Casting Call: 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'

Plays-in-the-Park will be holding auditions for their 20th annual production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

Auditions are at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Plays-in-the-Park. Please prepare 16 bars of an uptempo song and bring sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. Also be prepared to dance.

As of now, no principal roles are available.

Performances will be Deccember 26, 27, and 28.

Learn acting on Monday nights in E. Brunswick

Perhaps you are an experienced actor in local theatre. Maybe you took some acting classes or performed in some shows years ago, or it could be that you have never walked unto a stage and have always wondered what it would be like. It doesn't matter what your background. Now you can take an exciting step toward learning more about the art of acting.

For six consecutive Monday nights, beginning at 7 p.m. Oct. 20, Playhouse Acting Academy will offer an adult acting class taught by actor-playwright Jared Kelner and academy Director Gerry Appel.

Each Monday night session will include improvisations, craft exercises as well as scene study or monologue preparation. But, most importantly, this is a safe place to explore your creativity. Kelner and Appel have developed lesson plans from techniques tailored to help actors with any level of experience.

“Jared and I come from two very diverse schools of thought concerning how to train an actor,” says Appel. “I am a Strasberg method actor, and Jared was first trained in the meisner technique. In my youth while awaiting NYC auditions, I witnessed (and sometimes participated) in shouting matches between actors who had dissimilar training. Meisner vs. Method was often an epic battle. But, now, I believe there is no 'wrong way' to develop your acting skills. Even the grandfather of modern acting techniques, Stanislavski said, 'Create your own method.' This class will give you a foundation of history and craft exercises to help you with that process.”

Registration is open to all. No audition is necessary for this class. Space is limited to only 12 actors, to allow individual attention.

Classes will take place at the East Brunswick Cultural Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road. Tuition is $160 for the six sessions. Each session is two hours, but may go later.

For more information, email Academy Director Gerry Appel at NJActingAcademy@gmail.com.

150 Central Concert:'Hearts on Fire' at Villagers Theatre

This weekend only, Villagers Theatre will host the band 150 Central's concert "Hearts on Fire."

The show begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. Running two hours long, the concert is billed as a multimedia experience with diverse selection of original compositions, plus selections by contemporary Christian musicians like Third Day, Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns and Big Daddy Weave.

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Proceeds will benefit the Villagers Theatre operating fund.

150 Central is a contemporary Christian band that began its roots in ministry at the Catholic Community of St. Matthias in Somerset. Originally known as the "150 Praise Band," the name found its origin in Psalm 150, praising God with a variety of musical instruments.

Since its beginnings during the summer of 2009, the band has grown in a number of different directions.

Open Adult Auditions for 'A Christmas Carol' at McCarter Theatre

McCarter Theatre will be holding open adult auditions for their annual production of "A Christmas Carol."

The auditions will be held on Oct. 27. Signups begin at 9 a.m. Auditionees should be warmed up and ready to dance at 10 a.m. Morning dance appointments will be given at signups. Callbacks will take place that afternoon. Those called back will be asked to sing. Please prepare a song and bring sheet music with you. Accompanist will be provided. Auditions will take place at Pearl Studios, 12th Floor, Studio 1215 500 W. 8th Avenue New York, NY. As well as sheet music, please bring your resume, head shot, and appropriate dance wear.

Needed are:

Dancers/Singers	Male and female performers of all ethnicties, should be in their 20s. Must be strong dancers who sing well.
Charlotte Fezziwig	Female performer in her 20s, all ethnicities. Slightly awkward daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig. Goofy, flirtatious and funny. Dancer who sings. The role of Charlotte Fezziwig will be cast from the ensemble and will receive an additional stipend.

Please direct any questions to Karin Nilo at casting@mccarter.org.

Rehearsal begins Nov. 14. Performances are from Dec. 5 to 28.

The show will have artistic direction by Emily Mann, is directed by Michael Unger, choreographed by Rob Ashford, has choreography supervision from Jennifer Paulson Lee, and non-equity casting by Chelsea Adams and Karin Nilo. The show is written by David Thompson.

