Our main priority, as stated last year at the start of the COVID health crisis, continues to be the safety of our performers, production staff and patrons. As more and more people are vaccinated and the case numbers continue to decrease and stay low in our area, we are ready to get back on stage! With that in mind, after months of delay and hours of discussions and meetings the Hard Road Board of Directors has decided to attempt an abbreviated summer season with an in-person show!
OUR GOAL IS TO PRESENT A KID’S SHOW THIS SUMMER!
We’re not ready to release ALL the details (including what the show is!) yet as the board is still in the process of securing the performance space, sponsors, etc…but we can let you know the audition dates and performance dates so you can get those on your calendar!
AUDITIONS will be held on May 1st and 2nd.
PERFORMANCE Dates: July 22-25 & July 29 – Aug 1
We are hoping to solidify our plans with the performance space in the coming weeks at which point we will release more information on the show and audition materials and other exciting details!
We are currently working on the procedures to ensure the safety of our performers and crew in rehearsals as well as performances. In the coming weeks we’ll also be releasing the requirements that we’ll be asking our audiences to follow so we can safely and successfully present an in-person show this summer!
With only doing a kid’s show this summer, due to the limitations still in place and performance spaces being at a premium currently, there will be no adult musical. If COVID conditions continue to improve we are hoping to have more opportunities for in-person performances this fall.
In the meantime, if you haven’t already, check out our Hard Road Radio Serials – high quality, vintage entertainment every Friday at 5pm!
We can’t wait to be on stage in front of all of you again!
Due to the continued “Shelter-In-Place” order from the State of Illinois and the Social Distancing guidelines from the White House being extended until April 30, 2020 the auditions for Disney’s Moana Jr. that were scheduled for the weekend of April 17 & 18 are being POSTPONED until a later date. We currently do not have a new date scheduled, but as soon as that decision has been made we will let you know on our Facebook page and our website.
Our top priority right now is making sure our performers, production staff and patrons stay safe and healthy. Check back often for future updates about auditions, show dates and other Hard Road information. Stay safe and healthy!
The first production of our 20th Anniversary Season is our kids show, Disney’s Moana, Jr! We are excited to be one of the first community theaters in the area to stage this show!
This thrilling and heartwarming coming-of-age story follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage.
We are grateful to have our long-time kid’s show director, Gentry Fifer, at the helm again this year! Her dynamic vision and experience promise to make Disney’s Moana, Jr. one of our best and most memorable productions ever! She has put together a wonderfully talented production team who are already preparing for this summer’s show!
Here are some important dates for the show:
Auditions @ Highland Elementary Auditorium : Friday, April 17 @ 6pm Saturday, April 18 @ Noon Sunday, April 19 – Callbacks as needed
Show Dates @ Highland Elementary Auditorium: Friday, June 19 @ 7pm Saturday, June 20 @ 7pm Thursday, June 25 @ 7pm Friday, June 26 @ 7pm Saturday, June 27 @ 7pm Sunday, June 28 @ 2pm
Age Range for the show – 1st grade going into 2nd through Freshman going into Sophomore
More details about auditions and audition materials/forms will be released soon, so check back often!
Auditions for DISNEY’S FROZEN JR. (sponsored by Bradford National Bank) are scheduled to be held on Saturday, April 13th and Sunday, April 14th at the Highland Elementary School Auditorium, 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland, IL.
First and foremost I would like to say that I am very excited about this summer production of Frozen Jr! That being said, it is going to be a very busy summer. This production is going to be more work than past shows. This is a two weekend – 8 performance – (Shows on June 20th – 23rd & June 27th – June 30th) production. The performances will be done in the Highland High School Kennel. The practices will be longer and the absence rules throughout practices will be stricter. Starting Sunday, June 9th through the final performance, any practices on the calendar are MANDATORY. However, I know it will all be worth it in the end for everyone. My team and I have been working on ideas since the beginning of the year (Olaf is already in the works)!
Due to the amount of kids we anticipate at auditions, we will be more careful and strict in casting. Please, if there is a role you are interested in, come out and audition. Some absences can be worked around. If you are only auditioning for a specific speaking role/roles and are not interested in anything else or are only interested in the ensemble, please make sure we know that on your audition form. I promise you, I NEVER hold that against someone when casting. I would hate to cast someone in a role they are not interested in and then have them quit. A role you are not interested in could be an opportunity for someone else.
Also, please keep in mind, with cast
numbers being limited, it is possible that even though your child has been in
past shows, they might not be cast in this one. There are so many factors that
come into play when my team and I are casting a show. It takes us many hours trying
to find the right fit for each and every character.
WHAT
TO EXPECT THE DAY OF AUDITIONS
Please arrive prior to the 11am audition
time (doors will open at 10:30am) to fill out the audition form, get your
number, and have your picture taken. The auditions start promptly
at 11:00am. First, those auditioning will learn the dance number and review the
songs. After children have reviewed the music numbers and done the dance
numbers with our choreographers, we will start the song and lines (reading)
portion of the auditions. We will start with #1 and go in order. Please have your
children be prepared with the following:
– SHORT joke – It
is just a way to get them comfortable on stage. Plus we get to laugh a little!
– Lines – please select
one of the Readings found in the link below. There are only 3 to choose from. Even if the
character you are auditioning for isn’t one of those characters, that is ok. Pick the one where you can best show off your
personality and character. And have fun with it!
