ANN ARBOR, Mich., September 3, 2009 – A message from the director, Robert Bethune: We are gearing up for a new year of theater activities at Concordia Ann Arbor. Here's what's on tap for the fall. I'll be broadcasting more information soon about the winter and spring.
The fall production will be a Broadway revue called Happiness! A Conversation in Song. It will be performed in the Black Box. I'll be directing and Karl Schmidt will be music director.
The show is all about happiness. What is happiness? How do we find happiness? How do we make each other happy? I think in this time of economic stress, our people in harm's way overseas, and many political and social controversies ongoing, a musical recharge of our happiness batteries is definitely in order, and this review is designed to provide that.
Auditions
Where: The Kreft Center Black Box Theatre
When: Sept. 8-10 - 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Remember to sign-up on the Kreft billboard outside Robert Bethune's office!
Auditions are open to all Concordia students, staff and faculty. Casting is loose; we would like to see a cast size of eight to ten people; and because it's a revue format, we have some flexibility to shape the show to the available performers.
Auditions will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, September 8, 9, and 10, 7-10 PM. There will be a signup sheet posted on the callboard across the hall from my office, Kreft 202. Sign-ups will be in ten minute time slots. Please arrive a few minutes ahead of your time slot, just in case we're running ahead, and please be prepared to stay a few minutes after your time slot, just in case we're running behind. We will only be able to accommodate walk-ins if there's an empty time slot or after the people who signed up have been seen.
If you cannot make any of the three nights of auditions, please let me know and we will work out a time when you can be seen.
So, how should you prepare?
First, be prepared to sing any standard Broadway song. Be prepared to sing the whole song, memorized if possible. We will have a pianist for you. Please bring your music in your key.
Stop by the callboard and check out the songs we'll be doing. There will be a list of all the songs we're doing in the show order posted there. Songs from the show are not only allowed, but strongly encouraged. Be prepared to show off the strengths of your voice.
Second, with your song, be prepared to demonstrate your command of expressive movement and gesture with the music. We may also have you improvise movement to one of the tunes from the show. Show us that you can act the song as well as sing it.
Third, we may have you read some of the transition text we're writing that gets us from one song to another. The focus would be on sustaining the transition from "acting" mode to "singing" mode, remembering that singing is another kind of acting.
Have your calendar handy; we’ll need to know your work and class schedules and any other conflicts you have through the end of October.
Audition results
We will announce audition results by posting the cast list by noon on Friday, Sept 11.
Rehearsals
Group rehearsals for the show will fall on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday evenings, normally 7-10. Times for individual rehearsals with Karl or with me or both will be arranged according to each persons schedule and can be either evening or daytime. The first cast meeting will be Sunday, Sept 13, at 7 p.m.
The performance dates for the show are October 29, 30, 31, Nov 1. From October 11th on, you should expect to be very fully scheduled in the evenings up to 11 PM. We are allowing for the fall wind ensemble tour and concert, and for the midterm break. You should expect to be back on campus from midterm break for an evening rehearsal on Sunday Oct 25th.
We're looking forward to seeing you! This is going to be fun!
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Concordia University Ann Arbor is a private, Christian liberal arts institution of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Concordia offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in an environment focused on the individual student. Concordia is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) and by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Concordia’s Family Life Program is approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). The athletics program has helped Concordia receive the recognition of a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Champions of Character institution. Concordia is located at 4090 Geddes Road in Ann Arbor, MI. For more information, visit: www.cuaa.edu |
