'American Idol' registration, auditions start this weekend
• Pre-registration to audition for FOX's ninth season of "American Idol" begins at 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21, at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Registered people auditioning then can start lining up at 5 a.m. on Monday, June 22. Visit americanidol.com for more information.
• Open auditions for Fox Valley Theatre Company's production of the Stephen Schwartz Biblical musical "Children of Eden" are at 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, June 23 and 24, at the Visual and Performing Arts Center of Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Students entering 3rd, 4th and 5th grades and college students up to age 20 are encouraged to audition. Visit cteelgin.com for more information.
• Bowen Park Theatre Company has auditions for William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 21, and from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, June 22, at the Lilac Cottage, 1911 N. Sheridan Road, Waukegan. Call (847) 360-4740 for an audition time.
• The Lyric Opera of Chicago holds auditions for 18 solo dancers for its 2010 production of "The Damnation of Faust" from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Dancers should have a strong background in both classical ballet and modern dance. No walk-ins will be seen, so appointments must be made. Call (312) 827-3567.
• Director Diana Martinez and the R.Ed.I. Foundation seeks 10 multiethnic actors to perform in an ensemble show that might tour to suburban and city high schools this fall. Those auditioning must be strong actors who can sing and dance well while portraying urban teenagers ages 16-22. Auditions are by appointment and held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at Moves Dance, 14 E. State St., North Aurora. For more information, call (708) 431-4233 or send an e-mail to standupauditions@gmail.com.
• Impress These Apes, a comedy talent competition, returns for 2009 this autumn. Applications are now being accepted through Friday, July 10. Visit impresstheseapes.com for more information.
• 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 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. Call (847) 968-3381 or visit lcfpd.org for 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, Ill. 60093.