WHO

Anyone in grades K-12 who is currently enrolled in a Fall 2023 class at the Children’s Theatre of Western Springs. To register for a class, visit theatreofwesternsprings.com/classes.

High School Rep students can audition for both The Laramie Project and Mary Poppins JR, and can be cast in both productions. CLICK HERE to view the audition information for The Laramie Project.

WHERE

Auditions and most rehearsals will take place at the Theatre of Western Springs located at 4384 Hampton Ave in Western Springs, IL. Some rehearsals will be held off-site depending on theatre availability.

AUDITION DATES

Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24

Callbacks will be by invitation only on Sunday, September 24, 2023 from 4pm-7pm. Callbacks are when we need to see a little bit more from some students. Callbacks do NOT mean that your student is or is not cast in the show!

REHEARSAL DETAILS

Dates: September 30 - December 17

Mondays: 5pm-9pm; Wednesdays: 4pm-7pm; Saturdays: 9am-1pm

Tech Week (MANDATORY): December 2, 9am-1pm; December 3-6, 5pm-9pm

Not all students will be called to every rehearsal! We will work around as many conflicts as we can in order for you to participate. If your student has a class during rehearsal time, then they must attend their class; they will be excused from any Mary Poppins rehearsals on those days.

The rehearsal schedule will be created based on the conflicts you provide at the time of your audition. Make sure you put accurate conflicts, early dismissals, late arrivals, etc on the Audition Form so we can create the schedule as soon as possible! Conflicts may be taken into effect during the casting process.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

• December 7 @ 10am and 1pm (School Day performances)
• December 8 @ 7pm
• December 9 @ 11am and 3pm
• December 10 @ 2pm
• December 13 @ 7pm (Sensory-Friendly performance)
• December 15 @ 7pm
• December 16 @ 11am and 3pm
• December 17 @ 2pm

There are two daytime shows on December 7 where we bus local school groups in to see our show! Cast members will receive a school excusal letter for that day.

The Sensory-Friendly performance is an opportunity for audience members who need a low-sensory environment in order to experience a performance. We also use it as a pick-up rehearsal before the second weekend of shows.

HOW DOES CASTING WORK?

Students must sign up to audition using the information below. While any CTWS student can audition, not everyone will be cast. If your student is not cast in the show, they will be put on a Crew for the show. This can be anything from backstage help, painting, sound, or box office.

To view the Crew descriptions, CLICK HERE.

All High School Rep students will assist with crew on Mary Poppins JR in some capacity, unless they are cast in the show.

WHAT IS MY INVOLVEMENT AS A PARENT?

If your student is cast in the show, then you, the parent, are put on a Crew role for the show. For your first or second show with us, you will assist with various things from costumes, set, lighting, and more. If you’ve been with CTWS for a while, you may be placed as a Crew Chair for a specific area of the show. Crew Chairs are in charge of the other parent crew members for that area and make sure that the design elements come together on time.

WHAT TO PREPARE FOR YOUR AUDITION

Here is a Google Drive link that includes the songs and scenes that we might do at auditions:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1C8w7pNLwLXjYhL996NlVSi_XTZ3nZ-CL?usp=sharing

Everyone should prepare measures 1-36 of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”. We will learn this song together at auditions, so there is no need to be memorized or perfect for the audition day!

If you want to audition for one of the adult characters in the show (Mary, Bert, the parents, etc), you should additionally prepare one of the following songs:

Measures 8-38 of “Practically Perfect”

Measures 6-30 of “Jolly Holiday”

If you want to audition for one of the child characters in the show (Jane and Michael), you should additionally prepare the song “Perfect Nanny”. Since this is a duet, pick the character you want to sing for.

There are additional scenes and songs that are included in the Google Drive which may be used for callbacks. These are “Brimstone and Treacle” and “Prologue” for songs, and 6 different scenes. Feel free to look at them before auditions if you wish, but there is nothing to prepare ahead of time for those.

