Auditions for Tiny Tim at Actors' Summit

Actors' Summit Announces

Christmas Carol Children’s Auditions

Actors’ Summit, Akron’s professional theater, will hold open auditions for its 2010 production of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Sunday, September 19 from 2 PM - 4 PM. The auditions will be held at the theater’s new home at Greystone Hall, 103 South High Street, Sixth Floor, Akron, OH 44308.

The auditions are being held for the part of Tiny Tim. Auditions are open to boys and girls 10 – 15 years of age. All performers at Actors' Summit are compensated on a per performance basis.

Actors' Summit is committed to Non-Traditional Casting. Except in cases where race, gender, age, or disability is essential to the play, all roles are cast on the basis of talent.

Auditions are by appointment. Actors who are interested in auditioning should request a time slot via email at info@actorssummit.org. Auditioners will receive an email confirmation. Walk-ins are welcome as well.

Actors will be asked to read from the script and to sing a verse from a holiday carol of their choosing a capella. Actors with skills in dance, music, tumbling and other skills are particularly encouraged to attend.

Please do not call the theater. If you have questions, please email them to the above address.

TV host auditions

Teens Host Your Own TV Show

Teens going into 7th, 8th or 9th grades
SMarts
The smart show about science and technology

Saturday, March 20
10:00 am - Noon
South Park Center

Saturday, March 27
10:00 am - Noon
Richmond Town Square

Saturday, April 3
4:00 - 6:00
Summit Mall

If you're in 7th, 8th or 9th grade you can audition to be one of the 6 hosts of SMarts, the smart TV STEM show about science and technology. Just stop by the mall nearest you and answer a few questions about yourself and your interest in science, technology and TV. That's all there is to it. We'll invite finalists to a call-back audition .

SMarts is a monthly show that airs on Time Warner's NEON Network Channel 23.
If you have questions e-mail Producer Dave Cockley
captaindave2898@aol.com

A Taste of Italy

What a great night of pasta, puppets, commedia and raffle tickets too! Many thanks to all the Drama Parents for organizing this annual fun fund-raiser! Thanks to WKYC News anchor (and proud drama parent) Eric Mansfield, for hosting the event. Thanks to all the local businesses who donated goods and services for our raffle.

Drama students from all grade levels worked as well, providing entertainment and stellar service for our patrons.






















Thespian President D'Angelo (above) worked as a server and managed to find time to work on the Drama Showcase as well! Thanks D'Angelo!























6th Graders Mike (above) and Souji (below) show off their nifty ties as they prepare for an evening of waiting tables.























7th graders (below) Hailey and Desiree practice their serving smiles as they work their tables.


















These 8th grade students (below) are Taste of Italy pros, having worked their way up through two years of puppet shows, and three years of serving tables. Luke, Chelsea, Lauren and Mackenzie -- Bravissimo!




































The 4th/5th grade drama students presented table-side original puppet shows throughout the evening. 15 teams of puppeteers made sure that all our guests were properly entertained as they dined on delicious pasta!
















A grand night was had by all!











The Miller South Commedia Troupe performed scenes from The Complete History of Theatre in the auditorium before and after the dinner.

















In the audience, two members of a commedia troupe from Cleveland -- i Verdi Confusi (The Confused Greenies)! We didn't know that there was another commedia troupe in Ohio until participating in the Global Day of Commedia.

The Confused Greenies (based at Case Western Reserve University), as well as performing traditional scenarios, also combine commedia and science fiction and other forms of pop culture and have developed material based on Doctor Who (Dottore Who & the Three Locks of Time), Their upcoming show is inspired by zombie movies and is called Farce of the Living Dead: a Romantic Zommedia!

Below, members of The Confused Greenies give their very positive feedback to our troupe and then pose for a group commedia portrait. We are already talking about doing a combined show with both troupes in the near future -- stay tuned!

















Jess and Megan, resplendent in patchwork, admire our thrift store commedia costumes.

Below, both troupes show off their character physicalizations.

Commedia dell'Arte Day!

