Comprehensive Audition Information
Production Staff
Ms. Hanna Samawi, Director & Producer (hsamawi@lw210.org)
Ms. Ann McMann-Kotze, Music Director (amcmann@lw210.org)
Mr. Patrick Spreadbury, Tech & Design Director (pspreadbury@lw210.org)
Ms. Taylor Beekman, Pit Director (tbeekman@lw210.org)
Ms. Abigail Brown & Ms. Gina Vitucci, Choreographers
Ms. Hanna Samawi, Director & Producer (hsamawi@lw210.org)
Ms. Ann McMann-Kotze, Music Director (amcmann@lw210.org)
Mr. Patrick Spreadbury, Tech & Design Director (pspreadbury@lw210.org)
Ms. Taylor Beekman, Pit Director (tbeekman@lw210.org)
Ms. Abigail Brown & Ms. Gina Vitucci, Choreographers
Note: A participation fee of $200 is due from each cast member at the first rehearsal in January. This may be paid via Charms or check to LWE Music. Please take note of the fee increase due to the rising costs of materials as well as the caliber of the production we are taking on this year. We are exploring fundraising options for the participation fee.
CMandatory Parent Meeting: Tuesday, September 26th at 7pm
This meeting will be held in the auditorium, but a livestream option will also be available. One or both parents MUST attend this meeting as well as the student auditioning for the production. If a parent absolutely cannot attend this meeting, please email hsamawi@lw210.org to schedule an alternative arrangement. Attendance will be taken both in person and on the livestream.
General Audition: Tuesday, October 10th from 3-8pm
Students will NOT need to be in attendance for the duration of general auditions. They will sign up ahead of time in groups of 6-8 for a 20-minute time slot. Students should be there 15 minutes before their designated time in case we are running ahead. This will be a vocal audition. The students will individually perform their chosen solo vocal cut. Students will not be required to read from the script for their general audition.
Your vocal audition at Tuesday’s general audition is the most important part of the audition process. Take time to read Ms. Ann’s directives regarding the music. Take time to learn and prepare your chosen vocal audition piece. Become very familiar with the Broadway soundtrack of the musical. The production staff may be interested in hearing you sing for a character that is different from your chosen audition cut. Familiarizing yourself with the other audition cuts and the musical score overall is a great idea in case you are asked to sing for a different character. Your vocal audition should be performed “in character.” We not only need to see your vocal abilities, but also your ability to portray a character. Show us energy, personality, emotion and the ability to tell a story effectively.
Note: As Ms. Samawi and Ms. Ann work regularly with the majority of students auditioning, we will be bringing in seasoned professionals for general auditions to ensure a fair and transparent audition process.
Dance Audition: TBD
Not everyone will be required to dance. Only students interested in auditioning for a specialty dancing role AND/OR the roles of Christine and Meg will have to learn and audition on a ballet combo. This audition will either occur on the day of general auditions or callbacks. Scroll to the links at the bottom of the page to find the dance audition videos.
Callbacks: Thursday, October 12th from 3-7pm
After the Tuesday general audition, students will receive the callback list via email. Any student on the callback list should be prepared for callbacks on Thursday at 3pm. Students called back will be singing from the callback vocal cuts and some will read from the callback sides.
You can prepare for a possible callback by being familiar with the vocal callback cuts and sides as well as having a general knowledge of the show. Students called back will be asked to sing and read from these selections. Not receiving a callback does NOT mean that you are not cast! Callbacks are simply a tool for the production staff to see more if we need to, clarify any questions we have, see certain people sing and read together, and get on the same page before final casting. Callbacks are not a “reward” for doing well at general auditions and are NOT to be viewed as “another chance” to audition! You have only one audition, and that is your general audition…so make the very most of it!
Scheduling (READ THOROUGHLY)
As always, one of the biggest factors in casting is student conflicts. We need a cast that is, first and foremost, COMMITTED TO BEING AT REHEARSALS. Please consult with your parents/guardians about ANY AND ALL possible spring semester conflicts that you may have. Accurately write on your audition forms all school activity commitments, out of school activities, family commitments, possible vacations, college visits, doctor appointments, etc. Please be specific about exact times and days.
If you are cast, and later reveal multiple conflicts that were not on your audition form, or conflicts on tech/dress/performance days, you may be removed from the production and your role re-cast. So, PLEASE, be very honest about all possible conflicts, and be honest with yourself and with us about your willingness to make this production a priority. It is impossible to achieve a huge, multi-faceted production of this magnitude without a full cast in attendance.
