Information on Riverdale Children s Theatre s Winter Productions 2018

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2 Information on Riverdale Children s Theatre s Winter Productions 2018 This season RCT is excited to produce 2 exciting shows- designed to educate and entertain for the Riverdale Community. This Audition Packet Should have the answers to all of your questions- If not please send us an or give us a call! Thursday September 27th 4-6pm- 2nd -6th graders 6pm-8pm- 7th-12th graders Sunday September 30th 12pm-2pm 2nd -6th graders 2pm-4pm 7th-12th graders Auditions are open to Students in 2nd -12th grades, but each production has different requirements. 2nd Graders are only being considered for Cinderella 3rd-7th Graders will be considered for both Cinderella and Matilda 8-12th Graders are only being considered for Matilda Centerpiece Production Matilda Pilot- 3rd-12th Grade RCT is honored to be chosen to produce one of the very first pilot productions Matilda. We will be working closely with MTI and the authors to help them develop this new adaption of Matilda and seeking young performers to originate the roles! Casting 2 full casts of 40 students each Geared towards students with previous performing arts experience/training, have strong dance ability and be ready for a intensive rehearsal/performance experience 3rd-7th graders will be considered for the children roles-matilda, Bruce, Lavender, Amanda, Nigel, Hortensia, Eric, Tommy, and younger students. They will need to meet height requirements- Under 5 ft tall. 7th-12th graders will be considered for the roles of -Miss Trunchbull, Miss Honey, Mr. Wormwood, Mrs. Wormwood, Mrs. Phelps, Acrobat, Escapologist, Older Students, Parents etc. Spot Light Production Cinderella G2K -2nd-7th grade The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein s hallmark of originality, charm and elegance. This will be a full scale production presented at the Hayes Auditorium at the College of Mt Saint Vincent. All levels of experience are welcome! One cast of 35 students For 2nd graders we recommend previous experience in RCT s Broadway Babies and Kids classes or similar classes or shows Cinderella will have a less intensive rehearsal schedule and smaller cast size than Matilda All rehearsals and Performances are in the Riverdale neighborhood and tech Rehearsals will end at 8pm.

3 Welcome to the Riverdale Children s Theatre s Fall/Winter 2018 Auditions! Please read the important information below and fill out the audition form provided. Auditions are open to all youth in 2 nd -12 th grade. *Parents; Please read the entire packet thoroughly. At the end of the packet is an audition form. Please print it out and bring it with you to the audition. The form must be signed by the parent/guardian before your child is able to audition. Initial Audition: All auditionees should be prepared to sing a short selection musical theatre selection (1 minute or less). Songs from either show are fine. Students in 8th grade and up should come prepared with sheet music or and accompaniment track. Younger students may sing a capella. All should come wearing comfortable clothing and be prepared to learn a short dance combination. An accompanist will be provided. At the back of this packet are a few audition suggestions from Matilda and Cinderella. Callbacks At callback auditions, the casting committee may ask certain actors to sing again, read a scene or dance again. All kids who audition will not be called back, but that does not mean that they are not being considered for the show. Many parts are cast after the initial audition and do not require a callback. Also, if you are asked to sing or read for a specific part, this does not guarantee that you will be cast in that part, or are being considered for that part. Callbacks for will be on Wednesday October 3rd and Thursday October 4th. The Productions: Please See the Attached Info/Schedules detailed info on each production. Locations: All Rehearsals will either be at RKA 660 West 237 th Street or RJC at 3700 Independence Avenue. You will be given a detailed rehearsal schedule at the first parent meeting. RCT Conflict Policy: Conflicts must be submitted at the auditions. We do not accept more than three days of missed rehearsals total. 1. All conflicts must be handed in by Callbacks. 2. After casting has been finalized, additional conflicts or new conflicts are considered unexcused absences, and may lead to forfeiting your role. 3. We accept will accept 3 excused absences. Cast members with more than three absences or unexcused absences may be suspended from the production. 4. Cast Members may not miss any performances. Please do not ask about this. 5. The week prior to our performances will be an intensive rehearsal and tech week; all actors will be expected to attend the daily rehearsals. Participants may have no conflicts during tech week, (the last week of rehearsals before the show opens.) Conflicts during the week before tech week are also extremely difficult, and strongly discouraged. Tuition may be paid online once the cast list is posted or by check at the parent/cast orientation meeting. The tuition fees cover all of the expenses associated with the productions. Tuition is due prior to your child attending the first rehearsal.

