Stage School Australia is proud to announce the Young Australian Broadway Chorus production of

Music by Lyrics by Book by Alan Menken Howard Ashman & Tim Rice Linda Woolverton

Originally Directed by Originally Produced by Robert Jess Roth Disney Theatrical Productions

Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia). All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia.

Thursday 8 - Saturday 10 July 2021 The National Theatre, St Kilda

AUDITIONS WE’RE LOOKING FOR SINGERS, ACTORS AND DANCERS AGED 10 - 21 Initial video submissions due by 6pm, Monday 19 April 2021. Call backs 25 & 27 April

Based on the original Broadway production that ran for over thirteen years and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, and the Academy Award-winning motion picture, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. is a fantastic adaptation of the story of transformation and tolerance. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. features some of the most popular songs ever written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice.

The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

YABC MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS The YABC is well known for its courses and productions for young people. Each year, thousands of children and young adults participate in musical theatre training with the organisation, culminating in incredible seasons of concerts at the National Theatre.

Over the past three years, the YABC has produced large-scale youth productions at the National Theatre which have received significant critical acclaim. Beginning with a sold out season ofWicked in 2018, this was followed in January 2019 by Les Misérables which enjoyed similar acclaim and completely sold out its (extended) season. In 2020 the YABC presented a sparkling interpretation of CATS (2020) with a 70+ member cast of spectacular dancers and singers.

In addition, the YABC has produced many other independent and touring theatre seasons including Spring Awakening (Melbourne Premiere 2011) at the National Theatre, Seussical (Malthouse Theatre & Adelaide Fringe Festival tour 2013), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Malthouse Theatre & Adelaide Fringe Festival tour 2014), The Secret Garden (Southbank Theatre 2016), Honk Jr (Southbank Theatre & Adelaide Fringe Festival tour 2017), Shrek Jr (July 2017), Madagascar Jr (2018), The Wizard of Oz (July 2019) plus many productions in the Disney Junior Series, including Alice in Wonderland Jr, Aladdin Jr and The Little Mermaid Jr. In January of this year, the YABC was delighted to return to the stage with a remount of Honk! Jr at the Fairfield Amphitheatre.

GUEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR We are thrilled to welcome back Guest Musical Director James Simpson, who will be joining the creative team for this upcoming season as Production Musical Director. Most recently, James was the Associate Musical Director for the Australian tour of CHICAGO. James will join a team lead by Artistic Director Robert Coates and Head of Dance, Jacqui Green. CREATIVE TEAM

Robert Coates Director Artistic Director of Stage School Australia, Robert most recently directed HONK Jr at the Fairfield Amphitheatre. Other recent productions include CATS and Twelfth Night (2020), Les Miserables, Seussical, Godspell, Conference of the Birds (2019) and Wicked (2018). Also: Rags, Oliver!, Man of La Mancha, Spring Awakening (Victorian Premiere), The World Goes Round (Victorian Premiere), Devil’s Snuffbox (World Premiere), The Silver Donkey (World Premiere, toured USA 2006 and 2008.) Other tours: Back to Bacchus (Europe 1997, 2002, 2004, USA 1999), Once On This Island (Adelaide Fringe 2010), Seussical (Malthouse & Adelaide Fringe 2013), Conference of the Birds (Malthouse & Adelaide Fringe 2013, Melbourne Fringe 2014), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Malthouse & Adelaide Fringe 2014), Honk Jr & Chicken Licken (Adelaide Fringe 2017), This Is Australia (USA Tours 2015, 2016 & 2018). Junior Musicals: Guys & Dolls Jr (2013), The Wizard of Oz YPE (2014 & 2019), The Secret Garden (2016), Shrek Jr (2017), Madagascar - A Musical Adventure Jr (2018) plus Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr (2014 & 2016), Aladdin Jr (2015), The Little Mermaid Jr (2015), and Beauty and the Beast Jr (2016).

James Simpson Musical Direction James has worked around Australia and internationally as a musical director, arranger, orchestrator and cabaret performer. Most recently, he was the Associate Musical Director for the Australian tour of Chicago. Prior to that he was the Associate Musical Director for the Australian tour of Disney's Aladdin and Assistant Musical Director of Disney’s The Lion King. Other credits as Musical Director/orchestrator include Vivid White (MTC); Midsumma Extravaganza (Midsumma/Arts Centre Melbourne), Lucky: Songs By Kylie, TWINS, Josie In The Bathhouse, Experiment (all for Adelaide Cabaret Festival). As Musical Director: Thérèse Raquin (Park Theatre, London); Star*Struck (Stadtsaal, Vienna); Liza on an E (West End/UK Tour). As orchestrator: My Brilliant Career (Monash University), Diamonds Are For Trevor (Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne, QPAC); Liza’s Back!...is broken (Arts Centre Melbourne, Hayes Theatre (Sydney), QPAC); Jerry’s Girls (The Production Company); Virgins: A Musical Threesome (Echelon Productions – Malthouse Theatre, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Regional Arts Victoria tour). James can be heard as the Musical Director on the Original Cast Recordings of My Brilliant Career, Thérèse Raquin, and Virgins: A Musical Threesome. James graduated with distinction from the MA Musical Theatre (Musical Directing) course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, having previously graduated with first class honours from the BA(Hons) Musical Theatre course at LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. He also holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts from Monash University, Melbourne.

