Local auditions

• Artists and crafters are invited to participate in the 19th Annual Arts & Crafts Adventure on Saturday, Sept. 19, in Park Ridge. The American Society of Artists is the sponsoring organization. Visit americansocietyofartists.com or call (847) 991-4748 for more information.

• The Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance has its final auditions for the 2009-10 season of the Fox Valley Youth Symphony Orchestras through Saturday, Aug. 22. All auditions are by appointment only. Visit fvyso.org or call (630) 879-8018 for more information.

• The Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale has auditions for men and women in all voice parts on Tuesdays until Aug. 18. Auditions are by appointment only. Call (630) 415-3066 or visit gewchorale.org for more information.

• Darkhouse Entertainment seeks creative and motivated performers for its two haunted house attractions for the Halloween season. A "Slaughterhouse Circus" theme attraction (based upon the 1918 Hagenbeck-Wallace circus train accident) is set for a run in Forest Park, while a "Vampyre Feast" will be in Cicero. Visit murdermansion.org for more information, or call (708) 574-8179.

• Overshadowed Theatrical Productions has auditions for the musical "Sunday in Manhattan" from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 8, at Itasca Baptist Church, 210 S. Walnut St., Itasca. Visit overshadowedproductions.com or call (630) 250-7518 for more information.

• Grove Players has auditions for the musical "Man of La Mancha" from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, and 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1125 Franklin St., Downers Grove. An accompanist is provided for those auditioning. Cold reading from the script is also part of auditions. Visit groveplayers.org for more information.

• Highland Park Players has auditions for their October production of "The Wizard of Oz" from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 10-11, at West Ridge Community Center, 636 Ridge Road, Highland Park. Children and adults are encouraged to audition. Call (847) 604-4771 or visit highlandparkplayers.com for more information.

• Finnish metal band Sonata Arctica has a contest for fans to design the cover artwork for a promotional European single to the track "Flag in the Ground" from the upcoming album "The Days of Grays." The contest deadline is Monday, Aug. 10. Visit sonataarctica.info for contest rules and more information.

• The Raue Center for the Arts seeks visual artists to exhibit at the theater during its 2009-10 season. Applications are due by Wednesday, Aug. 12. Contact general manager Kate Wilford at (815) 356-9010 ext. 10 for a prospectus packet.

• 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.

• Steel Beam Children's Theatre has auditions for young actors between the ages of 9 to 16 for a musical version of "Charlotte's Web" from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 15, at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. Tuition if cast is $295, with scholarships available for families in need. Call (630) 587-8521 or visit SteelBeamTheatre.com for more information.

• Ballet Legere has auditions for its 25th anniversary production of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Ballet," which features a full orchestra. Enter on Lathrop Avenue at Roosevelt Middle School, 7560 Oak Ave., River Forest, on Saturday, Aug. 15. Dancers must bring a photo and audition at set times. Girls under 45 inches tall audition at 8:30 a.m.; girls 46 to 48 inches audition at 9:30 a.m.; girls 49 to 52 inches audition at 10:30 a.m.; girls 53 to 57 inches audition at 11:30 a.m.; girls 58 and 61 inches audition at 1 p.m.; boys between the ages of 5 and 12 audition at 2:30 p.m.; and teenage or adult male and female dancers wanting pointe and non-pointe roles should audition at 3 p.m. Call (773) 237-1874 for more information.

• Schaumburg Dance Ensemble has auditions for Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker" in August at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Kids auditions are Saturday, Aug. 15, with ages 8 and 9 from 8:30 to 10:45 a.m. (minimum of one year classical ballet training), ages 10 to 11 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (two years minimum of ballet training), ages 12 to 13 from 1:45 to 3:15 p.m. (three years minimum ballet training), and boys ages 7 to 13 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. (no dance training required). Auditions for ages 13 to adult are from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Salaried dance positions for soloists and more are from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23. Call (847) 398-6176 for an audition appointment, or for more information.

• Green Man Theatre has auditions for Christina Calvit's stage adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, and 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 17-18, at the First United Methodist Church, 232 S. York Road, Elmhurst. Call (630) 464-2646 or visit greenmantheatre.com for more information.

• The College of DuPage Chamber Orchestra has openings for students and community members for its upcoming season. The next rehearsal is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 452 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Call (630) 322-9187 for more information.

• The New Classic Singers, a professional choral ensemble at College of DuPage, has auditions for new members by appointment on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. An accompanist will be provided. Appointments can be made via e-mail at auditions@newclassicsingers.org.