4 Program Fundraising Commitment Each cast member will also be responsible for selling 1 page ($100) of ad space in our program to local businesses or space can be used as a good luck shout out from family member. Booster Ad deadlines are 3 weeks prior to opening night. Scholarships s are available for families with financial need. A scholarship form is available at To be considered for financial assistance, all scholarship forms, along with financial documents, must be submitted at auditions. Volunteering Each family will be responsible for 4 hours of volunteer duties. RCT relies on parent volunteers to keep program fees as low as possible. Volunteer duties include set load in and out, set painting, marketing, fundraising, concessions, ushering and backstage monitors. For families who are unable to volunteer, we will accept a $75 opt out fee in lieu of volunteer hours. Cast list: The cast lists will be posted on our website by Friday October 5th by 2pm. All casting decisions are final. Please do not contact RCT staff to discuss casting decisions. Final Casting is determined by an RCT committee, and often a child s talent level is not the only reason they were cast (or not cast) in a role. Casting is a complicated process and many factors are taken into consideration. The committee s decisions, impact the production and the entire program. Casting Notes There are lots of great parts in every show. Everyone will have an opportunity to shine! A cast list determines that you are in the show, but often does not reflect exactly what your responsibilities will be in performance. Parents please try to temper your child s casting expectations. Discourage the expectation of being cast in a big role. Please speak to your kids in advance and help them focus their excitement on being a part of the show not a specific role. This will lead to a better casting experience for your kids. RCT Drop-Out Policy When you audition for RCT there is an expectation that you want to be a part of the show and not just a lead role. Dropping out after the cast list is posted goes against our philosophy of teamwork that is an important part of theatre. For those performers who only want a certain role, we have added a line on the audition form that allows the auditionee to indicate if she/he will accept any part or only a specific role. If you indicate that you will accept any role and then drop out that makes it difficult for RCT as we now have to recast the part you were cast in and there were kids who were not cast in the show because of cast size constrictions. In the theatre world dropping out is regarded as bad form-it sets a bad example for other cast members and especially the younger kids who participate in our program kids who look up to our older performers. In order to provide safe and quality program we can only cast a certain number of actors in the each show. If you are not cast in this production we hope you will consider signing up for our summer program, or audition again in the spring. Details can be found on our website.

5 RCT Casting Philosophy: The casting of roles is part of the reality of putting on a theater production. Unfortunately, we have had a few incidents of parents or kids being unhappy with their parts and approaching our staff with inappropriate discussions. Please trust our casting team to make the best decision for your child and the show, and know that we understand how much this experience means to your child. We always work to highlight everyone s individual talents in the production. Theater is about community, and in the spirit of community we take an ensemble approach. Every cast member is important to the finished piece. That does not mean that every cast member will have the same number of lines or features in the show. For us, theatre is about the process of working together as a team to of put on an amazing show and the individual journey your child to be a part of something that they can be so proud of. If your goal is to make your child a star, or if you and your child feel you must have a lead in the show and nothing else matters, then this is definitely not the program for you. Our casting is done by committee to avoid any potential conflicts and to provide an impartial perspective of each child s ability. Casting takes many things into account (age, experience, maturity, vocal range, acting ability, dance ability, physical size, schedules, cast member behavior during previous productions), and each decision is difficult for our casting committee. We must do what s best for each individual actor, as well as what is best for the play as a whole. We do not have favorites, or cast because of the length of time a child has been with us. We always work to cast the child with the best combination of skills that fit the role, in a role they can handle. We hope this helps you understand our casting process and hope you will support us in the difficult task. Most importantly we want everyone to have fun and we applaud your efforts for coming out and auditioning! Sincerely, Derek Woods Founder/Executive Director, Riverdale Children s Theatre

