Casting Call: 'Aladdin (Prince Street Players Version)

Cranford Dramatic Club will hold auditions for "Aladdin (Prince Street Players Version)" in two weeks.

Using the art of Ancient Chinese staging, an all-knowing and all-seeing stage manager and his two assistants tell the story of Aladdin, an "idle rag-a-muffin" and kite-flying enthusiast. After happening upon and falling hopelessly in love with the emperor's daughter, Princess Mei Ling, Aladdin is determined to become the richest man in China and marry her. Fate, however, is a fickle mistress, and Aladdin's is about to take a few treacherous and hilarious turns before he can have his Happily Ever After.

Auditions for the child/teen ensemble will take place at 12 p.m. Sept. 13 and should sign in within the first fifteen minutes. These auditionees will be taught a short piece of music and a dance combination. Open auditions will take place at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 13 and at 7 p.m. Sept. 15. These auditionees are asked to arrive by 2:30 Sept. 13 and by 8 p.m. Sept. 15. Auditionees should prepare 16-32 bars of an up-tempo song from musical theater, with sheet music in the appropriate key. An accompanist will be provided. If needed, callbacks will occur Sept. 20.

Stage manager (baritone/tenor, 25+)	Is the narrator. Also plays Aladdin's father, a neighbor, the prime minister, and an executioner, and moves set pieces and props with his two assistants.
The two assistants (15+)	Non-speaking roles. They are assistants to the Narrator. Also play attendants to the Princess and Emperor, as well as court members, cave people, cloud people, and street urchins with the ensemble. Additionally, they will move set pieces and props.
Aladdin (lyric baritone, 15-30)	A carefree street urchin who becomes more serious after meeting the princess. Mime skills a plus.
Emperor of China (baritone, 30+)	Princess Mei Ling’s father. Wishes his daughter to marry a wealthy man.
Fatima, the dancing doll (15-20)	A mechanical doll, brought to life by the Genie. Pointe experience a plus.
Lamp/Ring Genie (tenor/lyric baritone, 25+)	Lamp Genie: Arabian. Must be played with great zest. Actor must be able to relate well with the audience. The ring genie is his twin brother. Actor playing these parts should preferably be at least six feet tall.
Magician (baritone, 25+)	The villain of the piece; a magician and whirling dervish. He assumes a friendly character to Aladdin and his mother, then later becomes a formidable enemy. Mime skills a plus.
Mrs. So-and-so (mezzo soprano, 30+)	A poor widow; stern with Aladdin.
Princess Mei Ling (lyric soprano, 15-25)	Daughter of the Emperor of China. Is delicate and demure.
Ensemble (10–18)	A chorus of 8-10 singers/dancers. Parts include street urchins, cave and cloud people, and court members.

Performances will occur at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6 and at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 7. The show will be directed by Gira Derise-Weaver.

Cranford Dramatic Club is located at 78 Winans Avenue, Cranford.

In addition, CDC is seeking people to help paint the set during November, starting the ninth. Those who are interested should contact either coriannchandler@me.com or gira.d.weaver@gmail.com.

Fall Theater Classes at Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center

Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center will hold theater classes for children and adults 11 years and older. The classes will run from Sept. 18-Nov. 14. There are four programs: "Marionette Theater," "Incredible Improv," "Public Speaking and Theater Games," and "Multicultural Monologues and Scenes."

The first class, "Marionette Theater," will run from 4-5:30 p.m. Thursdays. Students will design and build their own marionettes. They will cooperatively write a script and perform a play for friends and family during the last session. The class is for children aged 11-15.

"Incredible Improv" is a program for all students interested in improvisation, especially those who have special needs. Students will play theater games and create improvised scenes. Acting exercises will develop confidence and performance skills. The program is for people 16 and older and will run 7-8 p.m. Fridays.

Students enrolled in "Public Speaking and Theater Games" will develop their public speaking abilities through improvisational activities and theater games. Some of the topics that will be covered include improving voice and diction, crafting speeches, and eliminating stage fright. The skills that are learned will help with job and college interviews, presentations and sales pitches. This program is for people 14 and older and will run 7-8 p.m. Thursdays.

"Multicultural Monologues and Scenes" is aimed at those 16 and older. Beginner and intermediate actors who have had difficulty finding roles because of race, disability, economic status or other reasons are invited to write monologues based on their stories as well as perform scenes from plays with partners. Some of the topics that will be covered include voice, movement, motivation, given circumstances, and audition techniques. This class will run 8-9 p.m. Fridays.


"Marionette Theater" costs $200 per person. "Incredible Improv" costs $75 per person. "Public Speaking and Theater Games" costs $100 per person, as does "Multicultural Monologues and Scenes." To register, visit the Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center website.

All classes will be taught by experienced educators and theater professionals, and overseen by a NJ certified theater instructor.

'Kimberly Akimbo' at Circle Players

Circle Players will present “Kimberly Akimbo” a play by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire.

Set in the wilds of New Jersey, Kimberly Akimbo is a hilarious and heartrending play about a teenager with a rare condition which causes her body to age four times faster than it should. When she and her family flee Secaucus under dubious circumstances, Kimberly is forced to reevaluate her life while contending with a hypochondriac mother, a rarely sober father, a scam-artist aunt, her own mortality and, most terrifying of all, the possibility of first love.

Jon Heron of Monroe is the director and Alicia Harabin of Somerville is the producer.

