Spring Musical: ADVENTURES IN GREEN GABLES!
FREE Workshops will be held on Zoom on Jan 8 and 12, teaching songs from the show! Get details here...
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Our Spring Musical is ADVENTURES IN GREEN GABLES, the encore of an original musical co-written by Marney Makridakis and her mother, Arthiss Kliever. First produced by RPL in 2017, this musical is a favorite in the hearts of many RPL families, and The Dallas Morning News even featured the production & our story! We’re all so excited for our first live musical since covid began. Our adaptation of the classic book, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, incorporates light-hearted comedy within a deeply moving story, highlighting themes of family, friendship and the power of imagination. The unique thing about Read Play Love theatre is...the love! We create a role for every child participating. From an empowering audition experience to a triumphant closing night, our primary goal is simple: to build confidence and nurture creative expression of each child. RPL is the ideal place for kids to try theatre for the first time, as well as more experienced performers to stretch their wings & grow! |
FREE Workshops will be held on Zoom on Jan 8 and 12, teaching songs from the show! Get details here...
Production Schedule
* Live auditions on Zoom: Jan 13-17. Click here to reserve your spot.
* Callbacks, if needed, will be held on Zoom on January 20-21. You will be notified by January 18 if you are requested for a callback.
* Rehearsals will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays 3:00-5:00, beginning January 27.
* Rehearsals will take place on Zoom, January 27-March 17.
* In-person rehearsals will begin March 17, and will follow careful safety precautions.
* Note that most roles will rehearse once a week until April.
* Tech Week: April 19, with rehearsals Mon-Thursday, 4:00-8:00.
* Performances April 23-25. Location TBA. We have several options we are pursuing and we will update as soon as possible.
* Callbacks, if needed, will be held on Zoom on January 20-21. You will be notified by January 18 if you are requested for a callback.
* Rehearsals will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays 3:00-5:00, beginning January 27.
* Rehearsals will take place on Zoom, January 27-March 17.
* In-person rehearsals will begin March 17, and will follow careful safety precautions.
* Note that most roles will rehearse once a week until April.
* Tech Week: April 19, with rehearsals Mon-Thursday, 4:00-8:00.
* Performances April 23-25. Location TBA. We have several options we are pursuing and we will update as soon as possible.
.1. "Adventures in Green Gables" Production Details
Auditions
*Children age 4-17 are welcome to audition.
*We ask that cast members under age 8 have supervision during Zoom rehearsals (parent or older sibling) to ensure focus.
*We create a role for every single child participating! As we produce our own original musicals, we can freely adjust script and songs to give every child a chance to shine.
* Our rehearsal times are Wed & Fri 3:00-5:00pm. While we are largely a homeschool organization, we welcome any family who is able to make rehearsal times work. If you have questions regarding schedule or your participation, contact Marney at rpl@readplaylove.org.
* Scroll down for a list of roles to be cast and full audition details.
Click here to sign up for an audition time.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals begin January 27, first held on Zoom, and moving to in-person rehearsal in mid March. Rehearsal times are Wednesdays and Fridays, 3:00-5:00pm. Most roles will be called one day a week until April. When auditioning, families will select their preference/availability for regular timeslot(s) and the show will be cast accordingly.
Note: At-home practice is crucial for this production. Since our rehearsal time is limited, we need each family to commit to rehearsing at home. We will give you tools to help kids with repetition and memorization in between group rehearsals.
We anticipate starting in-person rehearsals on March 17. At that time, we will incorporate the current CDC-recommended precautions; for example, measures might include spacing actors 6' apart, requiring masks of all parties, frequent hand sanitizer, and family taking responsibility for personal props.
Production
Production Week starts April 19th, and you can expect to rehearse 4:00-8:00 on Mon-Thursday during that week. Performance location is TBA; we have several options we are pursuing and we will update as soon as possible.
Performances are April 23-25.
Auditions
*Children age 4-17 are welcome to audition.
*We ask that cast members under age 8 have supervision during Zoom rehearsals (parent or older sibling) to ensure focus.
*We create a role for every single child participating! As we produce our own original musicals, we can freely adjust script and songs to give every child a chance to shine.
* Our rehearsal times are Wed & Fri 3:00-5:00pm. While we are largely a homeschool organization, we welcome any family who is able to make rehearsal times work. If you have questions regarding schedule or your participation, contact Marney at rpl@readplaylove.org.
* Scroll down for a list of roles to be cast and full audition details.
Click here to sign up for an audition time.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals begin January 27, first held on Zoom, and moving to in-person rehearsal in mid March. Rehearsal times are Wednesdays and Fridays, 3:00-5:00pm. Most roles will be called one day a week until April. When auditioning, families will select their preference/availability for regular timeslot(s) and the show will be cast accordingly.
