Veteran performers and up-and-coming stars can find their place in the limelight as Central Florida Vocal Arts and Winter Park Playhouse have announced auditions for fall productions.
Central Florida Vocal Arts (CFVA) is entering its 12th season with open spots for its production of The Light in the Piazza. Winner of six 2005 Tony Awards including Best Original Score, the story centers on a wealthy American woman and her developmentally disabled daughter who falls in love during a summer in Italy. The romance tests the mother-daughter relationship and forces the family to reconsider its future.
Auditions and callbacks for eight characters and the ensemble will take place at the Woman’s Club of Winter Park, 419 S. Interlachen Ave. Auditions are scheduled for Monday, Sept. 16, from 6-10 p.m. with callbacks on Tues., Sept. 17, from 6-10 p.m.
CFVA is also reimagining its all-women, holiday vocal ensemble, The Belles, with new cast members, an updated sound, and a new name: Belles and Beaux. “We’ll be adding men and vocal percussionists into the mix,” CFVA Executive Director Theresa Smith-Levin told the32789. “Think Voctave or in the style of Postmodern Jukebox.”
The group works with a talent pool that performs for bookings and at weekend holiday events on Park Avenue and at the Center for Health and Wellbeing. Virtual submissions for sopranos, altos, tenors, bass, and vocal percussion are due August 18th. In-person auditions can be requested at auditions@centralfloridavocalarts.org, and will take place on August 19th from 6-10 p.m at Woman’s Club of Winter Park. Callbacks will consist of performed arrangements with talent singing in small groups, to be determined at the callback.
Information on all CFVA auditions and the portal for virtual submissions is available at centralfloridavocalarts.org/audition/.
Meanwhile, Winter Park Playhouse is preparing to bring live musical performances to Title 1 elementary school classrooms with another year of Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.: an abbreviated version of the full-length stage production based on the 1970s Saturday morning cartoon series. The Playhouse has been producing the 35-40-minute show as part of its Relevant Educational Arts for Children (REACH) program, founded in 2008. The production features a cast under the age of 18, offering younger performers an opportunity to gain experience and showcase their skills in a paid role. “We call them professional kids,” Winter Park Playhouse Executive Director Heather Alexander told the32789. “Having young people perform for young people is really impactful and powerful.”
Video submissions will be accepted through August 25th and must include 16-32 bars of an up-tempo musical theatre number or pop song, a one-minute comedic monologue, and a recent photo and resume. Videos must either be in MP4 format or accessible through a Dropbox, Google Drive, or YouTube link.
Additional audition information is available here. Paid rehearsals will take place over six Saturday mornings from Sept. 21-Oct. 26. For more information, call Winter Park Playhouse at 407-645-0145.