Elgin Theatre Co. to hold auditions for holiday radio show
The Elgin Theatre Company is pleased to announce auditions for its fall production of "An Elgin Old Tyme Holiday Radio Show." This is the first production of ETC's 2017-18 season.
The auditions will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at First United Methodist Church, 216 Highland Ave., Elgin.
If you are interested in auditioning, but cannot attend these dates, contact Julie Price at juliep_rxp@yahoo.com.
Participants will be asked to do cold readings from the featured radio scripts. While there will be no changes of gender to the actual characters, a male character does not necessarily have to be voiced by a male actor, nor does a female character necessarily have to be voiced by a female actor. Because of the numerous voices needed, each actor cast must have good vocal quality and be versatile and able to read multiple roles, effectively changing the sound of their voice for each character. There are multiple roles for male and female actors, age 10 or older.
Actors who are cast in the show will be given one complimentary ticket for one performance of the show (any date).
The radio show's synopsis:
• "Archie Andrew's Christmas Shopping" - Mass confusion results when Archie, his parents and all his friends go Christmas shopping at the same time in the same department store.
• "Fibber Paints a Christmas Tree White" - Fibber is too cheap to pay $10 for a white-painted Christmas tree and decides to do it himself with the expected comic consequences.
• "Miracle on 34th Street" - In this Christmas classic, Doris Walker, a no-nonsense Macy's executive, desperately searches for a new store Santa. She hires Kris Kringle who insists that he's the real Santa Claus. But he has many skeptics, including Doris and her young daughter, Susan. So Kris must go to court to try and prove it. Is he the real Santa Claus?
"Archie Andrew's Christmas":
Adult roles for male announcer, Fred Andrews, Mary Andrews, floorwalker (male/female) and Man/Moe (male); and young adult roles for Veronica, Archie, Jughead and Betty.
"Fibber Paints a Christmas Tree White":
Adult roles for Wil, Fib (male), Fred, Mol, Doc and Mrs. Carstairs; and young adult roles for Alice and Tee (boy).
"Miracle on 34th Street":
Adult roles for male announcer, William Keeley, Doris Walker, Fred Gailey, Kris Kringle (elderly male), Mr. Shellhammer, Alfred, Libby Collins, Mort's mama, girl's mama, Mr. Macy (elderly), Mr. Grandville Sawyer, Dr. Pierce (male), Mr. Gimball, nurse (female), Judge Harper (elderly male), Helena Sorrel, Assistant DA Thomas Mara, Mrs. Mara, Charles Holloran, postman (male), Louie; a young adult of Miss Pall; and a youth role of Susan Walker, Mortimer, Little Girl and Tommy Mara Jr.
Performances of "An Elgin Old Tyme Holiday Radio Show" will be held Nov. 10-12, 17-19. Friday and Saturday performances start at 8 p.m. and Sunday performances start at 2 p.m.
This is a staged reading, in the style of a 1940s radio show.
Note, they also need crew members: live sound effects, stage manager, set builders, technical support (lights and sound), costumes, and ushers. If interested, contact Julie Price at juliep_rxp@yahoo.com.
Visit www.elgin-theatre.org.
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.