Parents/guardians can stay on-site during your child’s group audition time, but for the comfort and fairness of all students, you cannot watch the auditions.

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR AUDITIONS

First, sign up for a Group Audition time here:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0f4ca5ae2da5ff2-mary#/

Second, fill out the Audition Form here: https://forms.gle/tHEu8chXPPAssFF57

Questions? Email Nick at cd@theatrewesternsprings.com.

The Laramie Project has had thousands of productions around the world. It explores the murder of Matthew Shepard and how it affected the residents in Laramie, told bluntly in their own words. The play contains mature content.

WHO

Anyone in grades 9-12 who is currently enrolled in a Fall 2023 class at the Children’s Theatre of Western Springs. To register for a class, visit theatreofwesternsprings.com/classes.

High School Rep students can audition for both The Laramie Project and Mary Poppins JR, and can be cast in both productions. CLICK HERE to view the audition information for Mary Poppins JR.

WHERE

Auditions will take place at 4211 Grand Ave, Western Springs, IL 60558 in the gym.

Most rehearsals will take place at the Theatre of Western Springs located at 4384 Hampton Ave in Western Springs, IL. Some rehearsals will be held off-site depending on theatre availability.

AUDITION DATES

Saturday, September 16, 2023, 2pm-6pm

Callbacks will be by invitation only on Sunday, September 17, 2023 from 4pm-7pm. Callbacks are when we need to see a little bit more from some students. Callbacks do NOT mean that your student is or is not cast in the show!

REHEARSAL DETAILS

Rehearsals: September 19- November 19

Sundays: 5pm-9pm; Tuesdays: 7pm-10pm; Wednesdays: 6:30pm-9:30pm

Tech Week (MANDATORY): November 11, 9am-1pm; November 12-16, 6pm-10pm

Not all students will be called to every rehearsal; however, as this is an ensemble show, many rehearsals will have the whole cast called. We will work around as many conflicts as we can in order for you to participate. If your student has a class during rehearsal time, then they must attend their class; they will be excused from any rehearsals on those days.

The rehearsal schedule will be created based on the conflicts you provide at the time of your audition. Make sure you put accurate conflicts, early dismissals, late arrivals, etc on the Audition Form so we can create the schedule as soon as possible! Conflicts may be taken into effect during the casting process.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

• November 17 @ 7pm
• November 18 @ 3pm and 7pm
• November 19 @ 2pm

HOW DOES CASTING WORK?

Students must sign up to audition using the information below. While any HSR student can audition, not everyone will be cast. If your student is not cast in the show, they will be put on a Crew for the show. This can be anything from backstage help, painting, sound, or box office.

To view the Crew descriptions, CLICK HERE.

Additionally, all High School Rep students will assist with crew on Mary Poppins JR in some capacity, unless they are cast in that show.

WHAT IS MY INVOLVEMENT AS A PARENT?

Parents will be asked to assist with some aspects of the HSR show, from running the box office, preparing programs, selling concessions, or helping with strike. HSR parents are not required to volunteer as any crew positions on Mary Poppins JR this fall if your student is exclusively in The Laramie Project.

WHAT TO PREPARE FOR YOUR AUDITION

All students must prepare one of the following monologues from The Laramie Project. 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1c7v1o544pozGhSFhqpg1BvJ2bF87Li2-?usp=sharing

Being memorized is preferred, but not required. A script is included in this folder if you’d like to read it ahead of time. Additional scenes may be read during the auditions and/or during callbacks.

Parents/guardians can stay on-site during your child’s group audition time, but for the comfort and fairness of all students, you cannot watch the auditions.

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR AUDITIONS

First, sign up on the Audition Signup here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0f4ca5ae2da5ff2-thelaramie#/

Second, fill out the Audition Form here: https://forms.gle/tHEu8chXPPAssFF57

Questions? Email Nick at cd@theatrewesternsprings.com.