AUDITION INFO
Who can audition? FPD students in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades.
When are the auditions? Tuesday, August 18 & Thursday, August 20. You should only come to one audition day.
What is the play about? The Wizard of Oz is based on the famous series of books by L. Frank Baum about a young girl who finds herself transported to an amazing land full of strange creatures, talking animals, and (of course) an evil witch. This play is NOT based on the movie and is not a musical. However, many of the characters and situations you may know from the movie are a part of the play.
How many roles are available? Between 50-60. All roles will be played by students! Around 35 roles have lines, but all are incredibly important to the success of the show.
Do I have to do anything special or have something prepared to audition? No! All you need is a filled out form signed by a parent/guardian!
Do I have to know how to sing or dance? No, this play is not a musical. Dance ability will be helpful to your movement in the play, but it is not required!
Can my parents, family, or friends watch the auditions? No, the auditions are closed. People watching auditions can be very distracting for the performers and keep them from doing their very best. All rehearsals however are open to visitors!
Do I have to provide a costume? No, costumes are provided by the theatre department. You may be asked to wear pants or shoes of a certain color for the show, but all specialty pieces will be provided.
When will the cast list be posted? Results will be posted by Friday evening, 8/23.
Where will the cast list be posted? In five places: in the window of the Fine Arts Building lobby, on the FPD Theatre Callboard (by the entrance to the black-box theatre), on Mr. Strickland’s office door, the elementary school office, and on the internet at http://www.fpdtheatre.org (Look for The Wizard of Oz links!)
When will the first rehearsal be? Monday, August 24, 3:15 – 4:00 PM in the auditorium. Students will receive a script and rehearsal schedule at this time. Parents are encouraged to attend this first rehearsal!
If I’m not cast can I work backstage? I do have space for a few backstage helpers, and even more openings for ushers! I will announce a time for backstage helpers to meet in a week or two.
If I’m not cast does it mean that I’m horrible or that Mr. Strickland doesn’t like me? No! I often have many more talented actors than I am able to use. If you are not cast PLEASE audition again. Nothing makes me more miserable than not having a role for an interested student!
Can you tell me all those dates and things that were on the form I filled out?
Certainly…
I strive to make the auditions fun and low-stress for young performers. We will be playing some acting games, doing a short warm-up, performing a movement exercise, and reading from the script. Friends and family members are not allowed to watch the auditions (it becomes very distracting for the kids and often keeps them from doing their best), but are encouraged to wait for their child in the auditorium lobby.
The Wizard of Oz will be performed September 22 and 24 at 7:00 PM in the Clark Fine Arts Center. There will also be a 1:00 PM performance scheduled on Wednesday, September 23. To audition for this play you MUST be available for all performances.
Rehearsals for The Wizard of Oz will be held after school from 3:15 – 5:00 PM. I will design a schedule around conflicts of cast members, but there will generally be four rehearsals each week. No rehearsals are held on weekends, though. The week before the show we will have at least one evening rehearsal. Not every child is called to every rehearsal. I only schedule students for rehearsal when they will actively be needed! However, students with many after-school activities may not have the necessary time to commit to this production.
Thank you SO much for auditioning and sharing your
God-given talents with the theatre department at FPD!
