FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Publicity Contact: Jennifer Myers at 630-545-2062
Director: Bill Barry Jr. at woowdi@gmail.com
Tickets: www.wheatondrama.org, or call 630-260-1820
Lions and Tigers and Bears...Wheaton Drama, Inc. Announces Auditions for "The Wizard of Oz"
Wheaton Drama, Inc., located at 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton, announces the audition schedule for "The Wizard of Oz." The show is based on the book by L. Frank Baum and the MGM classic movie, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg, adapted for the stage by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Bill Barry Jr. (Carol Stream) will direct, assisted by Jo-Ann Ledger (Bolingbrook). The Music Director is David Belew (Naperville), Choreographer is Jennifer Skidgel (Carol Stream) and Production Manager is Pat Daly (Naperville).
Auditions for children will ONLY be September 16 from 3:00-6:00 PM. No Dorothy's will be auditioned on this date. Actors will be auditioned on a first-come first-served basis. No appointments necessary. Doors open at 2:30 PM to begin registration. The cast will include 30-40 children, ages 7 to 13. Children will be double cast and each child can expect to perform at half of the shows. Children will appear in the Munchkins scene, the Poppy Field scene, the Emerald City scenes, the Jitterbug scene, and as flying monkeys.
Auditions for adults will be September 17 and 18 at 7:00 PM for adults (14 and over) including "Dorothy." The cast will also include 8 women and 8 men. Dorothy may be double cast.
For all of those auditioning: Dance training is not necessary but is helpful; all will be taught a dance routine. All are asked to prepare 16 bars of a song that best displays their talents. We will hold to the "16-bar" time limit. No a cappella or karaoke. Bring sheet music, an accompanist will be provided. Children will not have to read from the script, adults will. Wednesday, September 20 will be for call backs, if needed. The cast list will be available by Friday, September 22. The read-through will be Sunday, September 24 at 7 PM.
Performances will be Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from November 17 through December 10 with no show on Thanksgiving. Show times are 8:00 PM on Thursday, Friday, Saturday; 3:00 PM on Sunday. Additional matinees may be added. Ticket prices are $21, with a discounted rate of $18 on Thursdays. For tickets: www.wheatondrama.org, or call 630-260-1820.
Other WDI shows this season include, "Charley's Aunt" by Brandon Thomas, performed September 15–October 8; "See How They Run" by Phillip King, performed February 2–25; "I Remember Mama" by John Van Druten, performed March 30–April 22; and "Oklahoma!" by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, performed June 1–24. For more information, visit www.wheatondrama.org.