Children's Christmas AUDITIONS

2017 Prairie Arts Center Children’s Christmas Production

Auditions for this year’s PAC Children’s Christmas Musical are set for Monday, September 18 and Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. in the PAC theater (children may audition either time).  The show will take place the weekend of December 1-3, 2017.  Auditions are open to children in 3rd-8th grades; select 2nd graders may be cast as well, so second graders with a strong desire to perform and an ability to follow direction are welcome to audition.  Children will be asked to sing “Jingle Bells” and “America the Beautiful;” those interested in a speaking role will be provided with a scene selection at the audition.

This year’s Christmas show, The One, the Only, Christmas Fairy Queen, by local playwright Rachel E. Gorenz-Johnson, was written especially for PAC’s young actors and was first performed on the PAC stage in 2010.  In the show, Sam, a teenage girl, is kidnapped and discovers that she is the descendent of the Christmas Fairy Queen, who protected and presided over Christmas.   The Fairy Queen had appointed a court of elves, Christmas animals, and fairies to help her with her duties and to protect her descendants after she was vanquished by her evil twin sister.  The Fairy Queen’s descendants are guarded by a set of Christmas ornaments, who come to life when Sam is kidnapped.  The court and the ornaments attempt to rescue Sam, but it is only an act of selfless love that can restore the true spirit of Christmas and the Christmas Fairy Queen to her rightful place.

The One, the Only, Christmas Fairy Queen features a chorus and both singing and speaking roles.  Rehearsals take place evenings and weekends, approximately 2-4 rehearsals/week for cast members with speaking roles (we make every effort to work around everyone’s busy schedules), until the last 2 weeks before the show, when the rehearsal schedule increases.  The Children’s Christmas Musical is the flagship performance of the PAC theater season, and we anticipate another wonderful production. 

A parent or guardian is required to accompany their child to the audition unless previous arrangements are made with the director, and should come prepared to list their child’s height, clothing sizes, and any schedule conflicts.   A parent meeting will be held at the same time as the auditions to organize volunteers for the production tasks associated with such a large production. It takes many volunteers to produce a show of this magnitude, and all families are expected to help in some way.

For more information, please contact David or Shelley Gorenz at 
815-875-1267 or email gorenzfamily@gmail.com.

You can download a copy of the AUDITION FORM from the link at the very end of this page

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EXPECTATIONS:

Welcome!  We’re glad you chose to take a look at our website or otherwise take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the Prairie Arts Council and Prairie Arts Council Children’s Theater opportunities.

We are excited to be able to continue to provide the young people of our community with opportunities to grow as citizens and as performers.  For more than ten years, Rachel Gorenz-Johnson, PAC’s resident playwright, has written shows for our Christmas production; this year we will again present one of her original plays.

You will be able to learn about this year’s Christmas show at auditions.  It features a chorus and both singing and speaking roles.  Rehearsals for the 2017 performance will take place weekday evenings, Saturday mornings, and Sunday afternoons (approximately 1-2 weeknights in addition to the weekend for cast members with speaking roles; everyone with a singing role needs to be available for the Sunday afternoon music rehearsals. We make every effort to work around everyone’s busy schedules, but we do ask that children with conflict alternate commitments so that they do not consistently miss play practice) until the last 2 weeks before the show, when the rehearsal schedule increases.  The Children’s Christmas Musical is the flagship performance of the PAC theater season, and we anticipate another wonderful production. 

Our philosophy:

The goal of the Prairie Arts Council is to promote the ARTS for the entire community.  Our goal, as PAC Theater Directors, is to offer options for music and theater activities to our youth, particularly for those who may not have an interest or aptitude for sports.  In so doing, we strive to build character, to teach skills, and, just as important, to have fun. 

Casting:

We make every effort to cast all children who audition so that everyone who is interested has the opportunity to perform. 

Show dates:

December 1-3.  We will offer Friday and Saturday night performances as well as Saturday and Sunday matinees.  We are aware that Princeton Christian Academy typically has their Christmas program Dec. 1.  If we have at least 4 children (3rd grade and up) from PCA audition, then we will NOT have a show on Friday and will add a Thursday evening show instead so that we can accommodate the children from PCA.

Some years, we also added a performance during the day on a school day; we will NOT be offering a daytime performance on a school day this year.

Rehearsals:

In the past, we have tried to schedule rehearsals around your child’s schedule.  We make every effort to work around the kids’ schedules, but as kids get busier, this becomes increasingly difficult.  Expect your child to have 2-4 rehearsals per week if he/she has a speaking role.  Chorus members will generally be asked to come only to music rehearsals (Sundays) for the first month or so.