Scheduling Overview
Note: If you have ANY conflicts on tech rehearsals, dress rehearsals or performances, you will not be cast.
Preparing for General Auditions
Casting
Note: If you would like to be considered for one of the principal singing roles, it is strongly encouraged that you enroll in voice lessons if you aren’t already.
What are we looking for? We are aiming for a cast of 40-50 for our production of The Phantom of the Opera. This show requires an incredible amount of stamina from its actors. The ability to sing with agility and accuracy as well as the ability to act with exaggeration and nuance is no easy feat. We need a cast with very strong vocal ability and a willingness to step out of their comfort zone in their speech, vocals and physical movement. We need committed students willing to “put in the work.” Please show us your willingness to do this by learning your vocal cuts well, doing basic research of the show, and giving a bold audition projecting your voice to its fullest range and emoting with your fullest range of expression! Please know that at auditions, we are NEVER looking for polish and perfection! That comes later with rehearsal. At auditions, we are looking for passionate, expressive students who give it everything they have and really go for it. If you forget words or crack on a note, or if aren’t the best technical dancer, we don’t care! Whatever you’re doing for us, do it 100%! Making “mistakes” won’t keep you from getting cast; but being shy, reserved, hesitant, quiet, embarrassed or unprepared will DEFINITELY keep you from being noticed!
Parent Volunteering
We will need parent volunteers primarily towards the end of our rehearsal process, moving into tech week and the performances. We do expect all parents to volunteer in some capacity. Sign-ups will be available upon the release of the cast list and the deadline to sign up will be the first rehearsal in January.
Resources
Click here to access the audition form you will print.
Click here to access the Google Form you will need to fill out.
Click here to access the audition music information. Read directions carefully!
Click here to access character descriptions. Read thoroughly!
Click here to access the dance audition run through video.
Click here to access the teaching of the dance audition.
Check back soon to access callback sides.
This meeting will be held in the auditorium, but a livestream option will also be available. One or both parents MUST attend this meeting as well as the student auditioning for the production. If a parent absolutely cannot attend this meeting, please email hsamawi@lw210.org to schedule an alternative arrangement. Attendance will be taken both in person and on the livestream.
General Audition: Tuesday, October 10th from 3-8pm
Students will NOT need to be in attendance for the duration of general auditions. They will sign up ahead of time in groups of 6-8 for a 20-minute time slot. Students should be there 15 minutes before their designated time in case we are running ahead. This will be a vocal audition. The students will individually perform their chosen solo vocal cut. Students will not be required to read from the script for their general audition.
Your vocal audition at Tuesday’s general audition is the most important part of the audition process. Take time to read Ms. Ann’s directives regarding the music. Take time to learn and prepare your chosen vocal audition piece. Become very familiar with the Broadway soundtrack of the musical. The production staff may be interested in hearing you sing for a character that is different from your chosen audition cut. Familiarizing yourself with the other audition cuts and the musical score overall is a great idea in case you are asked to sing for a different character. Your vocal audition should be performed “in character.” We not only need to see your vocal abilities, but also your ability to portray a character. Show us energy, personality, emotion and the ability to tell a story effectively.
Note: As Ms. Samawi and Ms. Ann work regularly with the majority of students auditioning, we will be bringing in seasoned professionals for general auditions to ensure a fair and transparent audition process.
Dance Audition: TBD
Not everyone will be required to dance. Only students interested in auditioning for a specialty dancing role AND/OR the roles of Christine and Meg will have to learn and audition on a ballet combo. This audition will either occur on the day of general auditions or callbacks. Scroll to the links at the bottom of the page to find the dance audition videos.
Callbacks: Thursday, October 12th from 3-7pm
After the Tuesday general audition, students will receive the callback list via email. Any student on the callback list should be prepared for callbacks on Thursday at 3pm. Students called back will be singing from the callback vocal cuts and some will read from the callback sides.
You can prepare for a possible callback by being familiar with the vocal callback cuts and sides as well as having a general knowledge of the show. Students called back will be asked to sing and read from these selections. Not receiving a callback does NOT mean that you are not cast! Callbacks are simply a tool for the production staff to see more if we need to, clarify any questions we have, see certain people sing and read together, and get on the same page before final casting. Callbacks are not a “reward” for doing well at general auditions and are NOT to be viewed as “another chance” to audition! You have only one audition, and that is your general audition…so make the very most of it!
