AND F I N E & PERFORMING A R T S announces auditions for
Audition Info Meeting & Dance Clinic – Must Attend Monday 8/12 – LHS Auditorium @3:30 until 5:15pm
Singing, Acting, & Dance Auditions – PICK ONE DATE Tuesday 8/13 - LHS Auditorium @ 3:30 until 6:15 pm OR Wednesday 8/14 - LHS Auditorium @ 3:30 until 6:15 pm
Callbacks Thursday 8/15 – LHS Auditorium @ 3:30 until 6:30 pm
2019-2020 Stageplayers Kick-Off Meeting Tuesday 8/27 @ 3:30pm (in the LHS Auditorium)
About Our Production All Shook Up is a new musical comedy built around a number of songs made famous by Elvis Presley. It's NOT a biographical revue. It takes place in 1955, somewhere in middle America, where one girl's dream and a surprise visit from a mysterious leather-jacketed, guitar-playing stranger help a small town to discover the magic of romance and the power of rock & roll. Among the 24 songs featured in the score are classics like "Heartbreak Hotel," "Love Me Tender," "Don't Be Cruel," "Can't Help Falling in Love," and of course the title tune.
TIME COMMITMENT The following information illustrates the typical requirements we expect from you if you are cast in the show: ➢ Rehearsals: August 19-October 24 from 3:30 - 6:00 p.m.* *Some rehearsals will be scheduled until 6:30. During the last two weeks of rehearsals expect to be staying for extended rehearsals, often until 9:00 p.m. every night. ➢ Tech Saturdays: Each performer is required to contribute a minimum of 12 hours (at least 4 hours each Tech Saturday, usually scheduled on the three Saturdays leading up to the show) ➢ Performances: October 26@7:30pm, October 27@2:00pm and November 1, 2@ 7:30pm ➢ On Oct 25 there will also be a day-time school performance for middle schools ➢ Set-Strike: Sunday, November 3 from 11:00am-finished
CONFLICTS Needless to say, this is a major commitment! Keeping this in mind, please go over this extensive schedule with your parents BEFORE you audition. Please write down conflicts so that you can fill out the conflict form online quickly before callbacks. Once excused conflicts are cleared ahead of time, each performer is allowed 3 unscheduled or unexcused conflicts. Performers with more than 3 unscheduled or unexcused conflicts need to resolve their conflicts with the production staff immediately or they can be removed from the production.
AUDITION INFO Attend the dance clinic on Monday, August 12th, from 3:30-5:15 in the Auditorium. If you cannot attend, please contact us in order to make other arrangements to learn the dance portion of the audition. Then, plan on coming to audition for singing, acting, and dancing on either Tuesday, August 13 OR Wednesday, Aug 14 from 3 to 6pm. Please plan to be present for that entire time slot, though you might be released earlier. If neither of these days works for you to audition, please talk with Mr. Thomas to see if alternate arrangements are possible.
CALLBACKS The callback list will be posted online by 9 p.m. WEDNESDAY night, which can be accessed on the LHS Theatre webpage. Callback packets are available from Dr. Brown, Mr. Thomas, or are located in the Fine Arts office throughout the summer.
What goes on at auditions? In order to be considered for the show, everyone must audition in all three areas: dancing, singing, and acting. Just give it your best shot in all areas and remember: this is your chance to shine! We want you to enjoy yourself through the process!
SINGING AUDITION Bring in a WELL-REHEARSED song that shows off your voice in its best light, preferably one that is NOT from ALL SHOOK UP. Please do not try to sing something for the audition that is beyond your skill level. We want to hear you sing something the best that you can. Please do not try to impress everyone with difficult repertoire. Please choose something that is entertaining and fun. Select a song from the Musical Theatre, Inspirational, Folk, Light Rock or Pop genres.
You must bring in sheet music scored for piano. An accompanist will be provided. Be prepared to sing 24-36 measures of your song (roughly 30-60 seconds), so choose the part of the song that shows off your voice the best. We may have to stop you if your song goes longer.
If you have no idea of how or where to look for sheet music for a song, see Dr. Brown for help selecting an audition song. Feel free to email him at [email protected] for help. If all else fails, we will teach a song to anyone who does not have sheet music at the start of auditions.
DANCING AUDITION All Shook Up will include a significant amount of dancing for the ensemble, and as such, all cast members will need to be comfortable moving on stage with character and confidence. The movement will be reflective of the 1950’s popular dance styles and will feature the iconic dance moves of the notorious King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Performers with experience in jazz dance and/or ballet will be needed for featured dance roles.
DANCE CLINIC: Monday, August 12; 3:30-5:15 pm, LHS Auditorium ● All students planning to audition must attend. ● The Purpose of this Dance Clinic is for students to learn and practice the Open Audition Dance Combination. ● This combo will feature a brief sequence that will be similar to movement performed by the ensemble in the show. ● You will NOT be judged during the Clinic day, but please go home and practice the combo for judging at the Open Auditions. While the judges aren’t necessarily looking for perfection at Open Auditions, we do want to see work ethic, improvement, and artistic potential. ● If you are unable to attend the Monday Dance Clinic, please contact Mr. Thomas or Mrs. Brown A.S.A.P.
