Auditions and more

• Ensemble Espanol Center for Spanish Dance and Music has auditions for its national touring company today from 7 to 9:30 p.m. with registration at 6 p.m. at Northeastern Illinois University, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave., Chicago. Auditions for the junior company for youths in grades 5 to 12 are Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with registration at 10:30 a.m. Call (773) 442-5930 for appointments and more information.

• The Elgin Choral Union continues auditions for the rest of its 2007-08 season from 5 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 3 in room 191D of the Visual and Performing Arts Center in Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Those auditioning are asked to sing a selection of his or her choice and to do some sight reading (bring three copies of each music piece). Call (847) 214-7513 to schedule an audition.

• The Lyric Opera of Chicago is casting male actors and non-singing supernumeraries for its upcoming production of Verdi's "Falstaff" at 6 p.m. Jan. 4. Those cast must be available through Feb. 23. Call (312) 827-3538 for more information.

• The Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale is auditioning male voices only for its 2008 Spring concert titled "Broadway Melodies" on Jan. 5. Call (630) 415-3066 to schedule an appointment and to obtain audition locations.

• The Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre seeks local writers to contribute to its project of documenting the history of Evanston's African-American businesses, families, community leaders, churches and other institutions. Those interested can bring a writing sample to a meeting at 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. Call (847) 448-8260 ext. 109 for more information.

• Steel Beam Children's Theatre has auditions for kids aged 9 to 16 to perform in "The Velveteen Rabbit." Auditions are 4 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 12 at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. This is a tuition-based show. Call (630) 587-8521 for more information.

• The deadline for directors and playwrights to submit applications and short plays to Collaboraction's "Sketchbook 8" is Saturday. Visit www.collaboraction.org for more information.

• Elgin Theatre Company has auditions for Ray Cooney's British farce "Run For Your Wife" from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday and from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1070 South St., Elgin. Auditions consist of cold readings from the script. Call (847) 741-0532 for more information.

• The Windy City Gay Chorus and its sister chorus, Aria: Windy City Women's Ensemble, hold auditions for the upcoming year from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Auditions are by appointment. Send an e-mail to join@windycitysings.org for more information.

• The Lyric Opera of Chicago has chorus auditions for experienced, classically trained singers in all voice categories for the 2008-09 season. Preliminary auditions are 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 14 and 15; 6 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 17; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 18; and 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 26 (for out-of-town auditionees only). Auditions are by invitation only. Walk-ins will not be seen. Singers must send a current resume and photo to: Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chorus Auditions Coordinator, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 860, Chicago, IL 60606. Resumes are not accepted after Jan. 7. Visit www.lyricopera.org and click the "About Lyric" or call (312) 827-3548.

• MUSICHORALE announces its 46th Annual Scholarship contest made possible by the Frank Stehlik Memorial Fund for amateur vocalists and instrumentalists. The instrumental contest is at 9 a.m. Feb. 23 for grades nine to 12 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 23 for grades first to eighth. The vocal contest is at 10 a.m. for grades 9th to 12th and 3 p.m. for grades first to eighth at the Oak Lawn Community church, 9000 S. Ridgeland, Oak Lawn. More than $2,500 in prizes are awarded. There is a $25 application fee that must be postmarked by Jan. 15. Visit www.musichorale.org or call (312) 409-6661 for more information.

• GreenMan Theatre Troupe seeks performers for its February interactive murder mystery dinner theater show called "Matrimony, Mayhem and Murder" by Eileen Moushey. Auditions are at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday at the Elmhurst Masonic Lodge, 103 Arthur St., Elmhurst. Call (630) 464-2646 for more information.

• The 5th Annual Full Circle Danztheatre Festival is seeking applications from artists and dance companies to participate (teenagers included). World premieres and existing piece under 10 minutes in length containing text are sought for performance at the Ruth Pace Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, and also at the Hamlin Park Studio Theatre, 3035 N. Hoyne Ave., Chicago. Call (773) 486-8261 for more information.

• Steppenwolf Theatre Company is accepting application for its 2008-2010 African-American Fellowship, a two-year professional development program for early and mid-career African-American arts administrators. Application -deadline is March 15. Visit www.steppenwolf.org for more information.

• Improv Playhouse at 116 W. Lake St., Libertyville, holds auditions for both boys and girls up to age 17 for its Young Actors Workshop adaptation of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist" from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday and from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday. Training and rehearsal begin Jan. 13. Call (847) 968-4529 for more information.

• As part of its 2009 celebration of the Abraham Lincoln bicentennial, Ravinia Festival is challenging composers to create new piano trios inspired by the words of the 16th president. Winning composers receive a $5,000 award along with multiple performances from their submitted work. A complete entry form with all the rules and regulations can be found at www.ravinia.org.

• Janus Theatre holds auditions for Marivaux's farce "Triumph of Love" from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., Elgin. Those auditioning should prepare a classical monologue or read from sides from the play. Visit www.janustheatre.org for more information and to schedule audition times.

• Acappellago, an adult volunteer a cappella chamber choir, holds auditions by appointment for new singers for its sixth season during December. All voice parts are open, but tenors and basses are particularly sought. Rehearsals begin Jan. 13 for the show "Escape to … Wonderland." Call (708) 484-3797 or visit www.acappellago.org.