***Casting Call! *** Video Auditions Accepted Through 11-16-20
.We are excited to present The First RPL Youth Theatre Festival, featuring 12 plays and musicals written and directed by students! The shows will rehearse November 2020-January 2021, with a final virtual festival streamed in February 2021
These kids worked hard writing their plays and musicals all summer and are now learning the basics of Directing their own scripts. The only thing that's missing is the actors...this is their casting call!
For student actors, participating in one of the shows is a fun way to get to act and perform with minimal time commitment...and it's free! Plus, it's convenient, because everything takes place by video/Zoom -- auditions, rehearsals, and performance!
EXTENDED! Video auditions will be accepted through Monday Nov 16. To audition, kids need to submit a video (or more than one video, if the shows they are auditioning for have different audition requests) and complete the audition form.
We will be producing a Virtual Festival to stream in February 2021. All activities will take place via Zoom.
From November 2020-January 2021, Student Directors will rehearse their shows on Zoom, as they hone their skills in directing as well as learn to apply digital/theatre effects used to enhance a virtual production.
Final performances will be recorded in late January 2021, with the Festival Streamed online in February 2021. All recordings will wrap up the week of January 25.
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The shows vary in length from 5 minutes to 45 minutes. Our Festival will include full plays & musicals (up to 45 minutes), as well as shorter excerpts (5-10 minutes). Approximate run times are listed below.
Rehearsal time commitment varies, based on the length of the prouction (ranging from 5-40 minutes) and the specific needs of the show. Typically, the maximum time commitment is rehearsing once weekly, though some shows and roles will rehearse more or less. Please see each show's individual listing for more details regarding schedule. When you complete the Audition Form, you can indicate any conflicts or requests related to the schedule.
Your kids can even be in more than one show! Student actors can audition for as many shows as they like (as approved by parents) and can be cast in multiple shows as well. In fact, the rehearsal schedule is set up to not have duplication among rehearsals, making it easy for kids to participate in multiple shows. Keep in mind that in addition to the rehearsing via Zoom, actors will need to spend time outside of rehearsal memorizing lines and practicing.
All rehearsal and performance takes place via Zoom, so you don't even need to leave home! You will need to create a "Green Screen" setup - which means that actors will need to have a solid-colored wall or flat curtain behind them during later rehearsals and final performance. Most of our directors will be incorporating digital backgrounds, which require this special setup on your end.
Zoom rehearsals are run by the Student Director, whose parent will always be within earshot during rehearsals. Some rehearsals will also be attended by RPL's Artistic Director Marney Makridakis, who will be training and supporting Directors along the entire process.
There is no cost to participate as an actor in the Festival. However, if participating brings value to your family, we gratefully accept donations of any amount to support our non-profit activities empowering children through the arts, especially during the time of covid-19.
Audition Instructions
Auditions are easy and low-key and done by video. There are two steps to complete your audition by the final date of November 16: complete the audition form and submit a video. Keep reading for details: 1. First, select the productions for which you'd like to audition. You will be able to specify which shows you would like to audition for, as well as how many shows you agree to be cast in. (For example, you might decide that your child can participate in three productions, and they choose to audition for six.) Please consider auditioning for some of the shorter scenes, as well as some of the shows or directors you don't know personally -- we have lots of parts to go around and we need actors for all of them! Thank you for being open to new experiences!
2. Where to start? A good way to begin is to review the general rehearsal times to see which shows/scenes could possibly match your schedule. General rehearsal times are listed below by director's name. Note that shows may not be meeting every week, and there may be some exceptions or additional times involved. For the complete picture of rehearsal schedule, please refer to the Show Details page.
3. After narrowing down by your schedule, review the information for each production on the Show Details page. Then you can make a list of the shows for which you are auditioning and prepare for your auditions accordingly. The chart below summarizes the details for quick reference.
4. Go here to complete the Audition Form. Follow the instructions to indicate the number of shows you can do, and the shows for which you are auditioning. There is also a place to indicate schedule conflicts or any other considerations. The final date to submit your form and video is November 16.
5. Prepare your audition video(s). If possible, create one single video, but if you need to create multiple videos with different content, that is ok. Most Directors request a scene or monologue of your choice, and some have some specific additional requests. Please check the listing for additional instructions. The final date to submit your form and video is November 7.
About Scenes and Monologues: This might sound scary but it's not! A monologue is a speech by a character in a play, and a scene is dialogue between two or more people. We even have some very short samples that your child can use. Regardless of their age or experience, we want every actor to feel GREAT about their video!
Ideally, monologues are memorized but kids can also use the script, or echo after someone else reading each line first. Directors, will care more about the emotion you show in your monologue rather than the status of memorization.
A scene is dialogue between two or more people. If your child uses a scene to audition, the opposing role(s) can be read by a parent or older sibling. In a scene, the child gets the opportunity to react to what the other character is saying.
Monologue & Scene Suggestions: We have a few suggestions, including very short lines for young actors, which they can echo back and repeat after a parent says the line. Go here for: RPL's Audition Suggestions
Your child can also just say hello, perhaps do a quick impersonation of a favorite Disney or movie character, and just give a flavor of personality. No stress! :-) If the show/role you wish to audition for has a particular requirement listed in its details, be sure to include include this in your video as well and announce it as such.
5. Upload your video to the Drop Box folder here. You do not need a Dropbox account in order to upload your audition folder. If there are multiple files, upload them one at a time.
Once you've completed the form and uploaded your video, you are done! Audition period ends November 16.