Fox Valley auditions

To submit a listing, fax to (847) 608-0849 or e-mail foxvalley@dailyherald.com

To take the first leap onto the road to stardom, the Fox Valley can be a great place to step off. The following auditions have been set.

Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra: The 2007 Youth Orchestra of the Year and the 2008 Youth Orchestra Conductor of the Year ­- the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, an In-Residence Ensemble in the Arts Center at Elgin Community College, still has a few instrument openings for the 2008-09 season, the orchestra's 33rd season.

Auditions will continue through July and August until all openings are filled on the main campus of Elgin Community College. Interested students, parents or guardians must call the EYSO office at (847) 841-7700 to learn about instrument openings and to schedule an audition time. Video auditions also will be accepted.

Audition requirements as well as an application may be found on the EYSO Web site at www.eyso.org, or you may request an application by calling the EYSO office. There is a $45 audition fee per instrument.

The EYSO is looking for musicians in fourth grade through college age. The EYSO performs seven concerts per season at the Blizzard Theatre on the main campus of ECC. In addition, the Chamber Music Institute performs a concert each semester. Eligible students can also earn college credit while being an EYSO member.

Program information can be found online or by speaking with a member of the EYSO staff. Weekly rehearsals and season performances take place on Sundays at Elgin Community College in the Elgin Community Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

The focus is on a comprehensive learning environment, exploring the music beyond just performance skills, and wonderful concerts. This begins in the weekly rehearsal where the emphasis is on how the music is put together, and how it is a reflection of where and when it was written. Concert programs are imaginative, challenging and diverse, and are often created around a theme.

Elgin Children's Chorus: The Elgin Children's Chorus will hold auditions from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11 and 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18 for the 2008-2009 season at the Arts Center at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive in Elgin.

Members develop vocal expertise by honing their technical skills such as music reading, critical listening, and intonation. Choristers develop personal attributes including teamwork, self-discipline and self-confidence. Membership is open to all area children with unchanged voices, ages 7-16. Chorus members come from more than 55 different schools within 18 school districts.

The audition is designed to be a simple process that will place singers at ease. The ability to read music is not required. The essential chorister attitude is one that desires to work hard learning great music.

To prepare for the audition, you may want to brush up on "My Country 'tis of Thee," and the round "Are You Sleeping?" To schedule an audition, visit the Web site at www.elginchch.org or call (847) 931-7464 (SING).

Black Box Theatre: The Black Box Theatre at McHenry County College will hold auditions for the outrageous English comedy "Table Manners" by Alan Ayckbourn. General auditions will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 8 and 9. Bring a two to three-minute comedic monologue and you must use a British accent. If you do not have a monologue, a reading will be provided. Roles are available for three men and three women and no experience is necessary. This production will be directed by Chicago area director Dan Scott.

No experience is necessary. Callbacks will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11. Scripts are available in the MCC library. Rehearsals will begin the week of Sept. 15 and performances will be held the first three weekends of November.

For more information, call Jay Geller, Department Chair of Communications Studies at MCC, at (815) 455-8746 or e-mail jgeller@mchenry.edu.

St. Charles Singers: The St. Charles Singers, which recently celebrated its debut appearance on the worldwide Naxos classical record label, will hold auditions for sopranos, altos, tenors, and bass-baritones from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 19-20.

Auditions for the 34-voice professional choir's 2008-09 concert season will be held at its principal concert venue, Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles.

Programs for 2008-09 will be announced later this summer, according to Jeffrey Hunt, the ensemble's founder and artistic director. Ensemble members are paid for rehearsals as well as performances. Audition details and requirements can be found at www.stcharlessingers.com/auditions, where there is also an online form to set up an audition. Auditions also can be arranged by e-mailing Hunt at mmsdir1@aol.com or calling the St. Charles Singers at (630) 584-4251.

The ensemble's repertoire comprises more than 600 works.

State Street Dance: State Street Dance Studio, 9 N. Forth St. in Geneva, will hold auditions for its annual production of "The Nutcracker." Auditions for the Tchaikovsky classic holiday ballet will be held at the studio on Aug. 24.

Auditions will be held at: 11 a.m. for children ages 5-6, noon for ages 7-8, 1 p.m. for ages 9-11, 2 p.m. for ages 12 and older, and 3 p.m. for adults auditioning for party scene parents, Mother Ginger, Drosselmeyer, maids and butlers. Adults do not need to have any previous dance experience for this show. Adult actors are highly encouraged to audition for this production. Plan to arrive 20 minutes before audition time and dressed in ballet attire. Call (630) 232-0444 to register for the auditions.

All dancers cast in "The Nutcracker" must be registered for a class at State Street Dance Studio throughout the rehearsal and production period of the show. There will be a nonrefundable participation fee of $275 that will cover the cost of costume rental, rehearsal time, and production costs. Rehearsals will be Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m. beginning on Sept. 7, excluding Nov. 30. There will be tech and dress rehearsals on Dec. 17-19. All rehearsals are mandatory. Dancers that are not available for all dates will not be considered for this performance.

State Street Dance Studio will once again be performing the complete ballet with all scenes played live by the Kane Community Opera orchestra, under the direction of Steve Hanson.

Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and 2 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Norris Cultural Arts Center.

For information, call the studio at (630) 232-0444 and visit online at www.statestreetdancestudio.com.