'Annie' auditions are only a few days away. Alpine Community Theater (ACT) is holding open auditions for the popular musical this Saturday. For people wishing to become more involved in musical theater, this may be the perfect opportunity to start a musical career, to begin performing again or a way to continue musical performance.
ACT, found in Alpine, has been involved in the community while providing opportunities for interested performers to improve their skills. In the past, ACT has produced large musicals such as 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Annie Get Your Gun,' 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'Suessical' and 'Cinderella.' Each summer a new musical is selected to be the big performance of the year, and this year ACT selected the popular Broadway show, 'Annie.'
'Annie' is the story of a young orphan girl whose circumstances are dramtically changed for the better when she is selected to live in wealthy, Oliver Warbucks' home. The stage show has been a celebrated favorite since the 1970s.
In an effort to take the excitement for the show to the stage, ACT's auditions process will seek musical talent as well as dance and acting ability.
The large production will need approximately 150 performers including close to 44 speaking roles, performers in the dance ensamble and orphans. The show will need at least the same amount of people backstage. Since 'Annie' requires such a large cast, many are encouraged to audition and volunteer.
The production will even need to cast a dog as the loveable pup Sandy, Annie's companion throughout the show. ACT will be looking for a Sandy look-alike who is well-behaved with 'star-appeal.'
The audition process involves two parts. According to a news release, the auditions will consist of learning and performing choreography and performing a prepared vocal selection of 16 measures of an upbeat Broadway musical.
ACT welcomes performers who are eight years or older. Laura Snyder, president and executive director of Alpine Community Theater, is often suprised to see the talents people have during auditions.
'It's always fun to help people find out the talent that they already had,'she said.
Even though many auditioners have performance experience, there are always suprises. According to Snyder, lead roles in the past have been given to parents who decided to audition with their child.
Laurel Brown, a past performer and music director for ACT, suggests that the auditioning process is not as scary as it may seem.
'Everyone is really friendly,' she said. 'There really isn't a feeling of competition, more comaraderie. They want you to succeed, they are rooting for you.'
Auditions will be held on Saturday, May 5 at Timberline Middle School in Alpine. For times and more information, visit www.alpinecommunitytheater.org.