Appearing in the cast are Joanne Sternberg, Somerset; Duane Noch, Port Monmouth; Robin Mandalakis, Somerset; Mary-Kate Bozinta, Franklin Park; and Chris DeBono, Madison.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 19-Oct. 4, with a 3 p.m. Sunday matinee on Oct. 5.

The audience is invited to a wine and cheese reception in the lobby following the opening night performance.

The theater is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway. Because of the unique layout of the theater, latecomers cannot be seated once the performance has started. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before curtain.

For reservations, call (732) 968-7555, or buy tickets online at  www.circleplayers.com. Tickets are $18 for adults and $17 for students and seniors. Sorry, no credit cards may be used at the box office, but will be accepted online.

Open House at Main Street

Enjoy a bagel and coffee this Saturday with Main Street Theatre Co. at an open house to launch its new season.

Main Street Theatre Co. is located in Parlin, and mounts six shows each season. Shows during the past years included such favorites as "Hairspray," "Our Town" and "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."

The open house with complimentary breakfast begins at 10 a.m., and will include a preview of the 2015 season. There also will be a presentation on the theater's new membership and subscription plans.
The theater is located at 3018 Bordentown Ave., Parlin. For more information, visit the theater web site, at www.smstc.org, or write to info@smstc.org.

Casting Call: Into the Woods

The Pennington Players in seeking performers for an upcoming production of "Into the Woods" at Kelsey Theatre.

Auditions for Stephen Sondheim's fairy tale about what happens after "happily ever after" will run from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 16, and from noon-5 p.m. Oct. 18. Callbacks will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 20. Auditions are by appointment only; slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Prepare 16-32 bars of contemporary musical theatre. An accompanist will be provided and sheet music must be in the correct key. Acapella auditions will not be accepted. Bring an updated resume and a headshot/recent photo of yourself to the audition.

Character descriptions are available online; all roles are open. Auditionees must be at least 16 to audition.

Rehearsals will take place two to three days a week on the West Windsor campus of Mercer County Community College, beginning in mid-November and up through January. Tech week will run Jan. 19-22, and is mandatory for all performers.

The show is directed and choreographed by Kyrus Keenan Westcott; music director is Mike Gilch. Producers are Wayne Irons and Alan Naidoff of The Pennington Players

For more information, contact auditions@penningtonplayers.org.

Actor needed: 'Blythe Spirit'

A production company is seeking an actor for its cast of "Blythe Spirit" this fall.

The show needs a non-Equity actor 30 or older of any ethnicity to play an urbane English novelist in "Blythe Spirit." The producers will consider a younger actor to play above his age.

The company is looking to cast via Skype auditions as well as reels. The show will perform Halloween weekend in Metuchen.

Send headshots, resumes, reels/links to annaepaone@gmail.com.

Casting Call: Miracle on 34th Street

Kelsey Theatre is seeking actors for a musical version of one of the best-loved Christmas movies of all time.

M&M Stage Productions will hold auditions for "Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical" from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 13-14. Auditionees should prepare 32 bars of a standard musical theater song, wear comfortable clothes for light dancing, and bring an updated picture and resume. There will be readings from script.

Single mother Doris Walker doesn't want her 6-year-old daughter Susan's head filled with romantic notions. Their neighbor Fred Gailey tries to woo Doris by charming Susan and taking her to see Santa Claus at Macy's, Doris is not impressed, but Macy's Santa may in fact be the real Kris Kringle, and a wave of love spreads across New York City that melts even the most cynical hearts.

To schedule an audition, write to auditions@mandmstage.com. All roles are open. The show is directed by Mike Steele.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 21-30.

Character List

Kris Kringle	Baritone, in his 50-70s	Kind old man who believes he is Santa Claus.
Doris Walker	Mezzo, 25-40 years old	Special events coordinator at Macy's. Single mother.
Susan Walker	Soprano, 6-9 years old	Daughter of Doris, wise beyond her years with a natural curiosity.
Fred Gaily	Baritone, 25-40 years old	Neighbor and friend of Doris and Susan. Attorney.
Mr. Shellhammer	Baritone, 25-70 years old	Manager of Macy's Toy Department. Assistant of Doris.
Mr. Sawyer	Baritone, 40-75 years old	Macy's psychologist
Mr. Gimbel	Baritone, 40-75 years old	Owner of Gimbel's Department Store
Newsboy	Alto, 7-16 years old	Sells paper about the trial
Mr. Macy	40-70 years old	Tycoon who is very concerned with public opinion and publicity
Judge Henry Harper	30-60 years old	Knows his civic duty
Thomas Mara	30-60 years old	Prosecuting Attorney
Charlie Halloran	30-60 years old	Judge Harper's political adviser
Drunken Santa	18-75 years old	Former Santa for Macy's
Mabel	18-60 years old	Employed by Macy's to be Santa's elf
Becca	7-12 years old	Child who meets Kris Kringle at Macy's
Mother 1	30-40 years old	Becca's mother
Mother 2	20-30 years old	A pleased customer
Violet	7-10 years old	A deaf girl whom Kris signs to
Mother 3	20-60 years old	Violet's mother
Mother 4	20-60 years old	A pleased customer
Dr. Pierce	30-60 years old	Kris's former physician
Thomas Mara Jr	7-12 years old	Thomas Mara's son

There also will be many ensemble parts of all ages, including customers, choir, parents and pedestrians. Parts may be speaking or nonspeaking.