Scheduling (READ THOROUGHLY)
As always, one of the biggest factors in casting is student conflicts. We need a cast that is, first and foremost, COMMITTED TO BEING AT REHEARSALS. Please consult with your parents/guardians about ANY AND ALL possible spring semester conflicts that you may have. Accurately write on your audition forms all school activity commitments, out of school activities, family commitments, possible vacations, college visits, doctor appointments, etc. Please be specific about exact times and days.
If you are cast, and later reveal multiple conflicts that were not on your audition form, or conflicts on tech/dress/performance days, you may be removed from the production and your role re-cast. So, PLEASE, be very honest about all possible conflicts, and be honest with yourself and with us about your willingness to make this production a priority. It is impossible to achieve a huge, multi-faceted production of this magnitude without a full cast in attendance.
Scheduling Overview
- January: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays 3-6, some Fridays 3-5
- February: Tuesdays, Wednedsays, & Thursdays 3-6:30, some Fridays 3-5
- Note: Featured dancers will be called on one Saturday in February (TBD)
- March: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 3-7, Fridays 3-5
- There will not be rehearsals over spring break EXCEPT FOR Monday, April 1st.
- Monday, April 1st: No school, but tech rehearsal from 12-6pm. Attendance is mandatory.
- April 2nd-5th: Tech Rehearsals 3-10. Attendance is mandatory.
- April 8th-11th: Dress Rehearsals 3-10. Attendance is mandatory.
- Friday, April 12th: 5:30 call, 7:00 performance
- Saturday, April 13th: 11:30 call, 1:00 performance & 5:30 call, 7:00 performance
- Sunday, April 14th: 12:30 call, 2:00 performance and STRIKE
Note: If you have ANY conflicts on tech rehearsals, dress rehearsals or performances, you will not be cast.
Preparing for General Auditions
- Make sure YOU and your parent(s)/guardian(s) attend the mandatory parent meeting on Tuesday, September 26th at 7pm. You will not be able to audition otherwise.
- Learn about the show! Listen to the Broadway soundtrack(s), watch the movie (available on Amazon Prime), and watch some YouTube videos of the stage production!
- Sign up for a general audition day time slot on the audition sign-up sheet Ms. Samawi will post in the music hallway.
- Carefully and thoroughly read this audition packet with your parents/guardians!
- URGENT: Consult with your parents, making sure to accurately list any and all spring semester conflicts on the audition form in detail with specific dates/days/start and end times, as well as more vague potential conflicts!
- Print the audition form from the lwemusic.org website.
- Make sure you and your parent(s) read and sign the last page of the form.
- Affix a clear and current photo of your face to the last page of the form.
- Fill out this Google form with your basic information.
- Bring your audition form to Tuesday’s general audition.
Casting
Note: If you would like to be considered for one of the principal singing roles, it is strongly encouraged that you enroll in voice lessons if you aren’t already.
What are we looking for? We are aiming for a cast of 40-50 for our production of The Phantom of the Opera. This show requires an incredible amount of stamina from its actors. The ability to sing with agility and accuracy as well as the ability to act with exaggeration and nuance is no easy feat. We need a cast with very strong vocal ability and a willingness to step out of their comfort zone in their speech, vocals and physical movement. We need committed students willing to “put in the work.” Please show us your willingness to do this by learning your vocal cuts well, doing basic research of the show, and giving a bold audition projecting your voice to its fullest range and emoting with your fullest range of expression! Please know that at auditions, we are NEVER looking for polish and perfection! That comes later with rehearsal. At auditions, we are looking for passionate, expressive students who give it everything they have and really go for it. If you forget words or crack on a note, or if aren’t the best technical dancer, we don’t care! Whatever you’re doing for us, do it 100%! Making “mistakes” won’t keep you from getting cast; but being shy, reserved, hesitant, quiet, embarrassed or unprepared will DEFINITELY keep you from being noticed!
Parent Volunteering
We will need parent volunteers primarily towards the end of our rehearsal process, moving into tech week and the performances. We do expect all parents to volunteer in some capacity. Sign-ups will be available upon the release of the cast list and the deadline to sign up will be the first rehearsal in January.
Resources
Click here to access the audition form you will print.
Click here to access the Google Form you will need to fill out.
Click here to access the audition music information. Read directions carefully!
Click here to access character descriptions. Read thoroughly!
Click here to access the dance audition run through video.
Click here to access the teaching of the dance audition.
Check back soon to access callback sides.
