OKTC STAGEDOOR, MIDSUMMER 2011

Editor: art@oktc.ca

NEWS FLASH!!!

Still time to catch the OK written and composed Summer Dreams, Wed. July 20, Thurs. July 21 and Fri. July 22 at 7pm. International youth theatre evaluators recently saw and praised this one- of-a-kind roam around production. Come to the Camp OK grounds at Huron College on Western Road. (Main entrance and keep going to the free parking on the left). Pay at the event. Bring a light lawn chair. Audience optimal size: 30.

OK, OK…I know I said that the June Stagedoor would be it until September. But so much needs to be said about us, that I couldn’t sleep another night until I gave you news on: the 2011-12 Playbill, the OK New York Trip, How to Audition, Assassins, HONK!, OK Camps and anything else that will shoot into my mind in the next 2 hours!

Here goes….

SNEAK PEEK AT THE NEW PLAYBILL

The exact show titles are under wraps until you pick up your casting package. But I am going to tantalize you with some hints.

So see if you can guess some titles!!

HALLOWEEN: 1 musical and two comedies.

The musical: It has one of the longest titles in musical history. The writers of it also wrote the most famous Halloween song of all time. Among the fabulous characters is Dr. Frankenstein. Its plot is eerily reminiscent of The Rocky Horror Picture Show! The title:_________________________________

Comedy 1: A brilliant murder mystery spoof of the Agatha Christie & Murdoch Mysteries kind of story, with 2 great detectives challenged to reveal a cunning killer before the entire party of guests is bizarrely murdered. The audience has the chance to help. The title:____________________________

Comedy 2: Without knowing it, two rival schools plan their competing haunted house Halloween fundraiser events in the same remote, deserted mansion. We soon suspect that there is a third party doing evil and malignant work in the mansion, just maybe a ghostly slasher! The title:___________

NOVEMBER: 1 drama & 3 musicals

The drama: This is one of the greatest, most mature and intelligent legal dramas ever written, a classic of the Broadway and world stage and of Hollywood film. A life hangs in the balance as conflict and tense drama pile up, and the collective audience butt inches forward in its seat… The title: __________

Musical 1: Takes us back to the era of the discotheques and the beautiful club denizens of New York and London, England. Using the greatest pop hits of that era, the musical bases its plot on the Faust legend. A man sells out his true love for fame wealth and popularity, and then tries to turn back time. The title: _________________________

Musical 2: This revue-style show is structured as an extended TV infomercial, with all the fun and comedy that comes along with that. The hook is that the product being pitched in the infomercial is a CD set of the greatest chartbuster hits of a recent rocking decade (that I cannot reveal!) The title:______________

Musical 3: This show is not yet finalized as we await copyright clearances, but here’s your chance to suggest a musical you think we should do. Your suggestion could be chosen, or could appear on a future playbill. Send your idea to art@oktc.ca .

DECEMBER/JANUARY: 3 Musicals:

The season is capped off with three of the most popular musical dramas ever written, all based on works by 3 of the greatest writers of all time.

 The first melds beautiful music with a bitter struggle to the death and a dramatic, tragic and fiercely uplifting story. The title:_____________________________.

The second takes us to another century when life was hard, and children devalued. It tells one of the great stories of world literature accompanied by a score of some of musical theatre’s catchiest, most hummable songs. The title:_________________________ .

The third absolutely took London’s West End and Broadway by storm. Based on special writings by a famous poet, this musical introduces us to a host of the most vibrant and distinctive characters ever and tells a touching story about the lowliest being exalted. The title____________________.

Boy, I’m excited just writing that. I can imagine how you actors and audience members must feel!

HOP IN THE CAR, COME DOWNTOWN AND…HONK!