6 Ages: 2 nd - 7 th grade Auditions Thursday September 27th 4pm- 6pm Sunday September 30th 12pm- 2pm At the Riverdale Jewish Center 3700 Independence Avenue CINDERELLA G2K Director: Shana Mahoney Assistant Director: Tori Kulak Performance Dates Saturday January 12th 8:00pm Sunday January 13th 2:00pm and TBD At the Hayes Auditorium on the Campus of Mt St Vincent Fees $450 per child + $100 in ads/ boosters per family At a glance: RCT s production of R&H Cinderella G2K will be a full scale performance designed to give our performers the opportunity to develop and advance their musical theatre skills in a supportive and nurturing environment. The smaller cast size allows participants to receive more individualized training. Throughout the rehearsal process, every child will get the chance to shine. The cast works with our production team to create a high quality show with lighting, scenery, and costumes for the entire community to enjoy. Time Commitment/ Rehearsals The cast will meet every Sunday from 2:30-4:30 and Tuesday afternoons from 4:30-6pm. Tech week - there will be mandatory evening dress and tech rehearsals the week prior to opening night. Tech week for Cinderella GK2 is Jan 6th- 10th. The First Rehearsal and Mandatory Parent meeting is Sunday October 14th at 2:30pm.- scholarships are available but applications must be submitted prior to the audition. Program tuition Includes costume fees. Each Child will receive a cast t-shirt and performance video link About the show: The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. In this specially created G2K version, all the beloved songs and familiar characters are present and accounted for. However, the entire script has been condensed to better suit young performers, and the plot has been slightly altered so as to highlight some important lessons that exist in this timeless tale.

7 MATLIDA JR PILOT Director: Becky Lillie Woods Choreographer: Justina Ercole Music Direction: Paul Loman Ages: 3rd thru 12th grade Auditions Thursday September 27th 4pm- 6pm for 3rd-6th graders 6pm-8pm for 7th -12th graders Sunday September 30th 12pm- 2pm for 3rd-6th graders 2pm-4pm for 7th - 12th graders WHERE: Riverdale Jewish Center, 3700 Independence Avenue Callbacks- October 3rd and 4th At a Glance RCT is honored to be chosen to produce one of the very first pilot productions of this new Broadway treasure. We will be working closely with MTI and the authors to help them develop this new Jr version of Matilda! Winner of 50 international awards, including four Tony Awards, MATILDA THE MUSICAL is the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. Time Commitment/ Rehearsals After initial casting, the cast will meet twice a week. There will be additional rehearsals in January 6th- 19th. There will be 2 casts. Revolting Cast - Sun. 2:00-4:00 Thursdays 4:30-6pm Naughty Cast - Sun. 4:00-6:00 Thursdays 6:15-7:45pm Wednesday 5:30-7:30 pm Small group work only. Both Casts 1 st Rehearsal and Mandatory Parent Meeting: Sunday Oct. 7th Tech Week Tech Week refers to special dress and tech rehearsals the week prior to opening night. Tech rehearsals and performances are at the Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College 250 Bedford Park Blvd West Bronx, NY Tech Week: Jan 20th-24th Cast members may have NO conflicts during tech week Performance Dates Revolting Cast:Friday 1/25 8pm Sunday 1/27 1pm, Friday 2/1 8PM, Sat 2/2 2pm Naughty Cast: Saturday 1/26 8PM, Sunday 1/27 5pm, Sat 2/2 8pm, Sun 2/3 1pm Please note: The Revolting Cast will have performances on Friday evenings and a Saturday Matinee- if you are unable to participate on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons, please make sure to note this on your audition form to insure your child is placed in the appropriate cast for your schedule. Fees $465 per child + $100 in ad/ boosters Program tuition Includes costume fees. Each Child will receive a cast t-shirt and a link to a performance video

8 Cinderella Cast Descriptions CINDERELLA A shy and very sweet orphaned girl who lives with her wicked stepmother and mean stepsisters. She dreams/and is determined to find a better life for herself. Strong Singer and Actress FAIRY GODMOTHER A beautiful and mysterious character who helps fulfill Cinderella s wish to go to the ball and change her destiny. STEPMOTHER A beautiful, but evil woman who is unkind to Cinderella, yet dotes on her own two miserable offspring. PORTIA One of Cinderella's stepsisters. The dim-witted stepsister JOY Cinderella's other stepsister; Joy is the sullen one; with a unique laugh. QUEEN CONSTANTINA Prince Christopher's lovely mother; she wants the best for her son, and tries to keep her husband, the King, in line. PRINCE CHRISTOPHER A youthful, but reluctant, prince searching for his independence and for his true love.! KING MAXIMILLIAN Prince Christopher s father, who gives the young man advice; This is a comedic character.! THE HERALD The prince s Royal Steward; and his one true ally and friend. (partner in crime/comic relief) ANIMALS IN CINDERELLA S HOUSE Mice, Cat and other animals who magically transform into Cinderella s Coachman, Footman and 4 white horses on the way to the ball The Chef, The Steward, Villagers, Town Maiden s Ball and Wedding Guests.! *The Ensemble will be part of several important dance numbers including a transformation scene and ballroom dance scenes. Many ensemble members will also have solos as well as small group singing/dancing opportunities.!