Communication:

Our primary method of communication with the cast for rehearsal and general information is email.  If you do not have email or if your family does not check email regularly, please find a friend or neighbor who will contact you with announcements.  If the parents live apart, please consider providing both of their email addresses to us, so that both parents can be made aware of schedule changes, expectations, requests for volunteers, etc.  This is particularly helpful if children spend some weekends or evenings with the non-custodial parent.

Cast list

Will be emailed to the cast.  It will also be posted in the information box next to the Theater door.

Scripts

Will be sent to you via email.  Please print the script and put it in folder or binder, but do not allow your child to read the script until the cast read through (this helps us to teach proper pronunciation and inflection during the initial read through).  If you cannot access email or a printer, please let us know.

Expectations

Attendance at rehearsals is very important.  We all have busy lives, and many of our children are booked in numerous activities.  Unfortunately, everyone suffers if anyone is missing from a rehearsal, so we ask that you make this a priority.  If your child has conflicting activities, we ask that you spread the times you must miss an activity among them rather than have your child miss play practice and attend the other activity on a consistent basis.  The last two weeks of rehearsals is very important, so we ask that your child not miss rehearsals during that time.  Extra rehearsals are added at that time, particularly the weekend before the show.  Please let us know if you have plans to go away for Thanksgiving weekend.  We will obviously have to modify our schedule that week.

Parental involvement is crucial.  Parents are expected to be responsible for their child’s attendance and for calling us if your child is ill or otherwise cannot be there.  We also require that parents participate in production aspects of the show: chaperone several rehearsals and shows, provide refreshments for intermission, sell tickets, write press releases, put up posters, organize the cast party, arrange for T shirts and videotaping, type the programs and cast bios, assist with set construction, painting, costumes, and props, and assist with strike (tear down of set and PAC clean up).  Detailed instructions are available, so these tasks are not as overwhelming as they may appear; of course, many hands make light work!  We have had difficulties in past years getting enough parental support to be able to get all of the work done.  If we find that our parents are not coming forward to volunteer in the first 2 weeks of rehearsals, we may be forced to cancel the show.

Critical Expectations of cast members

We strive to create a safe, wholesome environment for your children.  We ask that they behave at all times with kindness, support, encouragement, and acceptance of all cast members and volunteers.

We ask that cast members memorize their lines in first 2 weeks (this is not as difficult for children as you might imagine).

We also want to emphasize the importance of cast members and families supporting PAC productions by volunteering and coming to see shows that you are not in!  No one likes to perform to an empty auditorium, so please remember to come to see other productions here at PAC.  This is not an idle expectation.  PAC cannot continue to produce community theater shows without a volunteer base and an audience!  Please support community theater in Bureau County by coming to our shows, concerts, and revues.

Each cast family is requested to sell at least 10 tickets; each child who sells 15 tickets will receive a free T shirt with the show logo.

Costs

There is no mandatory cost involved in participating in our shows.  However, the PAC board has asked that parents join PAC if their child is cast in the show.  PAC exists only because of the hard work of many volunteers.  Joining PAC is a demonstration of support and appreciation for the opportunities that this organization is providing for the children of our community.  Any cast member from last year whose family has not joined PAC or made other arrangements with the directors will NOT be cast this year.

Membership expenses:

Family: $35

Individual: $25

Student: $15

(Membership requirement may be waived due to financial hardship.  Please talk to one of the Directors)

There are some optional expenses: T shirts, video of the show, snacks for long rehearsals, and cast party.

Auditions

Auditions are open to children in 3rd-8th grades, although select 2nd graders may be cast, so second graders with a strong desire to perform and an ability to follow direction are welcome to audition.  A parent is REQUIRED to attend the auditions unless prior arrangements are made with the Directors.  If a parent/guardian does not come to the audition, their child will not be allowed to audition.

Audition times: Auditions for this year’s PAC Children’s Christmas Musical are set for Monday, September 18 and Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 6:30 PM in the Prairie Arts Center theater, 24, Park Ave. East, Princeton (children may audition either time). Separate arrangements can be made if a child has conflicts at those times.

At auditions, children will be asked to sing “Jingle Bells” and “America the Beautiful,” both in a small group and alone; those interested in a speaking role will be provided with a scene selection at the audition. 

If you have any special needs accommodations, please contact us ahead of time at 815-875-1267 or gorenzfamily@gmail.com so that we can make appropriate adaptations.

Thank you for your interest in PAC Children’s Community Theater.  Please print the Audition Information Form, fill it out (we MUST have your child’s sizes and a list of conflicts!), and bring it to the auditions.  We will have copies available if you cannot access a printer.  We look forward to seeing you there!

David, Shelley, and Rachel Gorenz
PAC Theater Directors