First Step to Stardom Audtions Seeks Students for Three Maltz Jupiter Theatre Productions

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is seeking young performers for Disney Beauty and the Beast and West Side Story!

The Broadway smash hits are just two of the musicals with roles up for grabs at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's ninth annual First Step to Stardom audition day on Saturday, April 14, with roles for children ages 8 - 9 and young adults ages 18 - 25. The day will feature casting for the Theatre's professional productions of the family-friendly musicals Disney Beauty and the Beast, West Side Story and a third smash hit musical set to be announced April 1.

"Our First Step to Stardom audition day has become a wonderful annual opportunity for area students to experience the audition process, and we are thrilled to be offering the chance to audition for youth roles in three of our upcoming professional musicals," said Andrew Kato, the Theatre's producing artistic director and chief executive. "Disney Beauty and the Beast and West Side Story are both powerhouse family-friendly classics, and we're particularly excited about the third mega-musical we're producing. Due to our agreement with the licensors, we're not able to announce it until April 1 - but we can assure everyone that it will be a hit!"

As the largest regional theatre in Florida, the Theatre creates every detail seen in its season shows, from the sets and costumes to hiring the creative teams and casts. The Theatre is one of the area's top employers of both onstage and backstage talent, including directors, choreographers, designers, musicians, performers and stage crew. To cast its professional shows, the Theatre draws from both local and national talent. Between 400 and 700 people typically audition in New York for each of the Theatre's large-scale musicals, and as many as 250 people audition for its plays.

"The local youth who are cast in in the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's productions experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work alongside renowned performers and learn from the best," Kato said. "It's an excellent chance for students to take part in the creative process and perform in a professional regional production."

The Theatre's First Step to Stardom audition day will take place at the Theatre starting at 9 a.m. on April 14. Participants will learn a simple dance combination and will be taught the song "Be Our Guest" from Disney Beauty and the Beast, which they will sing for the moderators. Students are asked to wear dance clothing (no sandals or open-toe shoes).

Because the Theatre's production of Disney Beauty and the Beast will utilize puppetry, children ages 8 - 9 auditioning for the role of Chip should bring a sock to use as a puppet during auditions. Students who have a headshot and resume should bring them, and there will be paperwork for parents and young adults to fill out before the audition. Participants are strongly encouraged to register online ahead of time to guarantee their audition spot.

The event comes at the heels of the success of the Theatre's large-scale "First Step to Stardom" events during the past eight seasons, which drew hundreds of children to the Theatre for auditions. Youth who auditioned last year performed roles in Born Yesterday, Disney Newsies The Musical, Hairspray and South Pacific.

To help students prepare, optional audition prep classes for children ages 8-9 will be offered on the following dates: Saturday, March 17, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 18, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, April 1, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. For young adults ages 18-25, audition prep classes will be offered Saturday, March 31, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 8, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. All will take place in the Theatre's Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts. Cost is $28.50 per session, and participants are asked to wear dance clothing (no sandals or open-toe shoes).

While not required, the audition prep classes will teach students the dance combinations and vocal arrangements that will be used at the audition itself. For ages 8-9, this includes short vocal lines from the Disney Beauty and the Beast score, one line from the script and sock puppet improvisation. For ages 18-25, this includes an advanced musical theatre jazz combination as well as the audition's 16-bar cut of music from the song "Be Our Guest." Students can take one class or all that are offered. Students who participate in an audition prep class will have scheduled auditions at 9 a.m. on April 14 and will be considered for all productions that fit their age range.

The audition prep classes are completely optional. All students who audition on April 14 will be considered for all productions that fit their age range.

To register for the Theatre's annual First Step to Stardom audition day and for more information, visit www.jupitertheatre.org/fsts. To register for the audition prep classes, please call (561) 575-2672.

Here is more about the shows students will be auditioning for:

Disney Beauty and the Beast
November 27 - December 16
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Book by Linda Woolverton
This classic story of a tenacious beauty who meets a selfish prince-turned-beast is a tale as old as time. Showcasing spectacular costumes and effects, Disney Beauty and the Beast is a fairy tale filled with magic, romance and a young woman's determination to find her own way. We invite you to be our guest as this beloved Disney classic comes to life on stage! Sponsored by Admirals Cove Foundation.

[The Theatre is looking for children ages 8 - 9 for the role of Chip, as well as non-Equity dancers ages 18-25.]

BIG SPLASHY MUSICAL: Set to be announced April 1
January 15 - February 10
A mega hit feel-good musical that will have audiences dancing in their seats! It's so monumental that we've added a fourth week! Sponsored by John McDonald Company, Kathy and Joe Savarese Home Care America, Isanne and Sandy Fisher and Jana and Ken Kahn, LRP Publications.
[The Theatre is looking for non-Equity dancers ages 18 - 25.]

West Side Story
March 26 - April 14
Book by Arthur Laurents
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Tony and Maria - two young, idealistic lovers - find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the "American" Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. They fight to find a place for themselves in a violent world, only to discover that love doesn't always have a happy ending. Inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story takes the tale of two star-crossed lovers to new heights. Heart-wrenching and captivating, this musical will take you on a journey through passionate scenes, romantic ballads and fiery dance numbers. Sponsored by Suzanne Niedland in Loving Memory of Art and Meg Niedland and The Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation.
[The Theatre is looking for non-Equity dancers ages 18 - 25.]

About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida's preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state's largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws 100,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 8,000 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida's highest honor for artistic excellence, including the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence. For more information about the Theatre's upcoming shows and Conservatory, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.

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