Casting Call: 'A Christmas Story'

Papermill Playhouse will hold open child auditions for their production of "A Christmas Story."

The theatre is looking for children ages 9 to 13 who sing well and tap dance.

Auditions will be held on Oct. 3 at Pearl Studios in New York City. Sign ups will start at 9 a.m. Bring sheet music, tap and jazz shoes, and a head shot and resume (stapled together). All children will be taught a section of a song from the show that they will then sing for their initial audition. Callbacks will be the same afternoon and will require dancing. You will also sing a song of your own at this point.

Roles are:

Flick/Ensemble	Boy, any ethnicity, to play 10–13. Children’s chorus with chorus part of Flick. He’s the kid who gets his tongue stuck to the pole. In this version, he will sing a song with his tongue “stuck” to a flag pole. Must also carry one or two production numbers. Tough on the outside but a little boy on the inside. He should be funny – has a lot of laugh lines – and he sings a lot. VOICE: Belter (unchanged voice) low B to high C#. Tap skills a plus.
Schwartz/Ensemble	Boy, any ethnicity, to play 10–13. Children’s chorus with chorus part of Schwartz. Seeking a young kid who is comfortable on stage but still real. He’s the kid who “double dog dares” Flick to stick his tongue to the flag pole. Tough on the outside but a little boy on the inside. He should be funny – has a lot of laugh lines – and he sings a lot. VOICE: Belter (unchanged voice) low B to high C#. Tap skills a plus.
Grover Dill/Ensemble	Boy, any ethnicity, to play 10–12. Children’s chorus with chorus part of Grover. Farcus’s sidekick. He is smaller than Scut and has a "Napoleon Complex." He compensates for his shortcomings with extreme meanness. Like Farcus, a bad egg. VOICE: Belter (unchanged voice) low B to high C#. Must be able to tap.
Mary Beth/Ensemble	Girl, any ethnicity to play 9–12. Children’s chorus. Must be a high belter. Sings from a low B to high D#. Must be a strong/engaging performer. Must be able to tap.
Esther Jane/Ensemble	Girl, any ethnicity, to play 9–12. Children’s chorus. Must be a high belter. Sings from a low B to high D#. Must be a strong/engaging performer. Must be able to tap.
Ensemble Girls	Females, all ethnicities, to play 9–12. Children’s chorus. Great voices, engaging performers. Must be able to tap.
Ensemble Boys	Males, all ethnicities, to play 9–12. Children’s chorus. Must have an unchanged voices; engaging performers. Must be able to tap.

Rehearsals begin on Oct. 25 and the show runs from Nov. 25 to Jan. 3. Everyone must be available for all rehearsals and performances.

The show will be directed by Brandon Ivie, choreographed by Mara Newbery Greer, musically directed by Ben Whiteley, and cast by Rachel Hoffman. The show is written by Joseph Robinette and Benj Pasek.

Open Auditions for the Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir

Paper Mill Playhouse will hold open auditions for their Broadway Show Choir. 

The choir consists of 40 to 50 singers and dancers between ages 16 and 22. The choir performs frequently in and out of the community. 

Auditions are at 5 p.m. on Oct. 4 and 6 p.m. on Oct. 5 and 6. They are by appointment only. Please call (973) 315-1640 or email jzeitoun@papermill.org to arrange an appointment. For auditions, please prepare 32 bars of a pop/rock song or an upbeat musical theater piece that demonstrates your vocal range. Please bring sheet music in the correct key in a binder or single sheet. An accompanist ill be provided. You may not perform a capella or to an audio recording. You will be asked to learn a short dance, so please wear appropriate footwear.

The choir is directed by Shayne Austin Miller, with musical direction by Matt Lowy, dance direction by Joshua Schnetzer, vocal coaching by Viraj Lal, management by John Zeitoun, and musical consultation by Meg Zervoulis.

You can watch a former choir perform here.

Auditions for Papermill Playhouse's Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory

Papermill Playhouse will be holding open auditons for their Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory.

Auditions are by appointment only and will take place on Jan. 24 and 31 at the Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts, located on 360 Hamilton Street, Rahway.

The youngest class is the junior company, for ages 10-12, which will meet Monday through Friday from 9:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn. Tuition is $2000. There is also the junior plus company, for ages 12 to 14, which will meet Monday through Friday from 8:45 am to 5:00 pm at the Union County Performing Arts Center's Hamilton Stage. Tuition is $2300. There is also the senior company, for ages 15 to 18, which will meet Monday through Friday from 8:45 am to 5:00 pm at the Union County Performing Arts Center's Hamilton Stage. Tuition is $2500. Limited tuition assistance may be requested by eligible students proving need.