Note: At-home practice is crucial for this production. Since our rehearsal time is limited, we need each family to commit to rehearsing at home. We will give you tools to help kids with repetition and memorization in between group rehearsals.
We anticipate starting in-person rehearsals on March 17. At that time, we will incorporate the current CDC-recommended precautions; for example, measures might include spacing actors 6' apart, requiring masks of all parties, frequent hand sanitizer, and family taking responsibility for personal props.
Production
Production Week starts April 19th, and you can expect to rehearse 4:00-8:00 on Mon-Thursday during that week. Performance location is TBA; we have several options we are pursuing and we will update as soon as possible.
Performances are April 23-25.
2. What's Different about Read Play Love Musicals?
* Our primary focus is simple: building confidence & nuturing the creative self-discovery of each one of our kids!
* Even our auditions are designed to be 100% empowering, inspiring experiences where the kids feel GREAT! Rather than accept video auditions, we ask each child to sign up for a live audition experience on Zoom, which gives each child the opportunity to interact with director Marney Makridakis.
* We create a role for every single child participating! Our tradition of producing original musicals allows us complete flexibility to adjust our scripts & songs in order to give every single child a chance to shine!
* We mentor kids where they are and help them feel great, stretching them a bit further than they expect...all while being part of a high quality production!
* Busy schedule? No problem! We always do our best to work around the schedules of busy families.
* We are known for developing new musicals as part of our series of "New Musicals for a New Generation!" Our musicals feature rich storytelling with affirming, positive messages for our kids. One of our new musicals, The Whimsical World of Sherlock Holmes, will make its New York debut in New York City in August 2021, performing Off-Broadway in the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival.
* RPL is the ideal place for kids to try theatre for the first time, as well as more experienced performers to stretch their wings & grow!
* Our primary focus is simple: building confidence & nuturing the creative self-discovery of each one of our kids!
* Even our auditions are designed to be 100% empowering, inspiring experiences where the kids feel GREAT! Rather than accept video auditions, we ask each child to sign up for a live audition experience on Zoom, which gives each child the opportunity to interact with director Marney Makridakis.
* We create a role for every single child participating! Our tradition of producing original musicals allows us complete flexibility to adjust our scripts & songs in order to give every single child a chance to shine!
* We mentor kids where they are and help them feel great, stretching them a bit further than they expect...all while being part of a high quality production!
* Busy schedule? No problem! We always do our best to work around the schedules of busy families.
* We are known for developing new musicals as part of our series of "New Musicals for a New Generation!" Our musicals feature rich storytelling with affirming, positive messages for our kids. One of our new musicals, The Whimsical World of Sherlock Holmes, will make its New York debut in New York City in August 2021, performing Off-Broadway in the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival.
* RPL is the ideal place for kids to try theatre for the first time, as well as more experienced performers to stretch their wings & grow!
3. What Does it Cost?
* Production Fee is $199/child
Family Friendly Pricing for more than one child in show:
25% off both when 2 = $ 298 total for 2 children
35% off all when 3 = $ 390 total for 3 children
50% off all when 4+ = $ 398 total for 4 children
* Read Play Love Members: For current RPL Members in a six-month membership commitment to the RPL Community, there is a one-time production fee of $60 for 1 child, $90 for two children, with a family-friendly cap of $120 for 3 or more children. Click here for info about RPL Membership.
* Costume costs are the responsibility of parents, but parents work together to decide and make everything as easy and most importantly, cost-effective as possible, often using shared, donated, or secondhand materials to keep costs minimum and much less expensive than other theatre production opportunies.
* Printed Script: Each actor is responsibile for the printing and binding of their script at their own cost. For music, we will send you a ZIP file of all songs as individual MP3 tracks, which you can download to a playlist or burn to your own CD.
* A Concessions Donation of $10 per production is requested of all families. (Note: Due to covid restructions, we will likely replace concessions with another fundraiser, such as souvenirs or raffles, and forward the $10 family donation accordingly. This will be determined closer to production time.)
* A one-time annual registration fee of $25 includes background checks, which we require for families participating in productions, accordingly to best practices for safety of the kids involved.
* Fundraisers, such as t-shirts, photobooks, and production DVDs, are optional and up to the discretion of each family.
* Parents are expected to work on one of the parent crews (props, costumes, set, production, or management) based on their interests, skills and time available. This investment of time is crucial for an all-volunteer production, but we work with each family to find the best fit that works with your schedule.
* Production Fee is $199/child
Family Friendly Pricing for more than one child in show:
25% off both when 2 = $ 298 total for 2 children
35% off all when 3 = $ 390 total for 3 children
50% off all when 4+ = $ 398 total for 4 children
* Read Play Love Members: For current RPL Members in a six-month membership commitment to the RPL Community, there is a one-time production fee of $60 for 1 child, $90 for two children, with a family-friendly cap of $120 for 3 or more children. Click here for info about RPL Membership.