9 Matilda Character Descriptions CHARACTER BREAKDOWN - Children Roles/Ensemble- 3rd-7th Grade MATILDA-Enigmatic, serious, intense. Instinctive acting ability. Very Strong Singer Actor and Dancer. English Accent.(4ft 7 and under) AMANDA-English Accent. Strong dance and vocal ability. LAVENDER-English Accent. Good dance. Strong singing and acting. Loud and kooky - likes to have fun - big personality. ALICE-English Accent. Strong dance and vocal ability HORTENSIA -English Accent.Feisty. Strong dance and vocal ability. ERIC-English Accent.Strong dance and vocal ability. Comic Timing BRUCE-His vocal range needs to be wide and strong with a pop edge.comedic actor needed for this role who is also a great dancer and singer. he has some great scenes especially when he is forced to eat a whole chocolate cake by Miss Trunchbull. English Accent. NIGEL-English Accent. Strong dance and vocal ability. TOMMY-Strong dance and vocal ability. Comic Timing ENSEMBLE CHILDREN- Strong, Singers and Dancers CHARACTER BREAKDOWN - Teen Roles/Ensemble- 7th-12th Grade MISS TRUNCHBULL (Male or Female)English Accent. Headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School. Miss Honey's Aunt. Once a famous athlete, she is described as a "gigantic Holy terror", a "fierce tyrannical monster" who "marches like a storm trooper with long arms swinging" with an "aura of menace. Strong Singer/Dancer/Actor MISS HONEY (Female) Soprano/English Accent. A mild, quiet person who never raises her voice and seldom seems to smile - yet possesses the rare gift of being adored by every small child under her care. She should have a curious warmth that is almost tangible. This role also features as a parent during the opening number.

10 MR WORMWOOD (Male) English Accent. A dealer in second-hand cars - "a mean crooked crook" - with a penchant for wearing jackets with large, brightly colored checks. Should ideally be a clown and could have an ex-punkish rocker voice. MRS WORMWOOD (Female) English Accent. Mother of Michael and Matilda, and the wife of Mr Wormwood. She is obsessed with her amateur Ballroom dancing partner and her looks. Like her husband she thinks very little of Matilda s unique abilities and often berates her. She is as loud in her makeup and dress sense as she is in her voice must have strong comedy. MRS PHELPS (Female) Caribbean or English Accent Warm and nurturing local librarian who encourages Matilda s love of reading. She has an inner peace. MICHEAL WORMWOOD- the Wormwood s monosyllabic son. Needs good deadpan comedy and the ability to find a character during a lot of stage time with few words. ESCAPOLOGIST- Strong Actor/Dancer ACROBAT- Strong Actor/Dancer TEEN ENSEMBLE- to play Older Students/Parents and other roles. Must be strong Singers and Dancers

11 AUDITION SONG SUGGESTIONS Here are a few song suggestions from Cinderella and Matilda that you may sing for the audition. You are welcome to sing your own choice as well, but it should be a Musical Theater selection. We will have accompaniment ready for these songs: IN MY OWN LITTLE CORNER I M A YOUNG NORWEGIAN PRINCESS OR A MILKMAID I M THE GREATEST PRIMA DONNA IN MILAN I M AN HEIRESS WHO HAS ALWAYS HAD HER SILK MADE BY HER OWN FLOCK OF SILKWORMS IN JAPAN! I M A GIRL MEN GO MAD FOR, LOVE S A GAME I CAN PLAY WITH A COOL AND CONFIDENT KIND OF AIR JUST AS LONG AS I STAY IN MY OWN LITTLE CORNER ALL ALONE IN MY OWN LITTLE CHAIR STEP SISTERS LAMENT WHY WOULD A FELLOW WANT A GIRL LIKE HER A FRAIL AND FLUFFY BEAUTY? WHY CAN T A FELLOW EVER ONCE PREFER A SOLID GIRL LIKE ME? SHE S A FROTHY LITTLE BUBBLE WITH A FLIMSY KIND OF CHARM AND WITH VERY LITTLE TROUBLE I COULD BREAK HER LITTLE ARM!! OH, OH, WHY WOULD A FELLOW WANT A GIRL LIKE HER SO OBVIOUSLY UNUSUAL? WHY CAN T A FELLOW EVER ONCE PREFER A USUAL GIRL LIKE ME?

