who want a doll filled with illegal drugs that unwittingly came into her possession.
For more information, call (734) 282-4SCP, email [email protected] or go to www.scponstage.com.
The group also plans to present the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” on its Main Stage at Davidson Middle School, 15800 Trenton Road in Southgate on Aug. 26 and 27 as part of its youth and family season. It will also present either “Tuesdays with Morrie” or “God’s Favorite” (subject to availability) Sept. 16, 17, 23 and 24 as part of its summer season at the Corner Playhouse.
Southgate’s regular season will include “Annie” Nov. 11, 12, 18 and 19; “Brighton Beach Memoirs” Feb. 3, 4, 10 and 11; and “Singing in the Rain” May 11, 12, 18 and 19 on its Main Stage. In addition to “Joseph” in late August, the group will perform “Miracle on 34th Street” Dec. 16 and 17, on the Main Stage as part of its youth and family season.
EQUITY THEATRES TO HOLD AUDITIONS
Nine Detroit area theater companies will hold joint general auditions for their 2011-12 theater seasons from 6 to 11 p.m. on June 20, 21 and 27 at the Furniture Factory, 4126 Third St. in Detroit. Appointments are required and may be made by emailing [email protected]. Theaters attending auditions include AKT Theatre Project in Wyandotte, Abreact Performance Space in Detroit, the Blackbird Theatre in Ann Arbor, Breathe Art Theatre Project in Detroit and Windsor, the Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company in Detroit, the Matrix Theatre Company in Detroit, Planet Ant Theatre in Hamtramck, The New Theatre Project in Ann Arbor and the Who Wants Cake? Theatre in Ferndale. Actors over the age of 18 from all racial and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to attend. Appointments are strongly recommended. Walk-ins will be permitted but will not be guaranteed an audition slot.
Actors should schedule auditions through [email protected]. Actors should include their full name in the body of the email with the times they are availabile for an audition appointment and a phone number where they can be reached. Headshots and résumés should not be attached to the audition-appointment seeking email. Appointments will not be accepted by phone. There will be a first-come, first-served waiting list at the theater each night of auditions and the casting theater personnel will try to allow those on the waiting list a chance to audition.
Actors should prepare two contrasting contemporary monologues no longer than three minutes total in length. The auditions will be timed. Actors should bring nine sets of headshots and résumés and a list of schedule conflicts for the upcoming season.
All roles offered will be paid. Most theaters may offer guest Artist Equity contracts.