Fall Production (age 4-19):
The World Premiere of : The Last Library
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The Last Library is an epic new musical inspired by the mysteries of the ancient Library of Alexandria. A brilliant scholar disappears, leaving behind an extraordinary miniature library filled with rooms, riddles, and clues that may point to knowledge lost for thousands of years. Soon, family members, young scholars, adventurers, and greedy rivals are racing to solve its mysteries, launching a quest that reaches far beyond the walls of their imagination. Will they solve the mystery and discover the Last Library before it disappears forever?
Written by Marney Makridakis, with songs by Anthony Makridakis, both script and songs are written so that every child participating has a role created especially for them. Quick links:
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Click the areas below to expand for more details about "The Last Library":
WHAT ARE THE KEY DATES?
- Performances: November 20, 21, 22 at First United Methodist Church, Plano
- Free Workshops: Sept 17, 18, and 23rd. Get a taste of RPL Theatre and learn a song from the production. RSVP for the workshops here.
- Auditions: Sept 17, 18 and 23rd, before and after the Free Workshops. Open to ages 4-19 and every child participating gets a role created for them. Sign up for an audition slot here.
- Rehearsals: Rehearsals begin September 25, during timeslots on Thursdays and Fridays. Some roles may requite rehearsals on both days. There are required run-throughs on Nov 12-13, and the final production week of Nov 16 includes rehearsals Nov 17-19 and performances on Nov 20-22. See below for full details about rehearsal expectations.
WHAT MAKES RPL THEATRE DIFFERENT?
Our primary focus is simple: building confidence & nurturing creative self-discovery in an inclusive, supportive environment.
💖 Even our auditions are designed to be 100% empowering, inspiring experiences where the kids feel GREAT!
👍 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? We 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. "The Last Library" is our newest development and we are so excited to premiere it this Fall!
🌍 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 in a truly inclusive enviroment.
🎭 Since its inception in 2014, RPL has existed to share the arts with families of all backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities. Our misssion is to empower children through the arts and create an inclusive culture of love. We welcome everyone and would love to have you!
💖 Even our auditions are designed to be 100% empowering, inspiring experiences where the kids feel GREAT!
👍 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? We 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. "The Last Library" is our newest development and we are so excited to premiere it this Fall!
🌍 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 in a truly inclusive enviroment.
🎭 Since its inception in 2014, RPL has existed to share the arts with families of all backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities. Our misssion is to empower children through the arts and create an inclusive culture of love. We welcome everyone and would love to have you!
WHAT DOES IT COST?
- Production Fees
- Fees are due by the first rehearsal, September 25, unless other arrangements are made
- Fees are paid at the bottom of this page
- Non-Member Production Fees: $270/1 child. $100 per additional child
- Discounted RPL Member Fees: $90/1 child, $130/2 children, $170 for 3+ children.
- Click here for info about RPL Membership.
- Other costs:
🍭A Concessions Donation of $15 per family, due July 10.
👗Costume costs - parents work together to decide and make everything as cost-effective as possible, often using shared, donated, or secondhand materials to keep costs minimum and much less expensive than other theatre production opportunities
📑Script - Each actor who reads is responsible for the printing and binding of their script at their own cost. For music, we will send song links of MP3 tracks, which you can download to a playlist
🎟️Tickets to the live shows and livestreaming access are reserved by donations of any amount
🪙Optional Fundraisers, such as t-shirts, photobooks, raffles, and silent auctions, are optional and up to the discretion of each family.
📅If you are interested, here is the schedule for the 6-Week Homeschool Mini-Mester that runs concurrently with rehearsals. All classes are free to RPL Members, or can be purchased a la carte.
HOW DO AUDITIONS WORK?
First and foremost: RPL auditions are designed to be fun and empowering experiences for kids of all ages. And best of all, every child not only gets a role, but a part that is specifically designed and tailored for them!
As we produce our own original musicals, we can freely adjust script and songs to give every child a chance to shine.
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!
Some notes about the audition process:
Preparing for the Audition
As we produce our own original musicals, we can freely adjust script and songs to give every child a chance to shine.
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!
Some notes about the audition process:
- Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis via this audition sign-up form.
- Children age 4-19 are welcome to audition for this production. From tots to teens, our goal is to make auditions a fun, empowering experience where the kids feel great!
- We are looking for the teens and pre-teens who can play characters with emotional maturity, as well as the playful younger kids of all ages for all kinds of fun and magical roles! From magical to mysterious, from entertaining to enchanting, there's a role to be created for everyone!
- Audition times are conveniently scheduled before and after our Free Workshops on Sept 17, 18, and 23.
- Attendees to the Free Workshops are welcome to audition if time as available, but if you want to guarantee a timeslot, we recommend signing up ahead of time.
- Siblings can share a timeslot, but keep in mind that the timeslots are 10 minutes each. For new families, we recommend each sibling having their own timeslot.
- Parents can be in the room while children audition or not - we like to leave it up to the child to decide.
- Parents will be given paperwork to complete at auditions, to submit personal conflicts & agree to participation guidelines.
- Parents are welcome to ask questions during the audition slot, or can email Marney at any time at [email protected]
- In-person auditions are preferred, but we also will accept video auditions if attending Sept 17, 18 or 23 is not possible. If you plan to submit a video, please contact Ms. Marney at [email protected]
Preparing for the Audition
- To prepare, we simply ask each child to sing any song of their choice, with a maximum length of 1:30.
- Kids are welcome to sing a capella (with no background music) or with a backtrack. NOTE: If you plan to use a backtrack, please have it ready to play on a device (such as the parent's phone) so that the audition timeslot can be used efficiently.
- Kids may be asked to read a short piece from the script (non-readers can "echo back" lines) or be given direction to try different things to show range and ability to take direction.
