For information on performances and reserving tickets, please click here: Urinetown
After reading the following guidelines, please email me if you are still interested. You must be a junior or senior to apply and I will give preference to seniors. Two students may apply to co-direct, but I will not consider more than two co-directors for a play. Also, I am willing to consider two one acts directed by different students (each one act could be directed by two students). You should reply by January 10 if you (and a co-director) are interested, but you do not need to tell me what play you want to direct or if it is a full-length play or a one-act). The formal application will be posted after January 10 and will be due February 7.
Cast size: The absolute minimum is 15 speaking roles – and this does not include any extras you may put in. If the listed cast size is less than 15 (without doubling) do not even consider it. I will give preference to larger cast sizes.
Appropriateness: The play must be appropriate for a general audience. It does not have to be a children’s show – it can deal with important issues and themes like Second Samuel and Radium Girls – but it should not be a play that pushes the boundaries on an issue. Please see me if you have concerns or questions about this.
Feasibility: You will have 6 weeks to put this play together. This has numerous ramifications.
- The actors will have only four weeks to memorize their lines. You should look for an ensemble play with many balanced roles and not a play that focuses on just one or two characters.
- The play should not be too long. It should be two acts at the most, and 90 minutes or less. You will not have time to put together a sweeping epic.
- You should look for a play that has scenes that do not involve the entire cast. Blocking a scene that has the entire cast in it can be tricky and time-consuming, and you just don’t have time to spare.
- You should look for a script that is fairly easy to understand. You do not have the luxury of spending a week diving into the language and meaning of the script. So, no Shakespeare. You should look for something relatively modern.
Tech requirements: There should not be extensive set/tech/costume requirements. I can have my tech theater class build sets, but they will not have the time to build a two story house on a rotating platform. The less set and costume requirements, the better.
Budget: You will have a very limited budget. Your first question should be, “Can we do this play with the costumes, sets and props we currently have or can make without buying anything new?” If the answer is no, then you should probably look for a different play.
Audience: You, your actors and your crew deserve a large audience, so don’t choose something too obscure. This is not your chance to bring about a greater appreciation of the works of Christopher Marlowe or expose the audience to the traditional art form of Kabuki theater.
Impact on Society: Stop. Just stop. I don’t want to hear about how your play will change the world. And I say that having directed plays that dealt with: alcoholism; mortality and death; sexual abuse; and grief and revenge. I chose those plays because they were engaging stories that would move people, and maybe – just maybe – change a few people. Your job as a director is to choose a story that is engaging to the actors and to the audience. And I believe that making people laugh is as important as making them think. One of the best and most intelligent actors I have ever worked with told me that her favorite experience was not the deep and disturbing play in which she was named Best Actress at the one act competition, but Meat Gone Bad, a very silly play set in a grocery store where the meat section tries to take over the produce section. Don’t over-think your choice. Find something that is fun and engaging.
Here is the complete list of attendees:
Amy
Anna
Annie
Audrey
Ava
Christa
Clay
Colton
Cullen
Diana
Emily
Emma
Erin
Erin
Ethan
Gavin
Grace
Haley
Haley
Hannah Beth
Iain
Jack
Jaclyn
Jawahir
Jayna
Kaitlyn
Kalani
Ken
Lenora
Lydia
Lynde
Maddie
Melissa
Melissa
Morgan
Natalie
Perry
Ryan
Sydney
Tynan
Will
Wylie
Zakai
If you are going, you must fill out this form: ThesCon Form.
Every box must be filled in, except for the “Optional Ten” t the bottom of the page. Our troupe number is 3666.
The Georgia Thespian Convention will be February 8, 9 and 10 in Columbus. For those of you new to Thescon, it is a conference attended by over 4000 high school students from all over Georgia that features over 100 different workshops and performances. Many students say that Thescon is the highlight of their year. Students will miss all of school on Thursday and Friday, and will return Saturday night.
The first payment for ThesCon is $125 and will be due by October 16. The $125 covers only the cost of registration and is non-refundable. The remaining payment will be due in January, and will be $100 – $150, depending on the cost of the hotel and bus. All meals will be included.
Along with registration fee, you must turn in the Agreement Form. The form should be fully filled out. Everyone (including chaperons) must have two emergency contacts. If a physician is listed, you must also list the phone number. It is acceptable to write NONE for the physician and phone number. Make certain both you and your child sign the form. This form is also due on November 1.
We currently have a few chaperones lined up, but we could always use more. If chaperones want to attend the workshops and performances, they will need to pay the $125 registration fee.
If you would like more information please visit gathespians.org or send me an email at buswell.ken@mail.fcboe.org.
We will have a meeting for everyone involved in Urinetown on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 4-5pm. If you cannot attend, please let Christa know.
The Poor
Bobby Iain
Penny Emma
Little Sally Morgan
Hot- Blades Harry Clay
Little Becky Two-Shoes Lydia
Josephine Anna
Old Man Strong Josh
Tiny Tom Wylie
Soupy Sue Jawahir
Bobby the Stockfish Jack
Ensemble: Braylinn, Katherine, Lauren, Leonora, Zakai, Sully, Natalie, Courtney, Tynan, Jayna
Cops
Lockstock Perry
Barrel Sydney
Ensemble: Eddie, Jaelyn, Erin, Kalani, Kaitlyn
The Rich
Cladwell Ryan
Hope Diana
McQueen Ava
Senator Fipp Colton
Mrs. Millenium Lee
Dr. Billeaux Will
Ensemble: Ann-Charlotte, LJ
We will not need callbacks. We are waiting on a few more people to send in their video audition, and we should have the cast list posted around 3:30 pm.
Callbacks will now be on Wednesday. Ms. Potter and I know that the wait can be nerve wracking, so below is the cast list. It does not list roles since that will depend on callbacks. We also have a few more people to audition, so more names may be added.
Thank you to everyone who auditioned. If you would like feedback, please see Ms. Potter or me.
Thank you to everyone who came out today! We would like to see the following students on Monday from 5 – 7pm:
Iain, Clay, Ryan, Perry, Josh and Colton
Emma, Lydia, Morgan, Diana
Please do not read too much into the callback list. If you are not on it, that might mean that we saw what we needed to see and already know what role you will have.