Auditions for UpStage Players’ Singin’ in the Rain, Jr. Scheduled for Early-January 2018

UpStage Players, one of Northeast Ohio’s most enduring non-profit children’s theatre companies, invites area youths, ages 7 to 15, to audition for the troupe’s Spring 2018 musical, Singin’ In The Rain, Jr. Known for its no-cut policy, UpStage Players “works for the kids” of Greater Cleveland.

Auditions will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2018 for 7- to 11-year-olds and on Sunday, January, 2018 for 12- to 15-year-olds. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at the North Collinwood-based organization’s performance space, Cleveland Public Library’s Memorial-Nottingham Library Branch Auditorium, located at 17109 Lakeshore Boulevard. Auditions will start at 10:00 a.m. sharp and end at 2:00 p.m. on both days. No late comers will be admitted. All children will be required to stay for the entire time. This is an open audition – no parts have been pre-cast. Call backs will be scheduled by the artistic director.

Those auditioning are asked to dress in comfortable clothes and shoes, as well as prepare to perform a 1- to 2-minute song from a Broadway musical, bring a current photo and a $10 registration fee.

Audition applications and emergency forms are available online at www.upstageplayers.com, so participants can complete the forms in advance to bring with them to the audition. Actors will learn choreography and sing for a panel in a friendly, nurturing environment. UpStage Players is a teaching theatre, so all levels of experience are welcome.

Singin’ in the Rain, Jr. will be performed on Friday, March 23rd (7:30 p.m.); Saturday, March 24th (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday, March 25th (2:30 p.m.). Rehearsals will begin in early-2018 and $10 pre-sale tickets will go on sale via the group’s ticket website, www.showtix4u.com, on January 10, 2018.

The signature endeavor of UpStage Players each year is the organization’s annual spring musical. After several months of learning and collaboration, the efforts of dozens of children and adult volunteers come to fruition through the professionally-produced junior edition of a Broadway-caliber musical.

UpStage Players is the proud recipient of a 2017 Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) grant, and is also supported by the Downtown Cleveland Kiwanis Club #2 and the Children’s Guild of Cleveland. The mission of UpStage Players is the dedication to the child performer, instilling a love of theatre while building leadership and community. The non-profit group was founded in 1994–1995 with 30 children and a vision to create love and respect for the performing arts. Beyond evolving into a strong organization of nearly three times as many children today, two keys to the success of UpStage over the years have been its unwavering no-cut policy and its army of committed volunteers. The children of UpStage Players come from varied backgrounds and neighborhoods throughout Northeast Ohio, yet they all enjoy a demonstrable transformation from everyday kids into accomplished artists. For more information, e-mail info@upstage-players.com or visit www.upstageplayers.com.