Auditions

Arts agenda

• The Lyric Opera of Chicago holds auditions for supernumeraries (extras) and a male actor to play Lt. Bush for its winter production of John Adams and Peter Sellars' "Doctor Atomic" at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Male and female actors are needed to play soldiers, maintenance workers, maids and more. Ethnic minorities are especially sought to audition. Call (312) 827-3538.

• First Street Playhouse at 160 S. Water St., Batavia, holds children's auditions for the very adult drama "The Pillowman" by Martin McDonagh on Saturday and Sunday. One girl aged 8-11 and one boy aged 12-14 are needed. For information, visit www.bozolisan.com/childaudition.html.

• West Towns Chorus is hosting a "Guest Night" to welcome interested new male singers from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Monday at Moose Hall, 1030 Warren Ave., Downers Grove. Visit www.westtowns.org or call (630) 201-5544 for information.

• The roles of "Chuck Cranston" and "Garvin" are still open in Noble Fool Theatricals Youth Ensemble's production of "Footloose." Invitation-only auditions are Wednesday. Call Cody Westgaard at (630) 443-0438 for more information.

• Steel Beam Theatre holds "The John Deaver 'A Christmas Story' Short Story/Memoir Contest" open to children, high school students and adults. Winners receive a cash honorarium, two tickets to "A Christmas Story," publication in a booklet and a chance to read the story in front of an audience. Visit www.steelbeamtheatre.com for more information.

• Marriott Theatre holds an open call for the roles of Gavroche (boys, ages 10 to 12) and Young Cosette/Eponine (girls, ages 8 to 10) in "Les Miserables" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 20 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Please bring a one-minute song with sheet music and a head shot with resume. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com/LesMiz.asp for more information.

• Big Noise Theatre Company holds auditions for Tom Dudzick's family comedy "Over the Tavern" from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Prairie Lakes Theatre, 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines. Cold reading from the script and two-minute memorized monologues are requested. More information can be found at www.bignoise.org.

• The Waukegan Symphony Orchestra has openings in the brass sections, percussion and strings. The ensemble rehearses on Monday evenings at Waukegan High School, 2325 Brookside Ave., Waukegan. Call (847) 360-4740 for more information.

• Theatre of Western Springs invites people to join its "Studio" workshop in order to be cast in future productions. The first session at 9 a.m. Oct. 20 is free. Registration is required. Call (708) 246-4043.

• The Village Theatre Guild of Glen Ellyn holds auditions for Richard Greenberg's three-actor drama for two men and one woman. Prepare a one- to two-minute contemporary monologue and be prepared to read from the script. Auditions are at 1 p.m. Oct. 21 at 3S020 Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Call (630) 469-5414.

• My Fruit Roll-Ups is holding an "Eat My Words" contest to find America's funniest kids between the ages of 8 to 12 to promote its new customizable messages on its products. Parents can send VHS or DVD videos up to one minute in length of their children performing jokes along with an entry form found at www.myfruitrollups.com. There are cash and food prizes. Entries are accepted through Dec. 11.

• The Des Plaines Park District Community Concert Band seeks new members. Openings are in the oboe, bassoon, clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, bari-saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone and tuba sections. Rehearsals are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1177 Howard St., Des Plaines. Call (847) 391-2395 or visit www.desplainesconcertband.org for more information.

• The deadline for the International Songwriting Competition is Monday. Find out more information by visiting www.songwritingcompetition.com.

• Lyric Opera of Chicago holds preliminary chorus auditions for a 2008 production of Gershwin's 1935 opera "Porgy and Bess." Classically trained African-American singers in all voice categories are sought. Auditions will be held from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 2 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 3. To be considered for an audition, singers should send a current resume, photo and best available audition date to: Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chorus Auditions Coordinator, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 860, Chicago, IL 60606. Resumes are not accepted after Oct. 22. Not all applicants will be seen, and walk-ins will not be accepted. (312) 332-2244.