Arts agenda

• The Windy City Gay Chorus and Aria: Windy City Women's Ensemble has auditions the upcoming season between 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 25 and 27 at the Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theatre, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Schedule an audition by calling (773) 404-9242.

• The New Classic Singers hold auditions by appointment on Aug. 26 at the College of DuPage McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.

• The DuPage Chorale, a community chorus, also seeks singers for its fall season. There is no audition for this chorus, and rehearsals begin Aug. 25 on the College of DuPage campus. Call (630) 942-2552 for more information.

• The Lyric Opera of Chicago seeks supernumeraries and actors for its 2008-09 season.

Two male actors are needed to play servants in "Manon." Auditions are 6 p.m. Sept. 3. Also, two nine-year-old boys and two 14-year-old girls are needed in "Manon" to play pages and Aristocrats. Audtiions are 6 p.m. Sept. 5. Those cast must be available from Sept. 6 through Oct. 31.

Six men and six women are needed to play Ceylon priests and priestesses in "The Pearl Fishers." Auditions are 6 p.m. Sept. 8. Those cast must be available Sept. 12 through Nov. 4.

Sixteen Black or African-American supernumeraries are needed to play Catfish Row residents in "Porgy and Bess" (six boys and six girls are also needed). Auditions are 6 p.m. Oct. 14. Those cast must be available Oct. 15 through Dec. 19.

All auditions at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Call (312) 827-3538 for more information.

• Acappellago, an adult volunteer a cappella chamber choir in the western suburbs holds auditions for tenors and basses through the end of August. To make an appointment, call (708) 484-3797 ext. 2 or visit acappellago.org.

• The forthcoming Skokie production of the comedy "Church Basement Ladies" is holding a contest for Chicagoans to nominate their favorite "Church Basement Lady." The winner gets a chance to meet the show's star, William Christopher ("M*A*S*H"), at a dinner at Geja's Cafe and receives two complimentary tickets to the show. Now through Sept. 8, entrants of all faiths are invited to submit a 150-word nomination essay. Visit cbi-chicago.com for more information.

• Auditions for the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra's 2008-09 season continue through August. There is a $45 audition fee per instrument. Visit eyso.org or call (847) 841-7700 for more information.

• Hedwig Dances seeks experienced male and female dancers for its upcoming season. Auditions are 11 a.m. Aug. 23 in the 1st Floor Dance Studio of the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Call (773) 871-0872 or visit hedwigdances.com for more information.

• Lucky Plush Productions seeks dancers for its 10th anniversary season. Auditions are 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Dance Center of Columbia College, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. E-mail Lia Bonfilio at lia@luckyplush.com to reserve an audition spot.

• The Village Theatre Guild has open auditions for Wendy MacLeod's modern morality play "Sin" at 2 p.m. Aug. 24 at 3S020 Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Visit villagetheatreguild.org or call (630) 790-1585.

• Green man Theatre Troupe has auditions for cast and crew to be part of an autumn production of "Dracula" at 1 p.m. Aug. 24 and 7 p.m. Aug. 25 and 26 at the Masonic Lodge, 103 Arthur St., Elmhurst. Call (630) 464-2646 or visit greenmantheatre.com.

• Child auditions for Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet's 2008 production of "The Nutcracker" are from noon to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at von Heidecke Ballet Studios, 1239 S. Naper Blvd., Naperville. Call (630) 527-1052 for more information.

• State Street Dance Studio has auditions for its annual production of Tchaikovsky's holiday ballet "The Nutcracker" at 9 N. Fourth St., Geneva on Aug. 24. Auditions for kids of different ages are scheduled throughout the day and adults at 3 p.m. Call (630) 232-0444 to preregister for the auditions. There is a participation fee of $275 for costume rental and other expenses.

• Youth singers ages 15 to 21 are sought for The Community House Players Theatre's production of the revue "Broadway Our Way." Auditions are Aug. 24. Call (630) 323-7500 Ext. 237 for an appointment.

• The Wilmette Children's Theatre has auditions for "Annie Jr." from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 25 and 26 at the Wilmette Park District's Community Recreation Center, 3000 Glenview Road, Wilmette. All roles are open and children ages 10 to 17 will be cast. Be prepared to dance and to sing a song of your choice (other than "Tomorrow"). Call (847) 256-9694 for more information.

• The College of Lake County Theatre Department seeks local actors for its October children's theater production of "The Giver" at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26 and 27 at the Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Call (847) 543-2567 for more information.

• Up to $2,000 in cash prizes and purchase awards are to be bestowed upon artists chosen for the College of Lake County's "Recent Works 2008," the 28th annual juried exhibit. Up to two works completed in the past two years that have never been shown may be submitted by Lake County artists (ages 18 and older). The entry deadline is 3 p.m. Sept. 12. Call (847) 543-2240 or visit gallery.clcillinois.edu for more information.