* Costume costs are the responsibility of parents, but parents work together to decide and make everything as easy and most importantly, cost-effective as possible, often using shared, donated, or secondhand materials to keep costs minimum and much less expensive than other theatre production opportunies.
* Printed Script: Each actor is responsibile for the printing and binding of their script at their own cost. For music, we will send you a ZIP file of all songs as individual MP3 tracks, which you can download to a playlist or burn to your own CD.
* A Concessions Donation of $10 per production is requested of all families. (Note: Due to covid restructions, we will likely replace concessions with another fundraiser, such as souvenirs or raffles, and forward the $10 family donation accordingly. This will be determined closer to production time.)
* A one-time annual registration fee of $25 includes background checks, which we require for families participating in productions, accordingly to best practices for safety of the kids involved.
* Fundraisers, such as t-shirts, photobooks, and production DVDs, are optional and up to the discretion of each family.
* Parents are expected to work on one of the parent crews (props, costumes, set, production, or management) based on their interests, skills and time available. This investment of time is crucial for an all-volunteer production, but we work with each family to find the best fit that works with your schedule.
4. Audition Details
RPL auditions are designed to be fun and empowering experiences for kids of all ages. We see auditions as an opportunity to get to know each child, and connect with them 1:1 to celebrate their individual personality. We love seeing returning RPL performers come back with expanded confidence with each audition! We also love welcoming new kids and getting to know them in a safe and encouraging environment. When it's a child's first audition experience, we go out of our way to make it an ultra-positive one!
* For Adventures in Green Gables, we will hold auditions on Zoom with 20-minute timeslots.
* Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis via this online reservation form.
* Siblings can share a timeslot, but keep in mind that the 20-minute limit per slot is firm.
* Parents can be in the room while children audition or not - it's up to the child's preference.
* Parents will be sent online paperwork to review prior to auditions, to be submitted at the time of audition. Parents are welcome to ask questions during the 20 minute slot, or can email Marney at any time.
* To prepare, we simply ask each child to sing. It can be absolutely any song! We have compiled some of the songs in a collection of Adventures in Green Gables Audition Songs for kids who would like to sing a song from the show. There are several options, including a 3-line excerpt that is perfect for beginning. Singing a song from the show, however, is by no means required, and kids are welcome to sing absolutely any song they like.
* Kids can sing with a backtrack, or sing a cappella (without accompaniment.) If you plan to use a backtrack, please have it ready to play on a device that is separate from the device you're using for Zoom. For example - if you are using a computer for Zoom, you will need to use a phone for the backtrack. It is important to have this et up and ready to go prior to your audition timeslot, so we can make the most of your child's time.
* If your child is singing one of the songs from the show, backtracks can be accessed in the collection of Adventures in Green Gables Audition Songs.
* Each child will be asked to read a short piece from the script (non-readers can "echo back" lines), but this is not necessary to prepare ahead of time. We do have quite a few non-singing roles, so kids who are more interested in acting than singing are very welcome!
* If needed, callbacks will be held January 20-21. Callbacks might be used if we would like additional time with children under consideration for some roles.
* A word to "RPL veterans": We encourage you to use this opportunity to show us something new...perhaps a side of your singing voice that we haven't heard on our stage, or a type of character that is new for you. You already know that our auditions are fun and easy, so take this chance to stretch yourself outside your comfort zone. You might stretch yourself to learn one of the songs from Green Gables and experiment with developing a character. A well-prepared song in auditions that demonstrates your effort definitely makes a difference....for us, and for you!
RPL auditions are designed to be fun and empowering experiences for kids of all ages. We see auditions as an opportunity to get to know each child, and connect with them 1:1 to celebrate their individual personality. We love seeing returning RPL performers come back with expanded confidence with each audition! We also love welcoming new kids and getting to know them in a safe and encouraging environment. When it's a child's first audition experience, we go out of our way to make it an ultra-positive one!
* For Adventures in Green Gables, we will hold auditions on Zoom with 20-minute timeslots.
* Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis via this online reservation form.
* Siblings can share a timeslot, but keep in mind that the 20-minute limit per slot is firm.
* Parents can be in the room while children audition or not - it's up to the child's preference.
* Parents will be sent online paperwork to review prior to auditions, to be submitted at the time of audition. Parents are welcome to ask questions during the 20 minute slot, or can email Marney at any time.
* To prepare, we simply ask each child to sing. It can be absolutely any song! We have compiled some of the songs in a collection of Adventures in Green Gables Audition Songs for kids who would like to sing a song from the show. There are several options, including a 3-line excerpt that is perfect for beginning. Singing a song from the show, however, is by no means required, and kids are welcome to sing absolutely any song they like.
