Life

Playhouse seeks young actors for world premiere musical

By Lightning Reports, Published: July 27, 2015

The Flat Rock Playhouse will hold auditions Aug. 13 and 14 for young actors to perform in the upcoming world premiere of the new musical Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz.

Conceived and produced by New York City-based Tina Marie Casamento Libby, Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz chronicles the life of a young Judy Garland and explores the extraordinary journey to stardom that culminated in one of the most popular films of all time, The Wizard of Oz.

Chasing Rainbows will feature such songs as “Over the Rainbow,” “I Can't Give You Anything But Love” and “Broadway Rhythm,” which have been reconceived by Musical Supervisor David Libby in a revelatory contemporary sound. In addition to signature Garland songs, the musical incorporates songs from the MGM era culled from the Sony Feist/Robbins Catalog.

Chasing Rainbows is written by Marc Acito and will be directed by Jeff Whiting. Acito won the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play with his comedy Birds of a Feather, which has received six other productions. Acclaimed as a "director with a joyous touch" by the New York Times, Whiting is a director and choreographer for theater, opera, television, special events and concerts around the world. On Broadway, he has been asociate director of Bullets Over Broadway, Big Fish, The Scottsboro Boys, Hair, Young Frankenstein and Wicked (5th Anniversary) and has directed national touring productions of Young Frankenstein, the upcoming Bullets Over Broadway and the Brazilian production of Hairspray.

​Whiting will be casting 20 local youth in this production to act alongside professional actors brought in from New York. The production team will also use youth who wish to learn more about the creative process as assistants to the production staff.

Auditions for Chasing Rainbows will take place at Flat Rock Playhouse Studio 52 (formerly the YouTheatre) on Aug. 13 and 14. Signup begins at 6 p.m. The last appointment will be seen at 9 p.m. Callbacks will be held Aug. 15. For those interested in auditioning, Studio 52 is conducting a weeklong audition prep class from Aug. 3-7. This is not mandatory but encouraged for those wishing to hone their audition skills. The cost of the class is $100 and open to all ages. For more information on the class, visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org/education.

Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz will run from November 27th through December 19th.

The show will cast  the following roles:

SHIRLEY TEMPLE: (Age 5 – 10) A tiny girl with a big voice and big personality, and a very strong tap dancer to play Shirley Temple.

BABY FRANCES: (Age 5 – 10) A sweet girl with a big voice and extraordinary charisma to play young Judy Garland when she was known as Baby Frances Gumm.

FEMALE YOUTH ENSEMBLE: (Age 11 – 18)
The ensemble plays numerous roles throughout the early life of Judy Garland, including fellow school friends and Judy’s sister, Virginia, this energetic bunch must dance well and have very strong singing voices.

MALE YOUTH ENSEMBLE: (Age 11 – 18)
The ensemble plays numerous roles throughout the early life of Judy Garland, from students/peers of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland to rising Hollywood actors, this energetic bunch must dance well and have very strong singing voices.

Girls should prepare either “Baby Song” or “Shirley Song.” Sheet music and vocal tracks can be downloaded from www.flatrockplayhouse.org/news.

Boys should prepare their own song with music accompaniment.

All should be prepared to read from the sides which can also be downloaded from www.flatrockplayhouse.org/news.

A dance combination will be taught at the audition.

In attendance will be:

Tina Marie Casamento Libby – Creator and Producer

Jeff Whiting – Director/Choreographer

David Libby – Musical Supervisor

Nicole Kastrinos – Executive Producer

Lisa K. Bryant – Artistic Director, Flat Rock Playhouse