Miller South Commedia Troupe was thrilled to be a part of the virtual 24 hour long global commedia festival held on February 25th. Commedia dell'arte troupes, schools and universities, and theatre scholars shared their work with the public, not only in their home towns, but also online via Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. View the list of participants here.

For me personally, the magical moment of the event was receiving a tweet that the great Italian playwright Dario Fo had sent a two page message for Commedia dell'Arte Day, just as our rehearsal ended on Wednesday afternoon. We had just set up our Twitter account and had added in three zanni on cell phones who would proceed to send reports about the performance from within the show. Since the scenario takes place in a History of Theatre class with Dottore as professor, the twittering zanni fit right in. From the rehearsal (read from bottom up):

1. Buon lavoro, zannis! RT @MSCommedia The zannis found a job!
2. RT @MSCommedia: Zannis need jobs
3. RT @MSCommedia: Still rehersing and dottore wont be quiet.
4. Acting students at SUNY-Fredonia (New York) are performing Commedia scenes RIGHT NOW.
5. RT @MSCommedia: Rehearsing with twitter

All through the day, my cell phone (which has never been used for messaging before) twittered away, with over 150 tweets from around the world, in many languages, keeping us all connected within the spirit of commedia dell'Arte!

Here are photos from our morning performance:

This is our current Arlecchino, Matt Hemminger, in motion with his unique slapstick, originally designed by Adam Nelson, who played Arlecchino several years back.

The plunger base gives Arlecchino numerous opportunities for creative slapstick moves. A squeaker has been inserted inside the gloved hand, which can at times represent Arlecchino's beating heart as Columbina approaches him.

The unofficially trade-marked hand on a stick slapstick was created in the first year of Miller South by drama student Isabel Averil.






















Columbina introduces the scenario as Zanni tweet.




















As the troupe begins their performance, they receive the following tweet:

Performances in Ohio, Germany, Thailand, France and Pakistan, AND Carlo Boso speaks in Bologna! 6 languages. whew






















The students plot to overthrow Dottore and teach History of Theatre in a more interesting way.


















Dottore gives Columbina a teaching license and then exits to the faculty lounge while his class, under the direction of Columbina, act out History of Theatre, chapter 1: The Preverbal Ages - mime and movement!


















Dottore returns to move the class ahead to Chapter 9 -- The History of Commedia.















The poor peasants in the Bergamo mountains are forced out of their homes by drought and famine. They descend to the villages below searching for jobs.

Pantalone won't hire them because they cannot count.

Capitano won't hire them because they cannot write his memoirs.

Isabella and Lelio won't hire them as they cannot read love messages out loud.

Finally they encounter Dottore who is carrying a heavy load to the market place. He hires them to carry his goods.








































At the market place, Dottore teaches them how to assist as sales associates. Arlecchino pretends to be old so he can rejuvenate using Dottore's de-aging cream.

They succeed in duping Pantalone.



















Pantalone has a bad reaction to the de-aging cream.

















Dottore and the zanni must flee!

In the confusion, Arlecchino goes in circles.

Various by-standers laugh and gather around.

Dottore realizes that zanni slapstick comedy attracts audiences. Hires them all permanently!

Junior Thespian Conference, Olentangy Liberty Middle School Feb 20, 2010

Bravo to Miller South Troupe 88187!

Great trip to state conference with a talented and fun groups of people, students and parents!

Wonderful performance of Exit, directed by Laura Valendza, with Haley Calhoun, Morgan Csejtey, Jordan Euell, Jordan James, Marcus Martin, Desirae Smith, Corbin White and stage managed by Matt Hemminger.

Bravo to the 8th grade tech team: Chelsea Miller, Brandon Kline, Jacob Petry,and Sam Puglia who won the overall Tech Challenge!

Congratulations to all who participated in the IEs (Individual Events:

Jordan Euell, Sarah Hineline, Jordan James, Shea Lee, Marcus Martin, Kari Rodgers, and D'Angelo Sanders.