OPEN AUDITIONS (Dance): Tuesday or Wednesday, August 13 & 14 ● In small groups, all students will perform the Open Audition combination previously taught at the Dance Clinic on Monday, 8/12.
CALL-BACK AUDITION (Dance): Thursday, August 15 ● All students who received a call-back will perform the Open Audition combination in small groups. ● A brief Call-back combination may be learned and performed by select students being considered for lead and featured dance roles.
DANCE AUDITION ATTIRE: ● Please wear comfortable, supportive, and neat clothing appropriate for dancing that allows for a full range of motion to both the clinic and auditions. ● For footwear, jazz shoes, character shoes, or a flexible soled gym shoe are ideal. If you own these shoes, please wear them. NO dancing in sandals, flip flops, etc. will be allowed.
DANCE AUDITION POINTERS: ● It will be important to pay special attention to the sequence, rhythm and stylistic nuances while learning and performing the routine. ● Remember that character and expressive ability are equally important as movement accuracy. Incorporate your face and apply the desired artistic intent as discussed at the Clinic into your performance. ● Don't be afraid to ask questions! ● Practice at home! ● Remember to Breathe and Enjoy. Let your love of performing shine through!!!
ACTING AUDITION At the auditions you will be asked to read aloud scenes from the script. You will be given a partner and sent off with a few moments to rehearse. When you perform the scenes, we are looking for the following elements in your performance:
CHARACTER - You should become someone other than yourself. These characters experience extraordinary circumstances and emotions! Try to find what makes them unique, and what you bring to the role.
MOVEMENT & PHYSICALITY- Don't just stand there; do something! Move with purpose! Show us that you can talk & act at the same time! This includes using your body to become the character. Make your body integral to your acting -- not just your voice!
PROJECTION - We need to hear your voice bouncing off the walls. Make choices that allow us to hear what you can do with your voice.
ENERGY - Energize the voice and the body to embody the characters. ...And HAVE FUN UP THERE!!!
Most importantly: MAKE CHOICES! Let us see you bring something to the scene!
CALLBACKS It’s almost impossible to cast a play from the vast numbers that show up at open auditions, so we callback the most likely candidates for an additional day of auditions. Callbacks will be held on Thursday, August 15 in the LHS Auditorium from 3:30 until 6:30 pm.
At call back auditions, all individuals will perform the Open Audition Dance Combo again, so please remember it and practice it at home. Most people called back will be asked to sing for specific roles, and we may test your vocal range. We also may ask some of you to do scenes.
ONLINE CONFLICT FORM & CONTRACT If you see your name on the callback list, you will be asked to fill out a conflict form online (a link to the form will be displayed on the callback list). Please fill out this form BEFORE coming to callbacks the next day. It is very important that you discuss your conflicts with your family so that you fill out the form accurately as this will be the only conflict form you will fill out for the production for excused absences.
CAST LIST The cast list will be posted online on the casting page at [www.lhswildcats.org (then click) Fine Arts (then click) Theatre (then click) Casting] after 9:00pm Friday night.
CAST SIZE We are looking to cast a group of about 36-40. We will adjust our numbers depending on our male/female ratio and the needs of our production. We will make the decisions for casting based on the auditions and the needs of our theatre program.
ALL SHOOK UP: background information Reading the synopsis and cast breakdown should help you understand the characters and the plot. Feel free to watch online clips…anything to help give you a firm understanding of the play!
Scenes and Settings TIME: A 24-hour period, during the summer of 1955 PLACE: A small you-never-heard-of-it town somewhere in the Midwest
CHARACTERS NATALIE HALLER (Early 20’s): a mechanic.
CHAD: a great-lookin’, motorcycling, guitar-playing, leather-jacketed roustabout.
JIM HALLER (mid 40’s-50’s): Natalie’s widowed father.
SYLVIA (mid 40’s): the no-nonsense owner of SYLVIA’S HONKY-TONK.
LORRAINE: Sylvia’s 16 year-old daughter. DENNIS: a young, awkward, aspiring dentist.
MISS SANDRA: the beautiful, intellectual caretaker of the town’s museum.
MAYOR MATILDA HYDE (mid 40’s-50’s): the town’s conservative mayor.
DEAN HYDE: Matilda’s 16 year-old son. He has grown up at a military boarding school.
SHERIFF EARL (mid 40’s-50’s): the law in town. A man of not many words.
ENSEMBLE: Ensemble will get to dance their socks-off to this music. It is integral that the ensemble help tell the story in order to show the change that happens throughout the whole town after Chad “electrifies” them with his music.
If you have any questions that you’d like answered before the auditions begin, you can: ➔ come to the Audition Info and Dance Clinic ➔ contact Mr. Thomas at [[email protected]] ➔ talk with Mr. Thomas in room 166. He’ll be happy to get answers to your questions so you feel like you can do your best for auditions!
Take risks! Go big! Have fun!
BREAK A LEG EVERYONE! WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU! Mr. Thomas, Production Director Mr. Helvie, Pit Director Dr. Brown, Vocal Director Mr. Holly, Technical Director Mrs. Brown, Choreographer Mr. Lundholm, Costume Designer