- We do have non-singing roles, so kids who are more interested in acting than singing are very welcome!
- During the audition, each child will be asked their preferences, such as: do they want to have lines by themselves, and if they want to sing a solo, or only in a group. If you like, you can talk to them about this ahead of time, but it's also fine to let the conversation unfold naturally during their audition fine.
- If a child is interested in participating but is not comfortable singing or reading/speaking by themselves, please don't worry! Sign up for an audition and we'll just have a conversation. Definitely don't pressure for any kind of preparation - it's fine to show up, just as they are!
- 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. Please Note: A well-prepared song in auditions that demonstrates your at-home effort definitely makes a difference....for both of us!
WHAT ARE THE REHEARSAL EXPECTATIONS?
- The first rehearsal is Fri Sept 25, 2:00-3:30 for the full cast, followed by a parent meeting at 3:30. This is required unless approved ahead of time.
- After that, most actors will be assigned to one slot and will attend that timeslot weekly, however, some roles require rehearsing in more than one slot, or even on both days. A detailed rehearsal schedule will be distributed the first week of rehearsal.
- Slot 1: Thursdays 2:30-4:00
- Slot 2: Thursdays 4:00-6:30
Slot 3: Fridays 2:30-4:00
- The Teen Ensemble (age 13+) rehearses Fridays 5:30-7:30. A few principle roles may require additional rehearsals on some weeks.
- Casting and the rehearsal schedule are built around the conflicts of participating families. You will be asked about your availability and conflicts in your audition form, and will will do our best to accommodate family schedule. But please note that conflicts/availability will affect casting decisions.
- While we are primarily a homeschool organization, we welcome any family who is able to make rehearsal times work, and we will work with your schedule as best as we can.
- With the exception of illness or true emergency, attendance is required at all rehearsals unless you have a previously-arranged excused absence disclosed at the time of auditions. All conflicts must be disclosed on the audition form.
- Rehearsals are held at Read Play Love in Lowry Crossing (East McKinney) and, with the exception of teens age 13+, parents must remain on site during rehearsals (see Parent Involvement section below.)
- Required Rehearsals: in addition to your ongoing weekly rehearsal time, the following are required for all cast members unless absences disclosed at auditon time are approved. (Note: for our youngest cast members, we aim to get their parts done first during these long rehearsals.)
- Full group run-throughs at RPL are November 12 and 13 at 3:00-6:00.
- Production Week: Dress Rehearsals on November 17, 18 and 19 at 4:00-7:30 - held at First Methodist Church of Plano.
- Final performances are November 19, 20, 21 at 6pm at First Methodist Church of Plano., with a 4:30 call time.
- Part of growing as a performer is learning how to practice at home so kids can come to rehearsal feeling prepared and confident. It also means learning how to be part of a rehearsal room: staying focused, supporting fellow actors, and being ready to work together. We love helping kids build these skills over time, and they’re also part of what we consider as we cast future shows and look for new opportunities for each performer.
- To help reinforce that rehearsal is time for work rather than socializing, you are encouraged to come before or stay after for social and playtime -- in fact, this is one of the big perks of theatre at RPL!
WHAT IS THE PARENT INVOLVEMENT LIKE?
📅In order to facilitate effective communication, a parent meeting Friday September 25 at 3:30 is mandatory, even if you have participated in previous productions.
📬Parents are required to actively read and respond to announcements (generally weekly, but becoming more frequently closer to the performance)
🏠RPL is not a drop-off experience. As a community-focused organization, parents are required to stay on-site during rehearsals. Teens are not required to have parents on-site, though many stay! Rehearsal times are enjoyable social times for parents, and offer opportunities to contribute on projects for the production. If you have multiple kids, you'll love having a place where everyone can have fun, even when they aren't in rehearsals. RPL is a friendly, inclusive community with wonderful parents and great kids, from tots to teens!
📘At-home practice is required, especially for roles with significant stage time, and we require each family to commit to rehearsing at home. We will give you tools to help kids with repetition and memorization in between group rehearsals.
📑You're required to have a printed and bound script for every actor who reads, which must be brought to every rehearsal.
💁♀️Each family fills at least two volunteer roles, based on their interests, skills and availability. This investment of time is crucial for an all-volunteer production-- and it's also fun to get involved and participate as an entire family! A form for indicating volunteer job preferences is given the first week of rehearsals, and are assigned first-come, first-serve.
🎭With the exception of Crew Leaders, each family will be expected to serve at least one backstage shift during production week. Details of what this entails will be given at the Parent Meeting.
📬Parents are required to actively read and respond to announcements (generally weekly, but becoming more frequently closer to the performance)
🏠RPL is not a drop-off experience. As a community-focused organization, parents are required to stay on-site during rehearsals. Teens are not required to have parents on-site, though many stay! Rehearsal times are enjoyable social times for parents, and offer opportunities to contribute on projects for the production. If you have multiple kids, you'll love having a place where everyone can have fun, even when they aren't in rehearsals. RPL is a friendly, inclusive community with wonderful parents and great kids, from tots to teens!
📘At-home practice is required, especially for roles with significant stage time, and we require each family to commit to rehearsing at home. We will give you tools to help kids with repetition and memorization in between group rehearsals.
📑You're required to have a printed and bound script for every actor who reads, which must be brought to every rehearsal.
💁♀️Each family fills at least two volunteer roles, based on their interests, skills and availability. This investment of time is crucial for an all-volunteer production-- and it's also fun to get involved and participate as an entire family! A form for indicating volunteer job preferences is given the first week of rehearsals, and are assigned first-come, first-serve.
🎭With the exception of Crew Leaders, each family will be expected to serve at least one backstage shift during production week. Details of what this entails will be given at the Parent Meeting.
Pay Production Fee Here (due September 25)