Jacqui Green Choreographer Jacqui Green is one of Australia’s leading choreographers, adjudicators, dancers, and dance teachers. As a choreographer and dancer, Jacqui’s credits include The Don Lane Show, The Ronnie Corbett Show, The Midday Show, The AFI Awards, and The Logie Awards. Jacqui played the leading role of Cassie in the national tour of A Chorus Line (Mo Award Nomination), and has also featured in productions of Funny Girl, The Sound of Music, Hello Dolly, and Cabaret. Directorial credits include a tour of Asia and New Zealand as the resident director of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for the Really Useful Group. Head of Dance for Stage School Australia since 1999, more recently Jacqui has choreographed YABC productions of CATS, Seussical and Joseph (Malthouse Theatre and Adelaide Fringe), Disney The Little Mermaid JR, Beauty and the Beast JR, Aladdin JR, Les Miserables and Wicked.

Publicity stills from our 2016 production.

Photos: James Gillot Photography HOW TO SUBMIT AN AUDITION

First round auditions are all by video submission.

WHO CAN APPLY Applications are currently open to young people who will be aged 10 - 21 during the performance season in July 2021. • All applicants must submit a 16 bar audition song. For convenience, we have an extensive list of material HERE including a guide vocal to help you learn your audition song, and a backing track to perform along to. If you already have your own 16 bar audition song with a backing track, you may submit that. (Having trouble accessing files? Try using a different browser or device.) • If you feel that your strength as a performer lies in acting or dancing, you may opt to also submit a video of a short theatrical monologue (max 1 min) OR a dance routine (max 1 min) - you may use a preexisting video of a dance routine if you have one.

TIPS AND TRICKS • Please make sure the video is brightly lit and a ‘medium’ shot (waist up). • Perform your audition as you would on stage - it’s not a singing exam, so don’t concentrate solely on your voice. Use expression, and entertain us! • Tell us a story! Articulate clearly. Think about consonants and the ends of words. • Keeping movement and gestures to a minimum will keep the audition panel looking at your face. • Even though you’re on camera, you need to project (voice and energy) like you are on the stage of a large theatre.

Audition Videos should be uploaded to Vimeo (or similar video hosting platform), and emailed as a link. PLEASE DO NOT SEND VIDEO FILES AS ATTACHMENTS. (If password protected, please include password in email.)

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR EMAIL: You will need to email the following information to [email protected] • Your Name and Date of Birth • Your YABC or VYT Group (if enrolled) • A brief outline of your performing arts experience • Information for our costume department: * Your accurate height, shirt size, pants or dress size and shoe size • A LINK to your audition video. If password protected, you must include the password. * Please test the link in a browser other than the one you use to upload the video. * Please do not attach the video, or send via a web storage system that requires us to download the full video. We will only watch videos hosted on a video sharing platform.

Submissions close: 8:00pm Monday, 19 April 2021

CALL BACKS Tuesday 27 April - Stage School Brunswick Studios, 23 Allen Street, Moreland Sunday 25 April - Swinburne Senior Secondary College, 505 Burwood Road, Hawthorn • After the first round (video submissions), selected performers will be invited to attend call backs where they will perform a monologue and participate in a group movement audition. • Some performers will be also be asked to learn specific material from the show.

Call Backs will be by appointment only. Call backs will be recorded for review by the creative team. IMPORTANT DATES REHEARSALS

Tuesday 11 May 2021 (Senior Ensemble), 5:30pm - 9:30pm Sunday 23 May 2021 (Principals & Children’s Chorus), 2:30pm - 5:30pm Stage School Brunswick Studios, 23 Allen Street, Moreland

Monday 28 June - Friday 2 July 2021, 9:00am - 5:00pm** (Full Company) Monday 5 July - Tuesday 6 July 2021, 9:00am - 5:00pm Swinburne Senior Secondary College, 505 Burwood Road, Hawthorn

**Individual performers will be released from rehearsals if not required. When possible, Children’s Chorus will finish at 3:30pm.

TECHNICAL AND STAGE REHEARSALS Wednesday 7 July 2021 - Times TBC The National Theatre. 20 Carlisle St, St Kilda

PERFORMANCE DATES: Thursday 8 July 11:00am & 2:00pm Performance 1 & 2 Friday 9 July 11:00am & 2:00pm Performance 3 & 4 Saturday 10 July 4:00pm & 7:30pm Performance 5 & 6

PERFORMER COMMITMENT Performers cast in the show will be expected to attend ALL rehearsals (for which they are scheduled) and ALL performances.

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT Successful applicants accepting a place in the cast will be required to commit both to the show fee (which contributes towards rehearsal expenses) and minimum ticket requirement (which contributes to the expenses of the performance season, including venue rental, performing rights, costumes/props, staffing, insurance, etc.) Efforts have been made to keep participation fees and ticket prices as low as possible. Should you be experiencing financial hardship please contact us by email at the time of your submission.

SHOW FEE: $420 (in general terms, this equates to around $7/hour of rehearsals) + $15 video of the show = Total show fee $435 inc GST

MINIMUM TICKET COMMITMENT: 20 tickets per performer, to be purchased or sold to friends and family. Ticket prices $27.50 - $33 (weekday matinees), $33 - $38.50 (evenings and Saturday performances). Booking fees apply.

Young Australian Broadway Chorus is a division of Stage School Australia PO Box 111, Moreland VIC 3058 | www.stageschool.com.au | ABN 14 007 339 675