Local auditions

• Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet has open auditions on Saturday, Aug. 14, for kids to perform in its annual holiday production of "The Nutcracker" at 1239 S. Naper Blvd., Naperville. Kids ages 7 to 12 audition from noon to 12:30 p.m. and kids ages 13 and older audition from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Visit chicagofestivalballet.com for more information.

• The New Classic Singers has auditions by appointment only for its 36-member ensemble in August. Call (630) 942-2552 or e-mail lrk@newclassicsingers.org.

• Ballet Legere has auditions for its 26th anniversary production of "The Nutcracker Ballet" on Saturday, Aug. 14, at Roosevelt Middle School, 7560 Oak Ave., River Forest. All roles are available. Times differ by age, height and gender. Gymnasts and tumblers ages 8 through adult must call for an appointment. Call (773) 237-1874 for more information and specific times.

• The Village Theatre Guild has auditions for Joan Ackermann's comedy "Off the Map" from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 14, and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, located at 3S020 Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Call (630) 200-1076 or visit villagetheatreguild.org. Girls ages 10 to 12 who are interested in auditioning should call director Sue Keenan at (630) 469-5414 to review the rehearsal and performance schedule.

• The Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging sponsors a contest for amateur performers who are ages 60 and up on or before Tuesday, Aug. 24. Deadline to enter is Monday, Aug. 23, or until all audition spots are full for the Senior Idol talent competition at Drury Lane Oak Brook, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The Senior Idol entry fee is $10 for individuals and $20 for groups up to four. Eight talent finalists will be invited to the Senior Lifestyle Expo on Wednesday, Sept. 2, where three winners will collect cash and other prizes ranging in value from $50 to $150. For more information and entry forms, visit seniorlifestyleexpo.org or call (630) 293-5990.

• Acappellago, an adult volunteer a cappella chamber choir performing in the Western suburbs, has auditions by appointment for additional singers for its ninth season in August. Auditions are open to all voice parts, but tenors and basses are particularly sought. Rehearsals begin Sunday, Sept. 12, in Naperville. To arrange an audition, e-mail music@acappellago.org or visit acappellago.org for more information.

• Northbrook Court partners with the Harold Arlen Foundation for the nationwide "Be the Next Dorothy" talent search, staged locally at 2171 Northbrook Court, Northbrook, on Saturday, Aug. 14, with registration from 8 to 10:30 a.m. for the first 400 contestants ages 16 to 21. Auditions begin at 11 a.m. for the new musical, "WiZaRD," which is set to play at New York City's Jazz at Lincoln Center in December. Callbacks are on Sunday, Aug. 15. For complete rules and registration, visit wizardthemusical.com.

• Blewt! Productions has auditions for its next show, "The Nairobi Project," on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 14-15. For information, visit steev.org/nairobi.

• The Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake is accepting applications from visual artists who want to exhibit in its two galleries. The application deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 18. Call (815) 356-9010 for a prospectus packet or visit rauecenter.org for information.

• Theatre-on-the-Hill has auditions for the drama "Amadeus" at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 16 and 17, at the Town Center Building's Performing Arts Stage, 375 W. Briarcliff, Bolingbrook. Auditions consist of cold readings from the script. Visit tothbolingbrook.com for more information.

• Petite Opera Productions has gingerbread children chorus auditions for its upcoming November production of the 1893 opera "Hansel and Gretel." Boys and girls interested in auditioning must be under 5-foot-5 and have good soprano voices. Auditions are in Park Ridge by appointment only between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, Aug. 21. To request an audition, call (847) 553-4442. Visit petiteopera.org for more information.

• Albright Theatre Company has auditions for "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" at 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Aug. 22 and 23, at the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave., Batavia. Auditions consist of cold readings from the script. Visit albrighttheatre.com or call (630) 406-8838 for more information.

• Grove Players has auditions for Lionel Bart's 1960s musical "Oliver!" based upon Charles Dickens' novel "Oliver Twist" at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 1125 Franklin St., Downers Grove. For kids ages 9 and older, auditions are from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, and from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23. For adults, auditions are from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, and from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23. Those auditioning should prepare 32 measures of a song demonstrating vocal range and be prepared to learn a dance routine. English/Cockney accents are preferred, but not required. Call (630) 717-6993 or visit groveplayers.org for more information.

• Dancenter North has auditions for its student dance companies on Monday, Aug. 23, at 540 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. The Soul-2-Soles Tap Company has auditions for dancers ages 10 to 13 at 5:15 p.m. and dancers ages 14 and up at 6:15 p.m. The Upstairs Jazz Company has auditions for dancers ages 10 to 13 at 7:15 p.m. and dancers ages 14 and older at 8:15 p.m. Call (847) 367-7970 for more information.

• GreenMan Theatre has auditions for Lanford Wilson's drama "The Rimers of Eldritch" at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, and at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 23 and 24, at First United Methodist Church, 232 S. York St., Elmhurst. Call (630) 464-2646 or visit greenmantheatre.com for more information.

• The College of Lake County Theatre Department has auditions for its children's production of "Stuart Little" at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 24 and 25, at the Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. For more information, call (847) 543-2967 or e-mail tmitchell@clcillinois.edu.

• The Black Box Theatre at McHenry County College has auditions for its November production of Agatha Christie's murder mystery "And Then There Were None" from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 30-31, in Room D167 at McHenry County College, 8900 Hwy. 14, Crystal Lake. Auditions are open to students and community members. For more information, call (815) 455-8746 or send an e-mail to jgeller1960@yahoo.com.

• The nonprofit Northwest Cultural Council provides exhibition opportunities to local artists through its Corporate Gallery Program. Applications for two- and three-dimensional artworks are now being accepted until Wednesday, Sept. 1. There is a $25 jury fee and other requirements. Visit northwestculturalcouncil.org or call (847) 991-7966.

• College of DuPage College Theatre has auditions for its fall productions of "Dark Play or Stories for Boys" and "A Christmas Carol" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, and at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, in the Studio Theater of the McAninch Arts Center at 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Auditions are cold readings from the script. Children's auditions for "A Christmas Carol" are to be scheduled at a later date. Call (630) 942-4000 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. 10-11. More than $3,000 will be available in prize money. Apply online through zapplication.com. Call (630) 654-2782 or visit shopburrridge.com.

• The Elmhurst Choral Union has auditions for its 2010-11 season, which includes performances of Handel's Messiah and Brahms' Requiem. Auditions are open to those who can read music. Tenors and basses are particularly sought. To reserve an audition time on Monday, Sept. 20, call (630) 758-1100 or visit elmhurstchoralunion.org.

• The Chicago regional auditions for Juilliard Dance are on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. Application deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 1. For further information, call (212) 799-5000, ext. 506 or e-mail danceadmissions@juilliard.edu.