Actors, singers, and dancers are being sought for the Theatre in the Park’s 2019 outdoor summer season! Auditions take place on Saturday, Feb. 23, and Sunday, Feb. 24.
Auditions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Auditions will be held at the
Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center at 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park.
Shows for the 2019 outdoor summer season include:
“Annie” (June 7-15);
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” (June 21-29);
“The Music Man,” (July 5-13);
Roald Dahl’s “Matilda” (July 19-27); and
“The Wizard of Oz” (Aug. 2-10).
Officials expect hundreds of people will audition and more than 150 roles will be cast this year. To be considered for any role, performers must be willing to commit to five weeks of rehearsals and tech week rehearsals, in addition to seven performance dates spread over two weeks. To be eligible for casting, performers must be at least seven years old on the day of auditions.
Those planning to audition are required to complete an audition form available online beginning Feb. 8 (http://www.theatreinthepark.org/audition-form-intro), and then bring 11 copies of the completed form with them. While this may seem excessive, it provides one for each of the five directors, one for each of the five choreographers, and one for the TIP administrative office.
As part of the process of completing the online form, participants will be able to schedule a one-hour window. Auditionees should arrive about 30 minutes before their scheduled time, check in at the registration table, have their photo taken, and be through the audition process in about two hours.
Would-be actors need to prepare no more than 16 measures of a musical theater tune, which is not from one of the Theatre in the Park’s 2019 shows, to sing for all the directors and musical directors. An accompanist will be provided, but auditionees need to bring sheet music in the proper key.
Dance auditions are optional, but still highly encouraged. Groups of ten auditionees will be taught a short dance combination, have a few minutes to practice the routine, and then audition the dance for the choreographers. The dance routine will be auditioned in front of choreographers and assistant choreographers for all of the shows. Show choreographers know that everyone may not consider themselves a “dancer.” Officials stress that while the dance audition is a choice, trying it is in participants’ best interests.
For those who don’t want to schedule a time, walk-in auditions are planned after 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 24. Walk-in auditionees must arrive at 3:30 p.m. and be checked in by 4 p.m. and will be seen immediately following the 3-4 p.m. group. But remember, advance completion of online audition form, including 11 copies, are still required.
Callback auditions will take place the week following the initial auditions and will be by invitation only. If you are not invited to a callback audition, this does not mean you will not be cast in a show, as some will be cast directly from the initial auditions and no callback audition will be required. A list of everyone invited to callbacks will be posted online at
www.theatreinthepark.org by 9 a.m. on Monday, February 25.
For those unable to attend an audition in person, you may submit a video audition up until noon on Saturday, Feb. 23. Video auditions will be accepted by posting a video online and providing us with the web address of that video. Audition videos should include 16 measures of singing and be less than 90 seconds in total length. When you fill out the online audition form, please check the box next to “I will be auditioning by video.”
Casting decisions for the Theatre in the Park’s 2019 outdoor summer season will be made on Sunday, March 3, and cast lists will be posted online by midnight that evening.