Macaroni KID Woodstock is thrilled to announce the Windham Theatre Guild’s production of Disney’s Newsies Jr.! Auditions for this production will be open to families across Windham County and neighboring towns. As a dynamic hub for theatrical excellence, the Windham Theatre Guild is dedicated to fostering a love for the arts in our community. They’re excited to offer this opportunity for children to explore their talents and immerse themselves in the magic of live performance. Together, let’s create unforgettable memories and celebrate the joy of theater! Our interview with director Ken Schroeder follows below.
Macaroni KID Woodstock: What are the days and times for Disney’s Newsies Jr. audition?
Ken Schroeder: Auditions are on February 25 at 4 pm and February 26 at 5 pm. Audition info can be found on the WTG website at www.windhamtheatreguild.org
Macaroni KID Woodstock: What details can you provide for children new to auditioning/acting? What about those who have done stage work before?
Ken Schroeder: It’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the story and characters ahead of time, and obviously, there’s a ton available online for review. Sides will be provided at auditions, and kids will have time to review them before scene work. As for singing, show tracks will be readily available for those familiar with the show. Still, kids are welcome to bring their own backing track to demonstrate their skills if they’d like. If they get in a bind, they can always sing “Happy Birthday.” Movement/choreo auditions shouldn’t be overwhelming, either. While the abilities to sing and move are important, showrunners are most interested in how directions are taken and how participants work together. Auditions can always be intimidating, but like any other skill, the more you do it, the better you’ll get. Stay positive and keep your energy level up!
Macaroni KID Woodstock: Will there be callbacks? How will potential cast members know if they got the part?
Ken Schroeder: I don’t anticipate needing callbacks, but I reserve the right to change my mind. Sometimes, casting decisions can be difficult because our community has many talented folks. That being said, for everyone’s benefit, it’s our job on the production team to make our decisions quickly to give everyone the maximum amount of time with the material. I anticipate and will work to all cast members being reached out to no later than the weekend of March 2/3.
Macaroni KID Woodstock: Aside from cast members, are you looking for volunteers? If so, what kind?
Ken Schroeder: WTG is ALWAYS looking for volunteers, and there are always numerous tasks behind the scenes that could benefit from extra hands. Anyone who is interested can go to www.windhamtheatreguild.org and look for what’s needed under “volunteer opportunities.” As with most community theaters, much of the necessary work depends on the generous time donated by volunteer help.
Macaroni KID Woodstock: What will be the hours of rehearsals? How should cast members prepare?
Ken Schroeder: This has been a prevailing question from interested parents. I’ve fielded many emails on this subject since the audition announcement. As a parent, I understand the impact scheduling has in making decisions for a family, especially with kids who have school and other activities to coordinate. Unfortunately, the rehearsal schedule is not solidified yet as the availability of the shared space at the theater will inform some adjustments to the prospective calendar, which we will be ironing out right up to auditions.
I will have a clearer picture of the project timeline at that time. Still, we will roughly follow a Tuesday/ Friday/ Saturday format beginning mid-March and accelerating after April 10. I hope to have our first team read-through on March 16, 17, or 19. Also, May 6 begins tech week, and the demands of that week will require everyone on every night leading into our opening night on May 10. Our production team will make every effort to maximize everyone’s time and not have people scheduled to be at a rehearsal when they are not actively rehearsing. Realistically, however, parents should understand that the larger the role in the show, the heavier the demand for rehearsal time. That should be an obvious correlation.
Macaroni KID Woodstock: When is opening day? And how many shows will be offered? How can people buy tickets?
Ken Schroeder: Our show dates are May 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, and 19, with six (6) shows in total. Tickets can be purchased at www.windhamtheatreguild.org.
Macaroni KID Woodstock: Any further information you would like to add?
Ken Schroeder: Parents should be aware that there is a registration fee of $35 if their child is cast in the show, which goes toward costuming, etc. I also want to add how truly excited we all are to put on this production, and I look forward to working with the kids and their parents on this project.
To recap:
Auditions are on February 25 at 4 pm and February 26 at 5 pm.
Audition info can be found on the WTG website at www.windhamtheatreguild.org
You can also find additional information on our Facebook event page: Auditions for "DISNEY'S NEWSIES JR." | Facebook
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