Beck Center for the Arts Youth Theater, one of the oldest continuously running Youth Theaters in the country, will be holding auditions on February 4 and 5, 2023 for their final production in their 74th season. ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Music by Mary Rodgers Lyrics by Marshall Barer Book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer Direction and Choreography by Sarah Clare Musical Direction by Heidi Herczeg In this humorous adaptation of the 1835 Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea", the Queen decreed no couples can marry until her son, Prince Dauntless, finds a bride. Princesses came from far and wide to win the hand of the prince, but none could pass the impossible tests given to them by the Queen. Will the “shy” Princess Winnifred be able to pass the Queen’s sensitivity test, and marry her prince? Once Upon A Mattress is a delightful musical that is sure to delight the whole family. Audition/Callback dates: (open to Beck Center students, ages 6 to 19*) • Saturday, February 4: 2:30 to 5:30pm • Sunday, February 5: 12:30 to 3:30 pm Callbacks: Monday, February 6 between 4:30 and 9:00pm Sign up for a half hour audition slot (starting 1/16 4:30pm) online via Signup Genius https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E4DACA823A4FC1-once *Youth Theater roles are only eligible to students who will be enrolled in our Winter/Spring 2023 semester. Actors do not need to be enrolled at the time of the auditions, however, participation in the production requires enrollment in our Winter/Spring 2023 semester. Students enrolled online and in person in the Theater, Dance, Music, Creative Arts Therapy, and/or Visual Arts Departments are equally eligible. Bottom line: if you are accepting a role in the show, you will need to enroll prior to the start of rehearsals. Any questions, please feel free to contact Sarah Clare, Associate Director of Theater Education, at sclare@beckcenter.org. Unlike some other youth theaters, there is NO additional participation fee required beyond enrollment. What to Prepare: *Students must arrive 15 minutes before their audition slot to learn a short dance combination • Prepare a short one-minute monologue or poem (Memorization is strongly encouraged.) • Prepare a musical theater song, either up-tempo or ballad, up to one minute long. *An Accompanist is provided. Sheet music is encouraged. • Please be prepared to dance at auditions. (Sneakers or dance shoes will work well!) • Prepare a Headshot (picture of your student), and resume for online submission • Prepare a list of all potential rehearsal conflicts Potential Rehearsals Potential Rehearsals: February 20 – April 29, 2023 Rehearsals will start in earnest March 6, but we may have a few music rehearsals in February. • Mon, Tue, Weds, Thurs, Fri: between 4:30 – 9:00 pm • Saturdays: between 2:00 – 6:00pm • Sundays: between 12:30 – 5:30pm The show will NOT be rehearsing every day or the full time range listed. The director will pick the days that best accommodate everyone’s schedules – once conflicts and availability are known for the above dates. *We will not rehearse April 15-17, 2023. Tech Week: April 30 – May 4, 2023 Sunday between 12:00 – 7:00pm and Weeknights between 5:00 – 9:00 pm All cast members are expected to attend ALL rehearsals during Tech Week. Performance dates: May 5 – 14, 2022 All cast members are required to attend all performances. Fridays, May 5, 12 at 7:30pm Saturdays, May 6, 13 at 7:30pm Sundays, May 7, 14 3:00pm Student Matinee: Thursday, May 11 at 10:00am (NOTE: This will require missing school that morning.) * * * * * * Located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater productions, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for special needs students, and gallery exhibits featuring local, regional and international artists. For more information visit beckcenter.org.