Teen Production - Summer 2023
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Direct from the Off-Broadway Production in NYC! The Whimsical World of Sherlock Holmes was an original RPL Musical for kids that was later revised for an adult cast and then selected for the highly competitive Broadway Bound Theatre Festival. It performed a successful run in Times Square in 2021, where it received rave reviews and 5 Broadway World Nominations, including Best New Off-Broadway Musical.
Now we’re coming full circle and bringing the acclaimed Off-Broadway show back to RPL, where it all began, with our first Teen Show for performers age 13-18, along with a tech crew for pre-teens age 11+. Get all the details below! |
Helpful Links for Summer '23
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A Quick Look at the Dates
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About the Show
The acclaimed new musical tells the story of Sherlock Holmes and his fellow fictional characters who leap off the page to live out their fantasies when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle suffers an emotional breakdown, coming down to a battle of wits to determine who is really in control – creator or creation?
For our first Teen Show, we will be presenting a hybrid experience that combines training and a production experience. The first two weeks (June 8, 9, 15, 16) will consist of acting, music, and dance masterclasses that will allow the teen company to learn valuable performance skills in all three areas, while also getting to know one another, and becoming familiar with the show. On the third week (June 22), roles will be cast and staging for the actual production will begin.
Three Free Teen Masterclasses will be held May 31-June 2, to give interested teens a taste of this masterclass experience; continue reading for details.
A KickOff Mixer - "Sherlock & S'Mores" will be held on Friday June 2 at 7pm.
About the Pre-Teen Technical Theatre Crew: Pre-teens (age 11+) are eligible to be part of the technical crew for the show, in which they’ll get experience with behind-the-scenes elements such as set design and construction, stage lighting & sound, stage crew, and production management.
For our first Teen Show, we will be presenting a hybrid experience that combines training and a production experience. The first two weeks (June 8, 9, 15, 16) will consist of acting, music, and dance masterclasses that will allow the teen company to learn valuable performance skills in all three areas, while also getting to know one another, and becoming familiar with the show. On the third week (June 22), roles will be cast and staging for the actual production will begin.
Three Free Teen Masterclasses will be held May 31-June 2, to give interested teens a taste of this masterclass experience; continue reading for details.
A KickOff Mixer - "Sherlock & S'Mores" will be held on Friday June 2 at 7pm.
About the Pre-Teen Technical Theatre Crew: Pre-teens (age 11+) are eligible to be part of the technical crew for the show, in which they’ll get experience with behind-the-scenes elements such as set design and construction, stage lighting & sound, stage crew, and production management.
Check out moments from the New York production....
Production Details
Free "Triple-Threat" Teen Masterclasses
NEW! We're offering three days of Free Masterclasses for Teens, held May 31-June 2. All are open to anyone age 13-18. RPL is the ideal environment for teens to have their first theatre experience, as well as giving seasoned performers the opportunity to grow deeply in an encouraging environment.
In the world of musical theatre, a "triple threat" is someone who is comfortable in all three key aspects of a musical: acting, singing, and dancing.
- Wednesday May 31, 12:30-2:00 -- Acting
- Thursday June, 12:30-2:00 -- Singing
- Friday June 2, 12:30-2:00 -- Choreography
Students can attend just one of the masterclasses or all three. No preparation or previous experience is necessary. In each class, you'll get a chance to learn material from The Whimsical World of Sherlock Holmes and put new skills into practice. For those interested in auditioning, there are audition timeslots available before and after the Masterclasses.
Attendance is free but reservations are required. Go here to register.
Kick-Off Mixer
We're having a special "Sherlock N S'Mores" Teen Mixer on Friday June 2 at 7pm for some fun bonding time before we start the following week. Auditioning for the production is not required to attend - all teens are welcome. Learn more bout the Teen Mixer here.
Auditions for The Whimsical World of Sherlock Holmes
*Teens age 13-18 are welcome to audition.
*Auditions are required to be in the Teen Company. However, note that roles will not be cast until after the first two weeks of workshops, which allows to company to learn valuable performance skills in acting, singing and dance, while also getting to know one another and becoming more familiar with the show.
*Please prepare two songs (16 bars, or excerpts approximately 30-45 seconds each) an emotion-driven ballad and a high-energy, up-tempo song. You can perform with a backtrack or a cappella. (Note there are also roles that are primarily non-singing parts, which you can request at the time of audition.
Get more audition details & Ms. Marney's Tips...
Audition Links:
Go here for details for preparing for auditions
Go here to go sign up for an audition timeslot
Go here to RSVP for the free "Triple Threat" Masterclasses
Rehearsals
* Our rehearsal times are Thursdays & Fridays at 12:30-2:30, starting June 8. We try to accommodate conflicts whenever possible, and ask that families indicate conflicts with audition paperwork, so we can create the rehearsal schedule around these needs.
* While we are largely 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. Since our rehearsal time is limited, we need each performer to commit to rehearsing at home.
* Parents are expected to volunteer in some capacity, based on their interests, skills and time available. A form for indicating preferences is given at the time of auditions.
* Our rehearsals are held at Read Play Love, a combination of both indoors and outdoors.
Production
* Production week is July 31-August 3 @ 2:00-6:00pm at Wylie Acting Group.
* Performances: August 4, 5, 6 with evening performances at 6pm held at Wylie Acting Group.
What Makes Read Play Love Different?
* RPL's mission is to empower children through the arts and create an inclusive culture of love. Our focus is on nurturing the creative process of each young artist and encouraging growth, confidence, and community.
* What makes Read Play Love different...is the Love! At RPL, there is a place for everyone - regardless of background, experience, training, or ability. We see the very best in young performers, meeting them where they are to build confidence and stretch them a bit further than they likely expected...all while being part of a high quality artistic experience.
* Perhaps most significantly, our tradition of producing original musicals allows us complete flexibility to adjust our scripts & songs in order to give every performer the very best chance to shine. Our musicals feature rich storytelling with affirming, positive messages and inspiring themes.
* Busy schedule? We always do our best to work around the schedules of busy families.
* 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 makes Read Play Love different...is the Love! At RPL, there is a place for everyone - regardless of background, experience, training, or ability. We see the very best in young performers, meeting them where they are to build confidence and stretch them a bit further than they likely expected...all while being part of a high quality artistic experience.
* Perhaps most significantly, our tradition of producing original musicals allows us complete flexibility to adjust our scripts & songs in order to give every performer the very best chance to shine. Our musicals feature rich storytelling with affirming, positive messages and inspiring themes.
* Busy schedule? We always do our best to work around the schedules of busy families.
* 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: $199/1 child
Family Friendly Pricing: $100 per additional child
* 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. Membership is $30/month for 1 child and $60/month for 2+ 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 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 capacity, 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.
Family Friendly Pricing: $100 per additional child
* 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. Membership is $30/month for 1 child and $60/month for 2+ 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 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 capacity, 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.
Helpful Links for Summer '23
- Schedule for Open House (May 25, 26, 31, June 1 & 2)
- Reservation Form for Free Open House Activities
- Summer Activities Full Schedule & Registratin
- Summer Activities for Teens age 13-18
- Summer Musical Info: Wizard of Songz
- Audition Signup: Wizard of Songz
- Audition Tips: Wizard of Songz
- Teen Show: The Whimsical World of Sherlock Holmes
- Audition Signup: Whimsical World of Sherlock Holmes
- Audition Tips: Whimsical World of Sherlock Holmes