Local arts auditions
• South Suburban College's PAC Rats Theatre Company has auditions for Fred Carmichael's murder mystery comedy "Any Number Can Die" at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 8 and 9, at the Kindig Performing Arts Center, 15800 S. State St., South Holland. Visit learn.southsuburbancollege.edu/theatre for more information.
• Impress These Apes, a comedy talent competition, returns for 2009 this autumn. Applications are now being accepted through Friday, July 10. For more information, visit impresstheseapes.com.
• The Irish American Heritage Center's Irish Fest is holding a children's singing contest for kids ages 12 and younger (Clovers) and teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 (Shamrocks). Preliminary auditions are at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 11, with a sing-off at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12. Advance registration is required, and forms must be submitted by noon Saturday, July 11. Visit irishfestchicago.com or call (773) 282-7035.
• The deadline for Moraine Hills State Park's 12th Annual Nature Photo Contest is Sunday, July 12. Visit friendsofmorainehillsstatepark.org for more information on the six contest categories and the rules for amateur entrants. Call (815) 344-1294 for more information.
• Janus Theatre has auditions for its October production of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., 8th Floor, Elgin. Auditions consist of cold readings from the script and are by appointment only. Visit janustheatre.wordpress.com for more information.
• Albright Theatre Company has auditions for a September production of "Thumbs" at 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday, July 19 and 20, at the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave., Batavia. Auditions consist of cold readings from the script. Call (630) 406-8838 or albrighttheatre.com.
• The Savoyaries has auditions for an October production of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operetta "Utopia, Ltd." from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 23, then from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 24, and then from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, July 27, at First Congregational Church House, 1417 Hinman Ave., Evanston. Call (773) 764-3313 to schedule an appointment.
• The Elgin Cultural Arts Commission seeks artists to participate in the second annual Alley of Art show (part of "Walkabout: Theatre On Your Feet," on three Saturdays in August). E-mail elginarts@gmail.com.
• The Curt Teich Postcard Archives at the Lake County Discovery Museum is calling for entries for its eighth biannual Postcard Art Competition and Exhibition. Artists ages 18 and older may submit original works on a 4-by-6-inch postcard. Deadline for entries is Monday, July 13. For information, call (847) 968-3381 or visit lcfpd.org.
• The American Public Transportation Association's "Dump the Pump" user-generated video submission contest runs through Thursday, Aug. 13. Go to publictransportation.org/takesusthere/contest.html for more information.
• Biodiversity Project's Great Lakes Forever program is teaming up with Budweiser to sponsor a photography contest for images capturing the majesty of the Great Lakes region. The contest runs until Friday, Aug. 14. Visit greatlakesforever.org for more information.
• The 29th annual Carey Rose Winski Dance Scholarship Competition is at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Lou Conte Dance Studio, 1147 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago. The competition is open to any U.S. dancer between the ages of 13 and 18. Competitors participate in a 1-hour classical warmup class and perform two 3-minute solos in classical ballet and a modern style (no tap). For more information, write to the Carey Rose Winski Memorial Foundation, Inc., 69 Woodley Road, Winnetka, Ill. 60093.