12 WHEN I GROW UP WHEN I GROW UP I WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH TO CARRY ALL THE HEAVY THINGS YOU HAVE TO HAUL AROUND WITH YOU WHEN YOU RE A GROWN UP AND WHEN I GROW UP I WILL BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO FIGHT THE CREATURES THAT YOU HAVE TO FIGHT BENEATH THE BED EACH NIGHT TO BE A GROWN-UP AND WHEN I GROW UP I WILL HAVE TREATS EVERY DAY AND I LL PLAY WITH THINGS THAT THAT MUMS PRETEND THAT MUMS DON T THINK ARE FUN. AND I WILL WAKE UP WHEN THE SUN COMES UP AND I WILL SPEND ALL DAY JUST LYING IN THE SUN AND I WON T BURN COS I LL BE ALL GROWN UP WHEN I GROW UP SMELL OF REBELLION A WHIFF OF INSURGENCE THE STENCH OF INTENT THE REEK OF PREPUBESCENT PROTEST THE FUNK OF DEFIANCE THE ODOR OF COUP THE WAFT OF ANARCHY IN PROGRESS ONCE WE VE EXERCISED THESE DEMONS THEY SHALL BE TOO POOPED FOR SCHEMING. SOME DOUBLE TIME DISCIPLINE SHOULD STOP THE ROT FROM SETTING IN. ALRIGHT, LET S STEP IT UP. DOUBLE TIME. 1, 2, 3, 4...DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLINE, FOR CHILDREN WHO AREN T LISTENING THE MISS, I NEED A TISSUE IT S AN ISSUE WE CAN FIX. THERE IS NO MYSTERY TO MASTERING THE ART OF CLASSROOM MISTRESSING IT S DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLINE... DISCIPLINE

13 Riverdale Children s Theatre AUDITION INFORMATION FORM Casting Notes There are lots of great parts in every show. Everyone will have an opportunity to shine! A cast list determines that you are in the show, but often does not reflect exactly what your responsibilities will be in performance. Theater is about community, and in the spirit of community we take an ensemble approach. Every cast member is important to the finished piece. That does not mean that every cast member will have the same number of lines or features in the show. For us, theatre is about the process of working together as a team to of put on an amazing show and the individual journey your child to be a part of something that they can be so proud of. Parents please try to temper your child s casting expectations. Please speak to your kids in advance and help them focus their excitement on being a part of the show not a specific role. This will lead to a better casting experience for your kids. RCT Drop-Out Policy When you audition for RCT there is an expectation that you want to be a part of the show and not just a lead role. Dropping out after the cast list is posted goes against our philosophy of teamwork that is an important part of theatre. For those performers who only want a certain role, we have added a line on the audition form that allows the auditionee to indicate if she/he will accept any part or only a specific role. If you indicate that you will accept and role any then drop out that makes it difficult for RCT as we now have to recast the part you were cast in and there were kids who were not cast in the show because of cast size constrictions. In the theatre world dropping out is regarded as bad form-it sets a bad example for other cast members and especially the younger kids who participate in our program... kids who look up to our older performers. If you audition for the show and then drop out you may not be eligible for future RCT productions. We are hoping to provide performing opportunity for every child who auditions, but in order to provide safe and quality program we can only cast a certain number of actors in the each show. If you are not cast in this production we hope you will consider signing up for our summer program, or audition again in the spring. Details can be found on our website.

14 Riverdale Children s Theatre AUDITION INFORMATION FORM NAME School attending GRADE PHONE NUMBERS/Cell and Home PARENTS NAME & Parent Acknowledgement: I acknowledge that I have read the audition/show information sheet and RCT casting philosophy, and that to the best of my knowledge my child will not have any conflicts with performances or tech week. I understand that my child will be unable to participate in the production if he/she has more than three (3) absences from rehearsals, or has conflicts during tech week or performances Parent s signature Please list any previous Acting, Singing or Dancing Experience, or attach Resume: Do you play any instruments, do gymnastics or have any special skills? Please list any conflicts with show schedule. Please check one- I will accept any role I will only accept the following role * Please note if you check this box and are not cast in the role you listed, you will not be cast in the show at all- YOUR NAME WILL NOT BE ON THE CAST LIST Do not write below this line SP Song V Comments: A D Role Considerations: CB