For the majority of our musicals, we cast actors who are ages 6 and up from the audition process through to the final performance.
Fill out an Audition Form (either online when available for download or at the audition) and on the Production Schedule please indicate days/times the actor auditioning is not available. Tech Week (final week of rehearsal) and performances are mandatory.
To help prepare your child for the audition, we recommend working with your child to choose a song that they can sing for 30-45 seconds. The song choice is best when it shows your child’s range (how high and low they can sing).
Lay out your audition outfit the night before the big day. A good first impression is quite important. Please dress appropriately – stay away from being gimmicky.
Please consider a solid color top with no writing – stay away from white and black
Get a good night of sleep.
The Day of the Audition
Eat a delicious, but light, meal before joining us for the audition.
Plan to arrive about 10-20 minutes prior to the posted audition schedule to give yourself time for traffic or parking problems.
Hand our volunteers your completed Audition Form and Production Schedule for them to confirm everything is filled out and to address any further questions about your form and conflicts.
If you are bringing your own music, make sure you have it ready to go on a tablet or a phone. Screen recording is always a good idea so the auditioner doesn't get stuck trying to get into a parent's phone. It is important for the actor to feel comfortable with whatever piece they choose to sing. We do not provide an accompanist at auditions.
Please be seated and wait for further instructions from the director. Break a Leg!
The Audition Process
Parents & guardians: Auditions are always closed. Your students always do better without you in the room! Thanks for your cooperation!
Each actor will sing their prepared selection. This can be any song of their choosing whether a radio song, musical selection, classic children’s song like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” or even a commercial jingle – 30-45 seconds. It does not need to be memorized.stage.
Time permitting and if the director desires – the director will have the actors read short selections from the script as different characters in order to get a sense of how certain voices fit certain characters.
Call backs: the Director will instruct when and what time they will be held (if they are necessary), as well as how actors will be notified if needed for call backs.
Casting the Show
No roles are pre-cast, all actors must participate in an audition with the director(s).
Each show will have around casts. While each director is given some artistic license, CAP Theatre strives to have a good mix of experienced and new actors in each production.
At auditions, we ask all families to let us know what conflicts they have for all rehearsals and performances. We use this during our casting process to know whether an actor can fully participate in the production. Conflicts do not necessarily mean that an actor will not be cast, but please understand that our rehearsal process is never as long as we want it to be, so we need our actors to be available for as many rehearsals as possible.
The cast list will be emailed out when the decision is made.
All actors must supply their own base costume (tan, white or black tank top, tight shorts , black flats (simple slip-on shoes with a soft sole and no adornments) or performance shoes) o to wear under costumes.
Families are required to volunteer a minimum of 6 hours for the first student and 2 hours for each additional student.
Rehearsals Our rehearsal and performance schedules serve to show children how to take the dialogue in the script and bring it to life on the stage.
A mandatory Parent Meeting will usually be at the first rehearsal.
Our rehearsals are generally for up to two months leading into the performances with rehearsal times normally:
Tuesday/Thursday 5:00-7:00pm
OR
Monday/Wednesday 5:00-7:00pm
There may be some Saturday rehearsals required. Please check the production calendar.
Rehearsals may also be scheduled on additional weekday evenings or Sunday afternoons/evenings, if additional work is needed or due to Holiday scheduling.
In case of weather-related rehearsal cancellations, make-up rehearsals may be scheduled for the entire cast on originally non-scheduled days.
While not all actors are called to every rehearsal in the beginning, as we get closer to the performances, all actors will be expected to attend the remaining rehearsals.
Every attempt will be made to work around agreed-upon conflicts, but unscheduled conflicts won’t be accepted and may result in re-casting a part. Conflicts may affect casting decisions.
Each actor is given a rehearsal selection of songs and a script for use throughout the rehearsal process. Actors are required to bring their scripts and should mark notes lightly in pencil and highlight their lines to make memorization and practice at home easier.
Although we rehearse the show in the theatre, actors are to memorize their lines and movement at home – practicing on their own. Directors do give notes and assist actors on an individual basis, however the vast majority of rehearsal time at Spotlight is for the Directors to bring the entire ensemble together to create the show.
Tech Week is mandatory and rehearsal is each and every day starting on Monday prior to opening night and runs from at least 4 pm to no earlier than 8 pm on the weeknights.
Spotlight is a volunteer-run organization and we are unable to be at the theatre for extended periods of time. The cast/crew door opens no earlier than 15 minutes prior to rehearsal, please have your actor on time and ready to rehearse. At the end of an actor’s rehearsal time, parents/guardians are expected to be on time to pick your actor up. If for unforeseen circumstance you are running late, please call the theatre to let us know your expected arrival time.
Performances
Time for the Big Show! Actors from all levels of experience get nervous just before the show, it’s natural. Just go out there and perform the show as you rehearsed under the excellent tutelage of your Directors.
All productions at Spotlight have 6 performances which are open to the public.
All performances are mandatory and the performance schedule is normally:
Wednesday 7:00pm (Actors are called to the theatre at 6:00pm)
Thursday 7:00pm (Actors are called to the theatre at 6:00pm)
Friday 5:00pm (Actors are called to the theatre at 4:00pm)
Friday 7:30pm (Actors are called to the theatre at 6:30pm)
Saturday 5:00pm (Actors are called to the theatre at 4:00pm)
Saturday 7:30pm (Actors are called to the theatre at 6:30pm)
The cast/crew door opens no earlier than 15 minutes prior to call time to drop off actors and parents/guardians come inside the theatre after the performance to pick up them up. If you are unexpectedly running late. please call the theatre to let us know your expected arrival time.
After the final performance, all actors are required to stay and assist with Strike (putting props and costumes away, cleaning up the dressing rooms, and so forth). Parents are also welcome to help with any striking of set pieces.
We hope this helps answer any questions you have about our expectations and what you should expect if your child is interested in auditioning with us. We look forward to seeing you in our theatre. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any further questions.