Local auditions

• 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 under 18 must get permission from a guardian). 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.

• 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.

• State Street Dance Studio has Ballet Training Program auditions at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, at 9 N. 4th St., Geneva. Dancers from all backgrounds are invited to audition. Call (630) 232-0444 or visit statestreetdancestudio.com.

• 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 10-12 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 contests for writers and amateur performers who are ages 60 and up on or before Aug. 24. Deadlines to enter are Aug. 6 for the writing challenge, and 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. Writing entries will be evaluated based on creativity, originality, quality and appropriateness in addressing the question, "What person or event had an impact on you?" 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 starting after Sunday, Aug. 8. 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 a.m. 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 and 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.

• Petite Opera Productions has gingerbread children chorus auditions for it upcoming November production of the 1893 opera "Hansel and Gretel." Boys and girls interested in auditioning must be under five-foot-five 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.

• 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.

• 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 and 31, in room D167 at McHenry County College, 8900 Highway 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 2- and 3-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 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.