Yes, the hours is fast approaching that the OK summer tradition of the production of an outdoor family musical  will again be fulfilled, this year with HONK! The Ugly Duckling Musical. If you haven’t been to one of these shows, you need to know: beautiful outdoor setting in the Library’s Rotary Reading Garden; OK constructed and decorated sets; colourful costumes; professional orchestra; good sound system; large talented and spirited cast ; inside the Library if weather wet; pay-what-you-can (suggested $5 minimum per person).  The show will run a comfortable length for the whole family, and the kids get to meet their favourite actors following the show. Get there early! People flock to these productions.

Time: July 29 at 7pm. July 30 at 1030am & 530pm. July 31 at 530pm. Aug. 1, 2, 4, 5 at 7pm. Aug. 6 at 1030am & 530pm, Aug. 7 at 530pm.  More info: www.oktc.ca  

WORK ON YOUR AUDITIONS-NOW!

Once you get your casting package, you’ll know what your directors are requiring for your auditions for roles in your show. But clever, ambitious actors work well ahead to build an audition package and then keep on fine tuning and adding to it. Here’s what a good auditioner might have prepared for starters: 1 comic and 1 dramatic monologue (2 min. each max), 1 Broadway up-tempo song and 1 Broadway ballad,  2 contrasting pop songs (only need up to 32 bars of a song). Your requirements in Sept. might not fit this list, but sooner or later, you will use these, and when do need them, you’ll be completely on top of them! And you’re never too young, OKs!

A recent column in the Globe and Mail was titled “How to Ace an Interview”. The sensible advice in it seemed to me to be easily translatable to “How to Ace an Audition”.

1. Follow the 15 – Second Rule: A good portion of the impression is made in the first 15 seconds. Have your act, your look, your eye contact totally there and go for it right from the start.

2. Show that You’ve Done your Homework: Employers (directors) love to see that preparation and thought went into your interview (audition). That’s a predictor of a good employee (cast member).

3. Say the Right Things with Your Body Language: Don’t squirm, slouch or shuffle about. Shake hands firmly. Make eye contact. Use good posture. Own the space physically. Show energy and vibrancy. (Think of doing everything so Grandmother would be proud!)

4. It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over: Don’t ever undermine a good impression once the interview (audition) is over. Solidify that good impression by your mature and considerate behavior following your moment. Politeness, gratitude (saying thank you), paying attention will firm up any good impression you have made.

5. Job Hunting  (Auditioning) is a Marathon, not a Sprint: Make a relationship with the interviewer (director). Despite a fine interview (audition), you might not be quite right for the position (role) you are seeking. But if you stick in the director’s mind as someone he/she would like to work with, then it will pay off later on. Also that director will be likely to bring up your name approvingly when talking to other directors.

6. So- Dress for Success. Plan for Success. Act for Success. Behave for Success.  And Realize that then Success Will Eventually Come!

IMPORTANT KIDBITS

1. Sign-ups and Registration for the OK NYC Trip (March 8 to 15) have already started. Get info now from Art at www.oktc.ca while space is available (if you haven’t contacted him already)!

2. Kudos to the cast and crew of our OK Alumni/Staff production of Assassins at this year’s London Fringe for mounting one of the London Theatre season’s finest productions of a musical.

3. Session 1 of Camp OK is ending and Session 2 beginning. There are still lots of open choice for Sessions 3 and 4.

Session 3 availability: Toy Story, Camp Rock, Bring it On!, Glee Club 2, ALP
Session 4 availability: Hogwarts, Seussical, Step Up! Grease, LIT, ALP
Please pass the word along for us. All info and Registration on www.oktc.ca

1. Kamp Kidlets Sessions are completely sold out!

2. Try to get to Stratford to see Camelot, and send your good thoughts to OK Jimmy Mallett, who is in it.

So with Camp OK 1 Performance Day here, Summer Dreams still on, HONK! almost upon me, a stellar season almost completely scheduled, and NY Trip registrations rolling in. to say nothing of a sold-out trip to Stratford’s Broadway-bound Jesus Christ Superstar set for Oct. 12, I’m pretty stoked for a GOOD TIME!
:>) I hope that you are too! (<:

Find Older Stage Door Newsletters Here!