A welcome from this year's Director: Steph
Ireland
Hi there everyone!
I am looking forward to being with you once
again and to helping to present a wonderful
panto to the people of Maldon.
Auditions
Once again we will audition both the main
characters and the children’s chorus.
Children’s Chorus [under 12 years] will
be limited to 20 children.
Young adults and Senior Chorus may like
to know that they will not be required to
audition but we do need the youngsters to
take part in energetic dance routines and
at our first rehearsal together I will decide
your level of commitment and your ability
to work as part of a close team!
Seniors will be needed to ensure that the
singing is of a high standard. It is difficult
to produce a wonderful sound if you are
remembering a dance routine and whizzing
around the stage at the same time. So those
of you that prefer not to move too much
will be keeping the singing going.
Auditions for main characters:
I prefer to have closed auditions and I
will use a panel of people to help me. This
means that you will not have to try to audition
in front of a hall full of people who are
waiting to do the same thing.
The audition dates have been published and
we hope that there will also be a press
announcement to that effect. ‘New blood’
is always welcome. The audition panel will
consist of 4/5 people including myself who
are impartial and will not be auditioning
for parts themselves.
Those who wish to audition should apply
via the email or in writing and we will
email them the audition pieces or send it
by post if they can not access email.
Please familiarise yourself with the piece,
try to learn some of the words because we
want to see your acting ability and it will
be difficult for you to do this with an
unknown script in front of you. The pieces
will be quite short to help you.
(SelectAUDITIONS
from the Menu to see a list of main Characters
and links to short extracts of Audition
pieces to download and study).
Once we know who is auditioning we can arrange
the pieces accordingly and give them a time
to come so they are not hanging around too
long.
Only those auditioning will be in the hall
with the panel and so those waiting will
be asked to wait outside in the bar area
until they are called.
We will make sure that those auditioning
have a clear idea of what we are looking
for in the character. Those auditioning
for more than one part, need not necessarily
go through the audition procedure for each
character. We will decide at the time if
we need to see people in different characters
or whether we can imagine them in that character
from their previous audition.
Singing parts – Everyone
auditioning for a singing role will be asked
to sing at the audition. Audition song is
still to be arranged but we will let you
know ASAP.
We will not be able to let people know if
they have a part immediately.
Children are asked to bring a stamped self
addressed envelope with them so we can be
sure that everyone is informed of our decision
as quickly as possible. We will be looking
for our characters to have...
Energy
A
big smile!
Pace
An
awareness of those they are working
with
An
ability to be just one of a team
No-one is more important than anyone else
when it comes to producing a show! Those
on stage would not cope well without the
musicians or the backstage crew and there
would be no need for the backstage crew
without those on stage! We are all part
of a team and will produce the best show
by working together!
Not everyone will get a part. Remember we
are not only looking at your performance
at auditions but how you look against others
in the cast, the chemistry you have with
other people and of course ages will need
to be taken into account.
The main characters are not really suitable
for children.
If you do not get a part we hope you will
join the adult chorus. Please do not think
the chorus is less important, it is not.
A strong chorus is essential to making a
good pantomime and we want to have the best
possible chorus. Our chorus will be an integral
part of the show and will work very hard!
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will start promptly at 7.30pm….oh
yes they will!
You will have a schedule so please be there
to start if you are needed! Others should
not be expected to hang about and waste
their time waiting for the less punctual
among us. We will start whoever is there!
It is really difficult to rehearse effectively
whilst people are talking in the hall! If
you need to discuss anything…lighting, sound
costumes etc. please do this in the bar
so that rehearsals can carry on but keep
one ear on proceedings so you don’t miss
your cues!
If you are not on stage you should be learning
your lines.
Children’s / Teenage Chorus
This year we are reducing the amount of
children on stage as we really are limited
for room at the town hall. The stage is
not over large and changing facilities are
very difficult.
We want to have an enthusiastic children’s
chorus and this means they must be committed
to turning up for every rehearsal. We will
be working very hard and learning new moves/songs
each week.
Children / teenagers must be there! They
will miss too much by not attending, even
if they have had a better offer one evening!
Please do not attend auditions if
you feel it won’t matter if you miss a rehearsal
or two…it will!
Remember you are part of a team and your
absence affects other people.
On arrival you will be ticked off on our
register [which we keep as a fire precaution]
so it will show if someone has not attended
enough to know what they are doing and we
reserve the right to ask those people to
leave the cast.
So, what are we going to be looking for
in our adult/teenage and children’s chorus?
Firstly
you must be able to smile!
[You will not get through the audition if
you do not smile].
It is most important that you can switch
this on as you go on stage even if you are
not a natural smiler!
Next
you should be able to count to eight!!
You
should know your left from your right!
You
should enjoy working with other people
and be able to take direction!
If you are happy that you could do this….then
you could be part of the 2008 Panto.
PS. On a more sensitive note: As with last year, parents will
be asked to take responsibility for their
children whilst they are at rehearsals.
This does not mean that adults need to stay
with their children but we do ask that parents
ensure their children understand the expectations.
Children who gain a place in the chorus
will take home an agreement to talk through
with their parents and both parties will
be asked to sign it so that everyone is
clear about the expectations.
We don’t want to get to the stage where
children who cause a problem are asked to
leave the show.
It is also essential that we have a contact
number for parents whilst their children
are with us in case of illness or change
of arrangements.
Teenage chorus will also be expected to
behave in a manner that befits a member
of the Pantomime Society and sets a good
example to younger children.