And to the Best of IE Winners:

Duet Musical Theatre: Brian Hirsch and Ben Rohrer
Duet Pantomime: Matt Hemminger and Corbin White
Group Acting: Lauren Butler, Alyssa Haley, MacKenzie Sandor
Duet Acting: Morgan Csejtey, and Olivia Doria

And to Double Superior Monologue winner Kolin Morgenstern who wins the right to present his monologues at the Best of IE final presentations at State High School Thespian Conference in March. He has also won the right to compete at the International Thespian Conference at the University of Nebraska in June of this year.

My photographic skills were not much in evidence at Conference. If anybody has photos from conference, please share here or in a link. Thanks!

Cast List for The Music Man

Thanks to everybody who tried out. There simply wasn't enough room on our stage to include all the wonderfully talented students who came out for auditions.


The Music Man Cast List

First Rehearsal for all cast: January 4 from 3:15 – 5 PM. MANDATORY PARENT MEETING follows 5:00 – 5:30 PM. For ongoing production and rehearsal information please go to the Music Man page at http://new.schoolnotes.com/wsd/

CHARLIE COWELL – Tony Maggio
CONDUCTOR – Kolin Morgenstern
CONSTABLE LOCK – Evan Pol
HAROLD HILL – Brian Hirsch
MARCELLUS WASHBURN – Ben Rohrer
MRS. PAROO - Sydney Slovisky
MARIAN PAROO – Emma Haney
WINTHROP PAROO - Evan Sommer
AMARYLLIS Annie - Kate Raglow
MAYOR SHINN - Alex Biats
EULALIE MACKECKNIE SHINN - Morgan Matthews
GRACIE SHINN - Kiarra Anderson
ZANEETA SHINN - Hallie Heffernan
TOMMY DJILAS - Brandon Kline
ETHEL TOFFELMIER - Addie Berdine
ALMA HIX - Leah Strusaker
MAUD DUNLOP – Shea Lee
MRS. SQUIRES - Rhuna Wall
MRS BRIT - Kelcie Brahce
OTHER LADIES: Zoe Domonkos, Lexi Hanson, Joanna Lutman, Shauna Oldaker
THE QUARTET:
EWART DUNLOP - D’Angelo Sanders
OLIVER HIX - Gavin Markowitz
JACEY SQUIRES - Matt Williams
OLIVER BRIT - Aidan Matney
NEWSPAPER READERS: Mason Scott, Kevin Billips

TRAVELING SALESMEN: Matt Williams, Aidan Matney, Gavin Markowitz, Alan Pickett, Mackenlie Bolyard-Pizana

WON TON YE GIRLS: Hallie Heffernan, Sarah Hineline, Alyssa Haley, Reilly Dougherty, Alli Semans, Corinne Magons

RIVER CITY DANCERS: Kevin Billips, Mackenlie Bolyard-Pizana, Mackaulie Bolyard-Pizana, Reilly Dougherty, Charlie Gruhler, Alyssa Haley, Spencer Heffernan, Amanda Hemminger, Sarah Hineline, Tajzon James, Marissa Kartler, Corrine Magons, McKae Matthews, Klaire Morgenstern, Kolin Morgenstern, Natlie Noble, Olivia Nosel, Lee Paolcci, Alan Pickett, Alli Semans

RIVER CITY TOWNSPEOPLE & KIDS: Carly Ameling, Desirae Anderson, Emma Antal, Kofi Boakye, Christina Brode, Carly Chelovitz, Grace Curlee, Wyatt Daulbaugh, Ariana Davis, Haley Dickerson, Olivia Doria, Brooke Francis, Kayla Hanlon, Montana Hollis, Bichelle Jeffries, Brina Jeffries, Rachel Kunz, Samantha Lewis, Morgan Lett, Emma Markowitz, Sophie Niekamp, Hope Roberts, Lydia Rogers, Mason Scott, Erin Siegfirth, Chloe Richards, David Testa, Charay Trice, Sam Warro, Rheagan White, Kayla Whitley, McKenna Wolfe, Maddi Yaceczko

Music Man audition info

Calling all triple-threats! Leading roles available in the Music Man for grades 4 - 8, but you must be able to sing, dance and act. We are also looking for super dancers and great singers who can join the various singing and dancing ensembles.

Click on the image below to get a larger view: