OPEN AUDITIONS
MAY 6-8

By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT
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Dennis Duggan of Lutz is looking for men, women and children with a little bit of talent and a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the next New Tampa Players production, “Oliver.”
Duggan, director with New Tampa Players, said he thinks the auditions are the most important part of the process.
“The casting call sets the show,” Duggan said. “I get a picture of what I want in my mind and then I try to find the best people for the best parts. I want to make it the most enjoyable experience possible for the audience.”
Auditions for the musical “Oliver” will be May 6 at 5:30 p.m. and May 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the University Area Community Complex, 14013 N.22nd Street.
“I have actually worked on this play before,” Duggan said. “It was an all-youth show with only children; this time we are looking for adults and children. The higher ups in the New Tampa Players saw what I had done and decided they wanted me to do it again. This time I want to set the bar and then raise the bar.”
Duggan said he wants to see people with a lot of energy.
“I will be looking for people with talent or no talent,” Duggan said. “I am the most interested in the energy they have and if they have the heart to do it. This is community theater and I want to put as many people from the community in it as possible.”
The play is a musical based on the Charles Dickens tale of an orphan boy who runs away from the orphanage. The story involves a full cast of male and female actors aged 8-80. Most of the parts involve some or a lot of singing.
“In a musical, everybody sings,” Duggan said. “For any person who has a log of singing parts, they have to have talent. It is surprising the talent that can be found on a community theater stage. Some people who try out could be on Broadway.”
Even though it is a musical, there are still parts that can be played without singing.
“There are about five parts that are talking and not singing,” Duggan said. “There will also be a chorus where they will need to dress up and act a little.”
Duggan said even if someone has never tried community theater before, they should come out and audition.
“Anybody who has ever had an inkling to be on stage should come out,” Duggan said. “We will use everybody we can for as much as we can. I want to stretch the performers’ wings.”
Even those who do not want to be on stage but would like to be involved have options, according to Grace Stewart, stage manager.
“I run everything backstage to make sure everything is running smoothly,” Stewart said. “I was on the stage one time and I decided I definitely like being behind-the-scenes. I enjoy organizing things and I am looking for people who would like to build sets, enjoy painting or moving set pieces around.”
Other opportunities are available behind-the-scenes as well, including people to make costumes, and work on the lighting and the sound.
“We want people who can come in and learn the jobs,” Duggan said.
The performances will be the weekends of July 27 through Aug. 5 with four performances a weekend. Since the performances are during summer, Duggan is requesting people involved in the play be committed to being at all the rehearsals from July 16 through the end of the performances.
“I understand it is summertime,” Duggan said. “I know many people take their vacations then. I only ask that anyone involved in the play make a total commitment the last two weeks before the play opens.”
Stewart said being involved in community theater is a great experience everybody should try.
“If they come out, one thing they will get from it is to make some really good friends,” Stewart said. “It is a really good experience. It is a lot of fun and a little bit of hard work.”
For more information, call 386-6687, visit http://www.newtampaplayers.com, or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).