• The "Fame" National Talent Search seeks singers, dancers, musicians and performers to audition from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 22 at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee (park admission is required to audition). Of the 400 qualifying acts competing, up to 10 will be chosen to advance to the semifinals on Sunday, Aug. 23. Those auditioning must be at least 14 years old and groups must be limited to eight total performers. Visit myspace.com/fame or generationfame.com for more information on requirements for the contest, which includes singing, dancing and another talent.

• State Street Dance Studio has auditions for "The Nutcracker" on Sunday, Aug. 23, at 9 N. Forth St., Geneva. Kids ages 5 and 6 audition at 11 a.m.; kids ages 7 to 8 audition at noon; kids ages 9 to 11 audition at 1 p.m.; kids ages 12 and up audition at 2 p.m. and adults audition at 3 p.m. Call (630) 232-0444 to preregister. Visit statestreetdancestudio.com for more information.

• College of Lake County has auditions for two productions at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 25 and 26 at the Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Auditions for Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld's young adult play "Anne Frank & Me" are in the Mainstage Theatre, while auditions for Henrik Ibsen's classic drama "Enemy of the People" are in the Studio Theatre. Contact Craig Rich at (847) 543-2567 or call (847) 543-2040 for more information.

• Dancenter North has auditions for its 21st annual production of "The Magic of the Nutcracker" starting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 540 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Dancers ages 8-11 audition at 4:30 p.m., while dancers ages 10-15 audition at 6 p.m. Advanced dancers audition at 7:30 p.m. For more information on audition requirements, visit dancenter-north.com or call (847) 367-7970.

• Dancenter North has auditions for its Soundsations Singing Group at 5:30 p.m. (for singers in grades three to five) and at 6:30 p.m. (for singers in grades six through high school) on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 540 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Singers cast will perform as carolers in Dancenter North's production of "The Magic of the Nutcracker." Call (847) 367-7970 or visit dancenter-north.com for more information.

• The Palatine Children's Chorus has auditions for children who will be 8 and older when the fall season begins on Monday, Aug. 31. Auditions are on Thursday, Aug. 27, and by appointment in room 1B of the Community Center, 250 E. Wood St., Palatine. Call (847) 705-5123, ext. 237, for more information.

• The Lake County Forest Preserves has an "Animal Architects Photography Contest" to accompany a forthcoming exhibition at the Lake County Discovery Museum. Entries by Lake County photographers of all ages are accepted until Aug. 31 via the Flickr photo sharing Web site at flickr.com/groups/animalarchitects. Call (847) 968-3400 or visit LCFPD.org/PhotoContest for more information on contest rules.

• The Koehnline Museum of Art at Oakton Community College seeks women artists to submit work for a juried exhibition called "Down to There: Women and Their Relationship to Hair." Entry deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 1. No fee for entry. Visit oakton.edu/womenartists.pdf for more information or call (847) 635-2633.

• The Kane County Forest Preserve sponsors its 10th annual senior exhibit, "Timeless X," in the Campbell House Art Gallery from Friday, Sept. 11, to Sunday, Nov. 1. Seniors at least 60 years of age are sought to exhibit. The exhibition is limited to 50 entrants and each artist can only exhibit two works. There is no entry fee. Call (630) 208-9567 for an exhibit agreement and more information.

• Harper Ensemble Theatre Company has auditions for students and community members to be in Wendy Kesselman's 1997 updating of Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett's award-winning drama "The Diary of Anne Frank" from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 2 and 3, at the Harper College Liberal Arts Center Drama Lab, Building L, Room L109, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Call (847) 925-6944 to schedule an audition appointment.

• Lake County artists are invited to sell their artwork at the juried 19th Holiday Art Sale at the College of Lake County from Saturday through Tuesday, Nov. 21-24. Cost is $15 for the jury fee and $15 per table upon acceptance. The deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 8, and artists must be 18 or older. Call (847) 543-2405 or visit gallery.clcillinois.edu for more information.

• Visitors to Moraine Hill's Nature Center, 1510 S. River Road, McHenry, are requested to vote for their favorite entries in the 12th annual Nature Photo Contest. Call (815) 385-1624 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 one-hour classical warmup class and perform two three-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, IL. 60093.

• The 13th Annual Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper Contest seeks entrants for its contest held on Friday, Dec. 4, in New York City at Rockefeller Center. Visit ScotchBrand.com for more information and a set of rules and requirements.