Local auditions
• The Albright Theatre Company has auditions for a September run of the comedy "The Desk Set" at 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday, July 18 and 19, on the third floor of the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave., Batavia. Auditions are open for eight women (ages 20-80) and eight men (ages 25-60) and consist of cold readings from the script. Visit albrighttheatre.com or call (630) 406-8838 for more information.
• The annual Great Lakes Photo Contest, co-sponsored by the Biodiversity Project's Great Lakes Forever program and AnheuserBusch, is seeking submissions to help promote environmental conservation. The deadline is Sunday, July 18. Visit greatlakesforever.com.
• Steel Beam Children's Theatre has auditions for "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. Young actors ages 9 to 16 are eligible to audition for this tuition-based program (scholarships are available to some families in need). Call (630) 587-8521 or visit steelbeamtheatre.com.
• The Attic Playhouse has general auditions for its 2010-11 season from 7 to 10 p.m. from Monday, July 26, through Wednesday, July 28. Those interested should prepare a short contemporary monologue and bring a head shot with resume. Call (847) 433-2660 or visit atticplayhouse.com for more information on audition appointments.
• Bowen Park District has auditions for Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 25, and from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 26, at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, 39 Jack Benny Drive, Waukegan. Call (847) 360-4740 for more information.
• Gallery 28 in Geneva is sponsoring a special art contest called YO! Art, which allows members of the community to decorate standard yo-yos. Entries are being accepted through Saturday, July 31. The contest is open to all ages (though those 18 and under must get permission from a guardian). For more information, call (630) 845-9673 or visit gallery28.biz.
• Chicago-based Pride Films and Plays holds a Great Gay Screenplay Contest. There is a $1,000 prize and a $400 people's choice prize. The contest is open to writers 18 and older. The entry fee ranges from $45 to $60, and all entries are due by Saturday, July 31. Visit pridefilmsandplays.com for full contest rules and regulations.
• The New Classic Singers has auditions by appointment only for its select 36-member ensemble in the month of August. For more information, call (630) 942-2552 or send an e-mail to lrk@newclassicsingers.org.
• The Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance holds auditions by appointment only from now until August for its 2010-11 season of the Fox Valley Youth Symphony Orchestras, which consist of Fox Valley Youth Strings I & II and the Fox Valley Flutes. Positions are available for string, woodwind, brass and percussion students. Visit fvyso.org or call (630) 879-8018 for more information.
• Illinois artists are invited to submit applications to the Illinois Artisans Program. Submission deadline is Friday, Sept. 10. Visit museum.state.il.us/artisans.
• The Burr Ridge Village Center is seeking artists to submit work for its two-day Art on the Green 2010 on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 10 and 11. More than $3,000 will be available in prize money. Apply online through zapplication.com. Call (630) 654-2782 or visit shopburrridge.com.