Drayton Entertainment is once again holding auditions for its upcoming Youth Musical Theatre Programs and Children’s Chorus opportunities in three regions across Ontario.
The award-winning not-for-profit theatre company has been growing its training offerings for young performers over the past several years including launching the now popular Youth Musical Theatre Program, which will return for a third year.
“We are consistently astounded by the talent and passion we’ve seen from aspiring young artists across the province. As a professional company, we feel a responsibility to develop the artists of tomorrow,” said Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment.
“Our Youth Musical Theatre Program sessions and Children’s Chorus opportunities help to prepare young talent for future success and give them an inside glimpse into industry expectations.”
Auditions will be held in Cambridge on Feb. 25 and will be used to determine participants for both the Youth Musical Theatre Programs and Children’s Choruses. Young performers must sign up in advance.
Youth Musical Theatre Program
The Youth Musical Theatre Program (YMTP) is designed to cultivate community and collaboration, ignite imagination, boost confidence and develop a deeper appreciation for live performance.
This year’s offerings include week-long training sessions in Cambridge (Aug. 20 to 24 for ages 8 to 12 and Aug. 27 to 31 for ages 13 to 18).
Last year, Drayton Entertainment expanded the Youth Musical Theatre Program to offer a more comprehensive option; the Pre-Professional Production Program gives teen performers hands-on insight into how a musical is cast, rehearsed and performed while they work with a professional creative team to create a concert version of a musical culminating in a performance.
The 2018 Pre-Professional Production is Seussical Jr., a musical based on the famous stories of Dr. Seuss.
This two-week session will take place in Cambridge from Aug. 21 to 31 for ages 13 to 18. Associate artistic director David Connolly will direct and choreograph the production.
Children’s Chorus opportunities
The Children’s Chorus Program offers young performers the opportunity to audition for child ensemble roles in the company’s family panto productions and select musicals alongside professional performers in the lead roles.
In the Waterloo Region area, young performers ages 9 to 15 may audition for children’s chorus roles in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, which will be on stage at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse from July 18 to Aug. 4. Youth cast in the production will be divided into teams and will perform in the show on a rotating schedule. Auditions will be held on Feb. 25.
For more information visit www.youthmusicaltheatreprogram.com or www.draytonentertainment.com/auditions.
