Information For Xanadu Auditions

For students and parents.  Here is a summary of the information about auditions.
 For auditions (Thursday): We are asking the students to prepare a verse (16-24 bars) from a pop or rock song that they know or from a show with this style of music.  They can sing it a cappella or with a karaoke track if they have one. The singing part of the auditions will be private (meaning not in front of everyone else as before). Also, students will be able to choose if they want to sing in a small group or with a friend if they would be more comfortable. We will be doing a small dance combination as well (not on skates). 

 On Wednesday of next week we are having an audition workshop as a preview before the actual audition.  We did this for the fall play and it was very successful. We want the students to be very comfortable and do the best they can.  As part of the workshop, Mr. Barkon will be teaching the students some music to sing from the show as an option for the audition.  Also, Mrs. Connors will be teaching the dance combination at the workshop.  Those who attend will have more practice time with the combination.  Again, we want the students to feel confident and comfortable. 
 Callbacks, if necessary will be Friday afternoon.  We know that there is an overlap with a Mock Trial Scrimmage.  If we need to see you on Friday, we will wait until you are back at school.  Callbacks will most likely entail singing in harmony or specific moments from the show, as well as reading from the script.  Only some students will be called back.  This does not mean you have not been cast in a role.  Everyone who auditions will be cast.

As far as the rollerskating, I am planning a field trip to a roller-rink early in the process.  This will be an opportunity to assess which students will be comfortable enough to perform on skates for the finale.  Those who do not end up on skates will still be onstage doing choreography or musical blocking.  I have already heard from other students who are very nervous about skating for the first time, and so I am giving them an opportunity to see if they would like to challenge themselves in this area or not.  It is totally up to the student.  And no one will be "penalized" for not being able to roller-skate; there will be something else for them to do in the show at that moment.  No one will be required to attend the field trip- but it will be so much fun: We will have the WHOLE RINK to ourselves!  This will probably be a Monday or Thursday in late January, early February.