Casting Call: 'Mary Poppins' and '13'

If you are a boy who likes to act, there are parts available for upcoming productions of "Mary Poppins" and "13."

Needed are a boy from 11 to 18 years old, to play Robertson in "Mary Poppins"; and a boy from 11 to 14 years old, to play Eddie in "13." The actors need to be able to sing, dance and act.

The shows will take place in Scotch Plains this November, and will be directed by Krystle Tomlinson.

For more information, e-mail the director at applausetheatrenj@aol.com.

'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' at the Main Street Theatre Co.

The Sayreville Main Street Theatre Company presents "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."

The show will perform at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sunday from Oct. 17 to 25. Tickets are $15 for everyone ages 13 and over, and $12 for children ages 12 and under.

Six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is a hilarious tale of overachievers' angst chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The show's Tony Award winning creative team has created the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the unlikeliest of heroes, a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.

The show has music and lyrics by William Finn, a book by Rachel Sheinkin, and was conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with additional material by Jay Reiss.

The show is directed by Kevin Gunther, musically directed by Teddy Kernizan, and choreographed by Dawn Fulbrook and Sarah Anne Rosner.

Casting Call: 'It's a Wonderful Life'

The Main Street Theatre Co. in Parlin, NJ will be holding auditions for "It's a Wonderful Life."

Auditions are from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 5 and callbacks will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Oct. 7. Come prepared with sheet music to perform 16 bars of a musical theater song that best reflects the character you hope to be cast as and that best reflects your voice quality and range. No Happy Birthday or accapella singing will be allowed. An accompanist and an iPod dock will be available. Be sure your sheet music has the piano accompaniment, usually the bottom 2 staves below the vocal line. Mark your sheet music where you wish to start and finish.

The show will perform at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 5 to 14 at the Main Street Theatre Company, located on 3018 Bordentown Avenue, Parlin, N.J.

Roles are:

 

George Bailey	28 – 40, the Everyman of Bedford Falls
Clarence Oddbody	50+, A-S-2 (Angel Second Class)
Mr. Gower	50+, proprietor of the corner drug store
Young George / Pete Bailey	10 – 12
Harry Bailey	18 – 25, George’s younger brother
Mother Bailey	50+, a kind and understanding mother
Uncle Billy	50+, George’s uncle and business partner
Aunt Tilly	50+, Uncle Billy’s wife
Violet Peterson	25 – 40, proprietor of a beauty salon
Bert	30+, a patrolman
Ernie	30+, a mail carrier
Mary Hatch	28 – 40, George’s loving wife
Henry F. Potter	50+, owns practically the entire town of Bedford Falls
Mr. Potter’s Goon	18+, ever-present with Mr. Potter
Mr. Potter’s Secretary	18+, ever-faithful to Mr. Potter
Mrs. Hatch	50+, Mary’s mother
Sam Wainwright / Mr. Welch	28 – 40, a financially successful young man/the schoolteacher’s husband
Miss. Andrews	20+, a townsperson
Mrs. Thompson	20+, a townsperson
Mr. Martini	35+, proprietor of a local bar
Mrs. Martini	35+, his wife
Miss Carter	20+, a bank examiner
Newspaper Boy/ Tommy Bailey	Age 8 – 10
Zuzu Bailey	Age 5 – 7
Janie Bailey	Age 8 – 10

"It's a Wonderful Life" follows George Bailey, the everyman from the small town of Bedford Falls, whose dreams of escape and adventure have been squashed by family obligations and civic duty. On Christmas Eve, his guardian angel descends to save him from despair, and to remind him - by showing him what the world would have been like had he never been born - that he has had a wonderful life.

The show is based on the film by Frank Capra and has a book and lyrics by James W. Rodgers, music by John Higgins.

The show will be produced by Miriam Henry, directed by Kevin Gunther, musically directed by Nicole Barrow White, and choreographed by Susan Zuckerman.