Prospective students should select a portion of a song from a musical that best demonstrates their vocal range, musicality, interpretive skills, and acting ability. Please bring sheet music in a binder or single sheets taped together that contain full piano accompaniment, not just chord symbols. An accompanist will be provided. Students may not perform a cappella or to an audio recording. Everyone will be asked to dance. Students will be taught a dance combination which will then be performed in small groups. Evaluation will be based on skill, potential, and the ability to learn the routine. Preferably jazz shoes, character shoes or low-soled sneakers should be worn. This audition is your only chance to impress our faculty. Make sure you are well-rehearsed and prepared. Students who are not prepared or who arrive without sheet music may not be allowed to audition.

Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled audition time to allow for paperwork and photography. Auditionees will be asked to prove their age at their audition and must bring one copy of a document that shows their birth date. Parents will not be permitted into the audition room.

Digitally recorded auditions are accepted only for prospective students who live out of state. Submissions must contain a singing performance of a Broadway song with accompaniment and a dance combination (ballet, jazz, or tap) performed to music. Video submissions are due by Feb. 7. 

To make an appointment, please email summer@papermill.org. In the email, please include the auditionee's full name, age as of June 29, 2015, email, phone number, and prefered audition date. You will receive a confirmation of your appointment time.

Those accepted will begin a rigorous five-week program designed to enhance performance skills, while instilling the technique, discipline and professionalism needed to excel in the performing arts. The end of the month is devoted to rehearsals for the New Voices concert, performed annually on the Paper Mill Playhouse stage. Based on skill, experience and the quality of their audition, Conservatory students are grouped into three companies, allowing them to develop at their own pace, while working on age and skill-appropriate material. Accepted students will be placed into a Conservatory Company at the discretion of the Paper Mill Playhouse faculty and staff based on their audition performance skill level and approximate age. Placement determinations are not negotiable. 

For additional information, view the Paper Mill Playhouse website, or email summer@papermill.org.

Reminder: Open Auditions for the Papermill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir

 The Paper Mill Playhouse will be holding open auditions for their Broadway Show Choir.

The Broadway Show Choir is an audition based, exhibition Show Choir that stems from Paper Mill Playhouse’s award-winning Arts Education and Outreach programs. The choir consists of 40–50 singers and dancers between the ages of 16 and 22. Students selected to be a part of this talented group have the opportunity to fine tune their craft with free, intensive instruction that includes private voice training. The Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir act as ambassadors to Paper Mill Playhouse with an array of performance opportunities throughout the community and beyond. Over the last two seasons, the choir reached more than 100,000 people with performances at major venues througout the state.

Auditions for the choir are by appointment only on Aug. 24, 25, and 27 from 6 - 9 p.m. If you are not available during these times, the playhouse will be taking a wait list for the next available date. Call (973)315-1640 or email JZeitoun@PaperMill.org to schedule. Auditions will take place at Paper Mill Playhouse. Please prepare an upbeat pop or musical theater piece of approximately 32 bars that best demonstrates your vocal range. Bring sheet music, in the key you will sing it, in a binder or single sheet taped together that contains the full piano accompaniment. An accompanist will be provided. You may not perform a cappella or to an audio recording. Those auditioning will be taught a brief dance combination, so please bring suitable footwear. Callbacks will be held on Sept. 7.

The show choir staff features Shayne Austin Miller as the director, Meg Zervoulis as the music director, Jennifer Forziati as the choreographer, Viraj Lal as the vocal coach, Carrie Rubinoas the stylist and costumer, John Zeitounas the company manager, Mickey McNany as the theatre school director, and Lisa Cooney as the director of education.

Auditions for the Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir

 The Paper Mill Playhouse will be holding open auditions for their Broadway Show Choir.

The Broadway Show Choir is an audition based, exhibition Show Choir that stems from Paper Mill Playhouse’s award-winning Arts Education and Outreach programs. The choir consists of 40–50 singers and dancers between the ages of 16 and 22. Students selected to be a part of this talented group have the opportunity to fine tune their craft with free, intensive instruction that includes private voice training. The Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir act as ambassadors to Paper Mill Playhouse with an array of performance opportunities throughout the community and beyond. Over the last two seasons, the choir reached more than 100,000 people with performances at major venues througout the state.

Auditions for the choir are by appointment only on Aug. 24, 25, and 27 from 6 - 9 p.m. If you are not available during these times, the playhouse will be taking a wait list for the next available date. Call (973)315-1640 or email JZeitoun@PaperMill.org to schedule. Auditions will take place at Paper Mill Playhouse. Please prepare an upbeat pop or musical theater piece of approximately 32 bars that best demonstrates your vocal range. Bring sheet music, in the key you will sing it, in a binder or single sheet taped together that contains the full piano accompaniment. An accompanist will be provided. You may not perform a cappella or to an audio recording. Those auditioning will be taught a brief dance combination, so please bring suitable footwear. Callbacks will be held on Sept. 7.

The show choir staff features Shayne Austin Miller as the director, Meg Zervoulis as the music director, Jennifer Forziati as the choreographer, Viraj Lal as the vocal coach, Carrie Rubinoas the stylist and costumer, John Zeitounas the company manager, Mickey McNany as the theatre school director, and Lisa Cooney as the director of education.