• Dancenter North has auditions for its vocal company, the DCN Soundsations at 540 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Kids in grades 3-5 audition at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 27 and kids in higher grades (up through high school) audition at 6:30 p.m.

Also, auditions for the Dancenter North JazzCo are at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 for experienced dancers ages 10-13 and at 8:15 p.m. for dancer ages 14 and up at 540 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Call (847) 367-7970 or visit dancenter-north.com for more information.

• Cold reading auditions for an October production of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" at Oakton Community College are 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 2 and 3 at 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines. Call (847) 376-7059 for more information.

• Improv Playhouse has auditions for its Young Actors Workshop (ages 10-17) production of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 2. Auditions for Improv Playhouse's Actors Conservatory for Teens (ages 14-17) production of Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" is from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 3. Auditions for Improv Playhouse's Showstoppers production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" are from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 5. Kids ages 11-17 are sought. Each audition is at 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Call (847) 968-4529 or visit improvplayhouse.com for more information.

• Noble Fool Theatricals seeks local kids aged 11 to 18 to perform in a production of Stephen Schwartz's "Godspell." Auditions are noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 7 and 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 10 at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Call (630) 443-0438 for more information.

• Theatre-on-the-Hill has auditions for a November production of the Tony Award-winning film noir musical "City of Angels" from 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 5 and 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 6 at Bolingbrook's Performing Arts stage, 375 W. Briarcliff, Bolingbrook. Visit tothboingbrook.com for more information.

• Trilogy Performing Arts School seeks students to perform in productions (including Disney's "High School Musical" and "The Aristocats") taught by Improv Playhouse faculty at 490 E. Route 22, Lake Zurich. Call (847) 438-6424 or visit trilogydance.com for more information.

• Stage Coach Players has auditions for its holiday production of "A Christmas Carol" from 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 7 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 8 at 126 S. 5th Street, DeKalb. Call (815) 758-1940 for more information.

• McHenry County College has auditions for Alan Ayckbourn's outrageous British comedy "Table Manners" from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 8 and 9 on campus at 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. Call (815) 455-8746 for more information.

• The TownSquare Players has auditions for a November production of Mary Chase's comedy "Harvey" from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 8 and 9 at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St., Woodstock. Call (815) 338-5407 for more information.

• The Palatine/Inverness Arts Council is seeking donations for its 4th annual An Art Affair Around the Square fair which is held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 13 and 14. Call (847) 963-6451 or visit palatineinvernessarts.org for more information.

• The Geneva Film Festival is accepting submissions through Sept. 15. Entry fees range from $10 to $45 depending upon category. Visit genevafilmfestival.org for more information.

• Steel Beam Theatre has auditions for kids ages nine to 16 for a tuition-based production of the play "Legend of Pocahontas" from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 13 at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. Call (630) 587-8521 for more information.

• The Albright Theatre Company has auditions for a November production of John Patrick Shanley's award-winning drama "Doubt: A Parable" at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 and 15 at the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave., Batavia. Auditions are cold readings from the script. Call (630) 406-8838 or visit albrighttheatre.com for more information.

• The North Shore Theater of Wilmette has auditions for its November production of the musical "Little Shop of Horrors" at 7 p.m. Sept. 15 and 17 at the Wilmette Park District's Community Recreation Center, 3000 Glenview Road, Wilmette. Call (847) 256-9694 for more information.

• Improv Playhouse seeks Lake County residents between the ages of five and 18 to compete in its family-friendly "Lake County's Got Talent Showcase." There is a $20 application fee and applications must be submitted by Sept. 15 to 116 W. Lake St., Libertyville. Call (847) 968-4529 or visit improvplayhouse.com for more information.

• Auditions for student productions of "Cinzano and Smirnova's Birthday," "The Foghorn," "Pillar of Fire" and "A Christmas Carol" are at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 and noon Sept. 6 at College of DuPage McAninch Arts Center Studio Theatre, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Call (630) 942-2137 for more information.

• The Elmhurst Choral Union seeks additional singers for the 2008-09 season. Seasoned choral singers or those who can read music are sought, especially tenors and basses. Call (630) 758-1100 or visit elmhurstchoralunion.org to schedule an audition for Sept. 22 at Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst.

• The Northwest Cultural Council seeks artists to submit works for its 2008 juried international visual art and poetry exhibition with the theme "Life's Unique Journey." There are cash prizes. There is a $25 jury fee for artwork and a $15 fee for two poetic entries. Deadline is Sept. 30. Visit northwestculturalcouncil.org or call (847) 991-7966 for more information.

• The Chicago Zoological Society is now accepting submissions for its annual photo contest. Photos (size 8-by-10 inches) of animals are due by Oct. 7. Visit CZS.org or call (708) 688-8351 for entry forms and more information.

• WTA's 16th Annual Actor's Scene Showcase invites actors to perform a 5-to-8 minute, two person scene of their choosing before a panel of local directors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Find applications at wtachicago.org for more information.