– Song – Please
select one of the Songs found in the link below. – There are only 3 to choose
from. Even if the character you are auditioning for isn’t one of those
characters, that is ok. Pick the song that
best shows off your voice and personality. And, again, have fun with it!
It is possible that you will be asked to
come back for a callback later in the day on Sunday, April 14th. We
will post and give you a call prior to 3:30pm on Sunday if we would like to
hear you again. Please, don’t read too much into the callback list. Sometimes
we call someone back because we don’t feel we heard enough of their voice or
their range. Sometimes we want to hear a different song. Sometime we are in
between a few kids for a role or want to see what they look like with others.
There are so many reasons why someone might be called back. And don’t think you
aren’t cast in a role because you didn’t get a callback. That might not be the
case at all! It’s possible that you came in and gave us everything we needed
out of the audition for a specific role and don’t need to hear you again. At
the callbacks, we will bring you back in and review the song/songs we would
like you to sing and review the lines if we want you to read again. We might
even take a few more character pictures.
Age limit – 1st grade going into 2nd through Freshman going into Sophomore
UPDATE: A copy of the audition form can be found by following the link below. Feel free to print it off and have it filled out for the day of auditions. It will give you a chance to review your home calendar and update the absences on the form. Please be honest on the audition form about absences. A few absences can be worked around but any absences added could cause them to have to forfeit their role.
o
If there is a day they can NOT be at practice, please mark it with an
“X”.
o
If they need to miss a portion of practice, please list the time you would
NOT be there and an “X” EX: “530-6pm-X “ OR “7pm-730pm –
X“
o
If there is a practice that they have something
scheduled (swim team, soccer, dance, etc) but are willing to miss if
they are required at practice, please mark that down with an ”X-M”
.
– Auditions will be Saturday, April 13thOR Sunday, April 14th (you only have to attend one day of auditions unless you receive a call back). Auditions begin at 11:00 am and will go until they are done. The location is the Highland Elementary School Auditorium, 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland IL. (You only need to come to one audition day)
– There will
be call backs later in the day on Sunday, April 14th at 4:30pm at the
Elementary School.
– The cast
read-thru and MANDATORY PARENTS
MEETING will be on Monday, April 22nd from 5:30pm-7:30pm. The location is TBD.
Practices begin on Tuesday, April 23rd.
I am very excited to be working with some
of you guys again and look forward to adding new faces to our group. I can’t
wait for the summer to start. See you soon!!
-Hard
Road Theatre Productions Director – Gentry Fifer
Hard Road Theatre is proud to announce auditions for their winter musical: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES. THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES is a musical comedy that features all 1950s and 1960s songs. The show revolves around the four women who are the Springfield High Songleaders: Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy, as they are called upon as a last minute replacement to perform at their high school prom. The group gets back together again ten-years later at their high school reunion to perform again. There are almost thirty 1950s and 1960s tunes featured in the show including, “Mr. Sandman,” “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Mr. Lee,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Heatwave,” and “It’s My Party.”
Auditions for THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES will be held on Monday, November 5th and Tuesday, November 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the Highland Elementary School, 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland, IL. There are roles for 4 women. Those auditioning should come prepared with a pop song from the 1950s or 1960s that illustrates their vocal abilities. An accompanist will be provided. In addition, those auditioning should also be prepared to learn a short dance routine and need to be aware of any conflicts they have through January 27th. No recordings will be allowed. Performances for THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES are scheduled for January 18th, 19th, 20th, 25th, and 26th. The show is being directed by Bill Sullivan, with musical direction from David Wilton, and choreography by Christine Taylor.
Sponsored by Staunton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Hard Road Theatre is proud to announce auditions for OKLAHOMA! OKLAHOMA! was the first collaboration between Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein and this year marks the 75th Anniversary of the show. Set in 1906 outside of Claremore in the Oklahoma territory where there is a high-spirited rivalry between local farmers and cowboys, OKLAHOMA! revolves around a love story about a handsome cowboy named Curly and a winsome farm girl named Laurey. The road to true love never is smooth with these two headstrong romantics at the reins. Included amongst the cast of characters are the antagonistic ranch hand Judd who has feelings for Laurey, the traveling peddler Ali Hakim, the flirtatious Ado Annie, and matriarch Aunt Eller. The story is full of twists and turns, fights and fun, dances and death.
Auditions for OKLAHOMA! will be held on Monday, May 14th & Tuesday, May 15th at 6:00 PM at the Highland Elementary School, 1800 Lindenthal Ave, Highland, IL. Callbacks will begin on May 15th starting at 7:30 PM. Those auditioning should be at least 16-years- old. Those auditioning should come prepared to sing at least 16 measures of a Broadway-style song that showcases the singer’s voice. An accompanist will be provided and no recordings will be allowed. In addition, those auditioning should come with two copies of their music and be aware of any conflicts they might have from May 29th through August 5th. Those auditioning will also be asked to learn a short dance routine and might be asked to read excerpts from the script. Anyone wishing to audition for OKLAHOMA! should go to hardroad.org and complete the online audition form found there under the “Oklahoma! Auditions” article. Individuals can sign-up on the night of auditions, but those who have already signed-up online will be given preference. OKLAHOMA! is directed by Mike Huelsmann with musical direction from David Wilton and Choreography by Christine Taylor. Performance dates for OKLAHOMA! are July 27th –July 29th and Aug. 3rd – 5th.
To sign up for auditions, go here:
For more information about the show and a list of characters, CLICK HERE.
