On stage at Wheaton Drama’s Playhouse 111 from August 17 to 19 is Broadway Ballot, a Broadway musical revue. This interactive revue features songs from musicals either that are new to Wheaton Drama, or which have not been performed at Wheaton Drama in the last ten years.
Some of the shows featured in the revue are Anything Goes, Big River, Hair, Pippin, My Fair Lady, She Loves Me, Sweeney Todd, The Full Monty, The Music Man, and Urinetown. (more…)
Wheaton Drama, Inc. (WDI), held its annual Colby Awards celebration August 4 at Playhouse 111. The Colby Awards are named in honor of Colby Jones, a longtime WDI member who passed away in 1996. The Awards recognize volunteers for their outstanding contributions backstage and behind the scenes.
This year’s Colby Awards evening began with an hour for socializing, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres. Following that, the Colby Committee interspersed the Awards presentation with song parodies. After the presentations, attendees had time for more socializing, plus dessert and dancing. (more…)
Wheaton Drama, Inc. (WDI) is pleased to announce auditions for the 2012 fall family musical, The Sound of Music. This Rodgers and Hammerstein classic will be performed from November 9 to December 9 at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton, IL.
James A. Liesz is directing, assisted by Susan Carr. Joni Kotche is the musical director. Choreography is by Barbara Giblin. Rebecca Poole is the production manager.
Download the Sound of Music audition sheet
The director will be casting the following roles:
Maria Rainer – late 20’s-30’s
The Mother Abbess – age open
Sisters Berthe, Margaretta, and Sophia – ages open
Captain Georg von Trapp – 40’s-50’s
Franz, the butler – age open
Frau Schmidt, the housekeeper – age open
The children (all ages are approximate): Liesl – 16; Friedrich – 14; Louisa – 13; Kurt – 11; Brigetta – 9; Marta – 7; Gretel – 5
Rolf Gruber, telegram messenger – teens-20’s
Elsa Schraeder, the Baroness – 30’s-40’s
Ursula, a maid – age open
Max Detweiler,”Uncle Max” – age 30-60
Herr Zeller – age open
Frau Zeller, his wife – age open
Baron Elberfeld – age open
Baroness Elberfeld – age open
New Postulant – teen-20’s
Admiral von Schreiber – 40-60
The Nuns and Postulants, any ages (would like to cast 25-30 women)
Neighbors of the von Trapps, Festival Contestants (cast from men and nuns)
There will be a “Visiting Nuns Chorus” for all women wishing to audition for this production. Due to the time of year and many holiday conflicts, women can be cast in the show and still miss occasional performances due to family/personal conflicts. Once music and blocking is memorized, we will have different configurations of our “Nuns Chorus” nightly. Mother Abbess and Sisters Margareta, Berthe, and Sophia must attend all performances.
Children’s Auditions (includes all seven von Trapp children and Rolf) will be at Playhouse 111 on Saturday, September 8, from 10am-4pm and Sunday, September 9, from 6:30-9pm.
Children’s Saturday auditions are by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Contact the director at 630-291-5757 or via jaliesz@hotmail.com to request audition appointments. Children’s audition times will be in 45-minute increments with 12 children in each timeslot.
There will be no timeslots for Children’s Sunday auditions, but SIGN-UP is still REQUIRED. Auditioners will be called in to audition in the order of sign-up. Please sign-up via email to jaliesz@hotmail.com.
All children auditioning need to prepare 32 bars of a song that showcases their voice. The song should NOT be from The Sound of Music. Please bring sheet music marked appropriately for the accompanist. Dress comfortably for movement; no flip-flops, please. Children will be asked to sing, read from the script, and do some basic movement
Children’s Callbacks are scheduled for Tuesday, September 11, at Playhouse 111 from 6:30-8:30pm.
Adults’ Auditions will be at Playhouse 111 on Sunday, September 16 from 7-10pm and Monday, September 17 from 7-10pm.
All adults interested in “named” characters are requested to prepare a vocal selection from The Sound of Music for their audition. Adults should be prepared to sing at least one verse plus a chorus. Adults will learn some movement and most will read from the script. No monologues are required.
Adult women only auditioning for the Nuns Chorus may sing 32 bars from any vocal selection; it does not need to be from The Sound of Music.
Adult auditioners singing from The Sound of Music MUST sing in the original keys of the Broadway musical; we will not be transposing orchestrations for the Julie Andrews “movie” keys.
Adults’ Callbacks will be Wednesday, September 19 at Playhouse 111 from 7-10pm.
Questions? Please contact the director, at 630-291-5757 or jaliesz@hotmail.com
The Sound of Music has music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Suggested by “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers”. The show is licensed by R&H Theatricals. Performances are at 8pm Thursdays-Saturdays; 3pm Sundays. Tickets are $18 for Thursdays; $21 Fridays-Sundays.
Wheaton Drama’s upcoming shows are: Broadway Ballot (August 17-19); It’s A Wonderful Life (radio show December 14-16); Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (January 25-February 17, 2013); Full Circle (March 15-April 7, 2013 – confirmation of rights pending) and Into the Woods (May 17-June 9, 2013).
Visit the Ticket section of this website, or call 630-260-1820 for tickets. Follow on Twitter at WDIpublicity.
It’s that time of year again! To renew your WDI membership, download the the form today! (more…)
