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Fall Juniors Musical (age 3-12)
A Christmas Carol and the Magic Box
Two Audition Days Only: September 18 & 19
Sign up to audition via this audition sign-up form.
Sign up to audition via this audition sign-up form.
Step inside the wonder! Our newest RPL Original Musical is A Christmas Carol and the Magic Box, where a troupe of forgotten puppets burst out of an old trunk to remind us that stories must be told in order to live forever.
This family-friendly retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic tale comes with a modern-day, magical twist to shine light on timeless themes of kindness, generosity, friendship, and love.
With sparkling new lyrics set to traditional Christmas Carols, the music is instantly familiar yet delightfully fresh, leaving everyone humming, smiling, and carrying the magic of story in their hearts.
Two Audition Days Only: September 18 & 19, 2025
Sign up to audition via this audition sign-up form.
This family-friendly retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic tale comes with a modern-day, magical twist to shine light on timeless themes of kindness, generosity, friendship, and love.
With sparkling new lyrics set to traditional Christmas Carols, the music is instantly familiar yet delightfully fresh, leaving everyone humming, smiling, and carrying the magic of story in their hearts.
Two Audition Days Only: September 18 & 19, 2025
Sign up to audition via this audition sign-up form.
Production Details
- Performances: December 12, 13 and 14 at Read Play Love
- Casting ages 3-12. Every child participating gets a role created for them.
- Free Workshops: Get a taste of RPL Theatre with our Free Workshops September 18 & 19, with timeslots divided by age. RSVP for the workshops here.
- Auditions are September 18-19. Scroll down for Audition info, and sign up for a timeslot here.
- Rehearsals begin September 25, on Thursdays and Fridays at 2:00-3:30. Some parts can rehearse once a week, but principal roles may be called to rehearse both days on some weeks.
- We do our best to accommodate family schedules, with casting and the rehearsal schedule built around the conflicts of participating families. A detailed rehearsal schedule will be distributed the first week of rehearsal.
- With the exception of illness or emergency, attendance is required at all rehearsals unless you have a previously-arranged excused absence.
- Required Rehearsals:
- Run-throughs are December 4 and 5 @ 2:00-5:30pm. (For our youngest cast members, we aim to get their parts done first)
- Production Week: Dress Rehearsals on Dec 9, 10 at 2:00-5:30 and Dec 11, 4:00-8:00
- Final performances are December 12, 13, 15 at 6pm at Read Play Love
- 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.
- 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.
- Rehearsals are held at Read Play Love in Lowry Crossing (East McKinney), in a combination of both indoors and outdoors.
- As a community-focused organization, parents are required to stay on-site during rehearsals. 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. Families can come before or after rehearsals to participate in our RPL Homeschool Activities or enjoy hanging out in the outdoor playspaces or in the library. Siblings are welcome. Here is the schedule for the Fall Mini-Mester that runs concurrently with rehearsals.
Two Audition Days Only: September 18 and 19
Sign up to audition via this audition sign-up form.
Sign up to audition via this audition sign-up form.
About the Audition Process
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!
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 3-12 are welcome to audition for this production! Our goal is to make auditions a fun, empowering experience where the kids feel great!
*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.
* Audition times are conveniently scheduled before and after our Free Workshops on September 18-19. We are looking for the pre-teens and tweens who can play adult characters with emotional maturity, as well as the playful younger kids of all ages for all kinds of fun and magical roles! From sweet to spooky, from entertaining to enchanting, there's a role to be created for everyone!
* Attendees to the Free Workshops will be 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 strongly recommend each sibling having their own timeslot.
* 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 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.
* In-person auditions are preferred, but we also will accept video auditions if September 18-19 are not possible. If you plan to submit a video, please contact Ms. Marney at [email protected]
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 3-12 are welcome to audition for this production! Our goal is to make auditions a fun, empowering experience where the kids feel great!
*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.
* Audition times are conveniently scheduled before and after our Free Workshops on September 18-19. We are looking for the pre-teens and tweens who can play adult characters with emotional maturity, as well as the playful younger kids of all ages for all kinds of fun and magical roles! From sweet to spooky, from entertaining to enchanting, there's a role to be created for everyone!
* Attendees to the Free Workshops will be 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 strongly recommend each sibling having their own timeslot.
* 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 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.
* In-person auditions are preferred, but we also will accept video auditions if September 18-19 are not possible. If you plan to submit a video, please contact Ms. Marney at [email protected]
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Preparing for the Audition
Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis via this online registration form.
* To prepare, we simply ask each child to sing any Christmas song OR sing a short excerpt from the show listed on this page. Singing an excerpt from the show is completely optional, but we offer it as a possibility for children who may be motivated to learn something new.
* A cappella singing is welcome (singing without a backtrack or instrumental), or kids can bring a recording of a backtrack. If you plan to use a backtrack, please have it ready to play on a device (such as the parent's phone.)
* Kids may 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 non-singing roles, so kids who are more interested in acting than singing are very welcome!
* 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!
* Each child will be asked if 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.
* 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. Perhaps show something I've not seen you do before, or learn one of the songs from the show. A well-prepared song in auditions that demonstrates your at-home effort definitely makes a difference....for both of us!
Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis via this online registration form.
Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis via this online registration form.
* To prepare, we simply ask each child to sing any Christmas song OR sing a short excerpt from the show listed on this page. Singing an excerpt from the show is completely optional, but we offer it as a possibility for children who may be motivated to learn something new.
* A cappella singing is welcome (singing without a backtrack or instrumental), or kids can bring a recording of a backtrack. If you plan to use a backtrack, please have it ready to play on a device (such as the parent's phone.)
* Kids may 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 non-singing roles, so kids who are more interested in acting than singing are very welcome!
* 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!
* Each child will be asked if 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.
* 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. Perhaps show something I've not seen you do before, or learn one of the songs from the show. A well-prepared song in auditions that demonstrates your at-home effort definitely makes a difference....for both of us!
Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis via this online registration form.
What Makes Read Play Love Different?
* Our primary focus is simple: building confidence & nurturing 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!
* 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 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.
* 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!
* 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 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.
* 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!
What Does It Cost?
* Non-Member Production Fees: $270/1 child
Family Friendly Pricing: $100 per additional child
* Discounted RPL Member Fees: The RPL Membership program allows families who are invested in our mission to receive ongoing member benefits and discounts. RPL Members in active standing save 2/3 off the regular production fees. For "A Christmas Carol and the Magic Box" the member rates are: $90/1 child, $130/2 children, $170 for 3+ children.
Note that in order to receive the reduced fees, Membership must be within an active 6-month cycle, or at the initiation of a new six-month commitment. 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 opportunites.
* Printed 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 or burn to your own CD.
* A Concessions/Supplies Donation of $10 per production is requested of all families to help with paper/cleaning products and concessions needs.
* Fundraisers, such as t-shirts, photobooks, and production videos, are optional and up to the discretion of each family.
* Parent Crew - Parents are expected to volunteer in a given role, based on their interests, skills and time available. A form for indicating preferences is given at the time of auditions. This investment of time is crucial for an all-volunteer production, and we work with each family to find the best fit that works with your schedule.
Questions? Contact Marney at [email protected]