* Kids can sing with a backtrack, or sing a cappella (without accompaniment.) If you plan to use a backtrack, please have it ready to play on a device that is separate from the device you're using for Zoom. For example - if you are using a computer for Zoom, you will need to use a phone for the backtrack. It is important to have this et up and ready to go prior to your audition timeslot, so we can make the most of your child's time.
* If your child is singing one of the songs from the show, backtracks can be accessed in the collection of Adventures in Green Gables Audition Songs.
* Each child will be asked to read a short piece from the script (non-readers can "echo back" lines), but this is not necessary to prepare ahead of time. We do have quite a few non-singing roles, so kids who are more interested in acting than singing are very welcome!
* If needed, callbacks will be held January 20-21. Callbacks might be used if we would like additional time with children under consideration for some roles.
* A word to "RPL veterans": We encourage you to use this opportunity to show us something new...perhaps a side of your singing voice that we haven't heard on our stage, or a type of character that is new for you. You already know that our auditions are fun and easy, so take this chance to stretch yourself outside your comfort zone. You might stretch yourself to learn one of the songs from Green Gables and experiment with developing a character. A well-prepared song in auditions that demonstrates your effort definitely makes a difference....for us, and for you!
5. Roles to Be Cast
Every child participating is given a role. As this is an original musical, some characters in the following list may change based on casting and choices necessary for the show’s development. All roles are inspired by characters in the book, but have been developed with additional details to contribute to the story in our adaptation.
THE TOWNSPEOPLE
THE SCHOOLGIRLS
THE SCHOOL BOYS
THE LITTLE SISTERS
THE SPOOKS in HAUNTED WOODS
Ghosts, goblins, and mysterious creatures who appear as figments of Anne's imgination during a nightime adventure.
Every child participating is given a role. As this is an original musical, some characters in the following list may change based on casting and choices necessary for the show’s development. All roles are inspired by characters in the book, but have been developed with additional details to contribute to the story in our adaptation.
THE TOWNSPEOPLE
- Rachel Lynde, the town busybody, snooty and uptight, but is eventually transformed by Anne's imagination
- Marilla Cuthbert, an older woman who adopts and raises Anne, strict and rigid, but softens through her relationship with Anne
- Matthew Cuthbert, Marilla's brother who, along with Marilla, adopts Anne. A bit awkward and bumbling, but gentle and full of appreciation; he is Anne's first "kindred spirit"
- Mrs. Barry, mother of Anne's best friend, Diana; enjoys being one of the wealthiest families in town; initially judgemental of Anne and skeptical of her friendship with her daughter, but turns around
- Mr. Barry, the wealthy but kind-hearted father of Anne's best friend, Diana
- Aunt Josephine, Diana's Aunt, harsh at first glance but becomes a "kindred spirit" of Anne's, once her own free-spirited nature is revealed
- Mr. Phillips, the stodgy and strict teacher who surprises everyone with his unexpected, dramatic departure
- Miss Stacy, the new teacher who inspires and encourages the imagination of all the children, believes in their success, and helps them graduate and make plans for attending college
- Lucilla Harris, a beautiful young shopkeeper who makes Matthew very nervous when he tries to buy a new dress for Anne as a nice gesture
- The Stationmaster, who keeps a close ear to town gossip, and always knows who is coming and going
- Dr. Blair, the kind doctor, highly respected by the townspeople, who affirms Anne's knowledge
THE SCHOOLGIRLS
- Anne Shirley, an orphan mistakenly sent to Green Gables, talkative & imaginative, enamored with big words, often gets in trouble with her impulsive decisoins but manages to win over those around her
- Diana Barry, Anne's best friend, kind, playful, loyal and delighted by the new world Anne introduces to her
- Ruby Gillis, Romantic, dramatic, and dreamy, loves dreaming of beaus
- Emma White, longtime friend of Ruby Gillis with a bit of a jealous streak
- Jane Andrews, quiet, shy, excellent student, intellectual
- Julia Bell, spunky, energetic and giggly, encouraging
THE SCHOOL BOYS
- Gilbert Blythe, Anne's rival from the time he teased her on their first meeting, though he wants to be friends but she stubbornly refuses; confident, a leader, adventurous and brave
- Charlie Sloane, Gilbert's close friend, teases the girls, wants to be a politician
- Moody Spurgeon, smart, perfectionist, critical of others, wants to be a minister
- Jimmy Glover, a playful boy who tends to get in trouble and cause mischief
THE LITTLE SISTERS
- Minnie May Barry, Diana's Sister
- Sally Bell, Julia's Sister
- Susan Gillis, Ruby's Sister
- Lilly Sloane, Charlie's Sister
- Gracie Andrews, Jane’s Sister
THE SPOOKS in HAUNTED WOODS
Ghosts, goblins, and mysterious creatures who appear as figments of Anne's imgination during a nightime adventure.