Welcome
S.T.A.R., Ltd.
Children through Young Adult Theatre Programs
in Catonsville, MD
to our list of Maryland theatre companies.

Please let me know about any other groups coming or going in the area.

It's Time!
Time to pick a show and begin preparing for the
2023 Maryland Community Theatre Festival
Weekend of February 10 and 11, 2023

The 2023 National AACTFest will be held in June in Louisville, KY.
We want it to be a Maryland show that represents our Region in the National Festival.

So, bring us your best production under 60 minutes!

If we haven't already been in contact, please go to the MCTFA Website
and fill out an Intent to Participate form.

Auditions
Colonial Players of Annapolis
Putting It Together
Words and Music by
STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Devised by Stephen Sondheim and Julia McKenzie
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Directed by Vincent Musgrave
Produced by Judi Wobensmith

Sunday, November 13, 4pm
Tuesday, November 15, 6:30pm
Sign-in is available from 30 minutes prior to start.
The Colonial Players Annex
2132 Renard Court, Annapolis, MD 21401

Performance Dates: April 7 – May 6, 2023, Thurs-Sun.

Drawing its title from a song in Sunday in the Park with George, this musical revue celebrates Sondheim's incomparable career in musical theater.
Featuring nearly thirty Sondheim tunes, Putting It Together is set at an all-night, black-tie party in a penthouse.
The hosts, an older couple face their disillusions and marital troubles; a younger, less jaundiced couple struggle with their feelings and desires,
and a commentator oversees and influences the action. The spouses deal with infidelity and divorce but finally reconcile before dawn.
With a bit of imagination, the guests transform the apartment into the stage of an abandoned theater, an estate in Sweden, an island outside of Paris,
a street off the Forum, the woods of a fairy tale and a mythical town in the Southwest.

All roles are open. Descriptions are of character appearance and temperament, not age of actors.
The show requires 3 women and 4 men. All roles open to all ethnicities, races and multicultural backgrounds.

Seeking strong vocalists with strong acting skills. Must have the ability to harmonize and hold harmonies, and be comfortable with solo work.
Pre-registration is required for these auditions. Register at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d44adaf22abf8c25-auditions

See website for full details, character breakdowns and musical requirements: https://thecolonialplayers.org/index.php/get-involved/auditions

CP is an all-volunteer organization – all roles are unpaid.

Auditions
Silver Spring Stage
Men on Boats
by Jaclyn Backhaus
Directed by Erin Bone Steele
Produced by Lennie Magida

• Sunday, November 13, 7:00-10:00 PM
• Monday, November 14, 7:00-10:00 PM
Callbacks by invitation will be on Wednesday, November 16, 7:00-10:00 PM
Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD)

If you are unable to attend auditions in person, please email us at menonboats@ssstage.org to arrange a video submission.

First read-through will be Monday, November 21, 7:00-10:00 PM. (This is the start of Thanksgiving week.)

***Silver Spring Stage is an all-volunteer theater. All roles are open and unpaid.***

To audition, sign up through our website for a five-minute slot. You will be asked to present a contemporary comedic monologue no longer than 90 seconds.
Prepared, memorized monologues are preferred. However, actors may bring a copy of a monologue to read,
and the Stage will also have printed monologues available.
Walk-ups are permitted, but we will accommodate them only as time allows.

Some Notes About Auditions & Schedules:
Actors will need to fill out an audition form and submit a resume and headshot if available.
Access the form through the website to print it out and complete it prior to your audition.

Actors must note their conflicts throughout the rehearsal process and run of the show, November 21-February 18
Rehearsals will typically be held four times a week, on both weeknights and weekends, depending on cast availability.
Tech and dress rehearsals begin Saturday, January 21, 2023.

Performances will run four weekends, January 27–February 18.
Performances will be Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 PM, with Sunday matinees on February 5 and 12 at 2:00 PM.

Brush-up rehearsals may be held Thursday evenings before Friday performances.

Cast attendance is required at all rehearsals as called by the director and stage manager, unless a conflict has been previously indicated.
Cast must be available for all tech and dress rehearsals, performances, and brush ups.

Mask policy and health considerations: Please be prepared to do your audition monologue and on-stage tech/dress/performances without a mask.
We currently plan for mask-wearing to be optional in call-backs, rehearsals (until tech/performances), and backstage.
Masks are a useful tool for preventing the spread of many illnesses, and we may revise this policy to err on the side of caution
as the public health situation or individual health conditions warrant.

** If you have any questions, please email us at menonboats@ssstage.org **

SHOW SYNOPSIS
This account of a geological expedition down the Green and Colorado Rivers in 1869 is based on the journals of John Wesley Powell and his crew of pioneers.
Traveling in improbable wooden boats with limited supplies, these 10 explorers encountered rapids, waterfalls, native people, shipwrecks, snakes,
and their own mental and physical limits. These historical figures were all cisgender white males; the cast portraying them will be made up entirely of people who are not.
In this bold and refreshing approach, the play bridges the gap between then and now in ways that highlight the ludicrous arrogance of the Western colonizers
while recognizing their bravery and fearlessness, while the theatrical dissonance between the performer and the role allows for comedy, commentary, and satire.

CONTENT ADVISORY
Men on Boats contains occasional profanity, characters consuming alcohol, and loud sound effects including rivers, rattlesnakes, and gunshots.

SETTING
On boats and exploring the landscape, in and around the Green and Colorado Rivers, 1869.

CHARACTERS
Age range for all roles is 18-70. Accordingly, the director may ask actors to read for a variety of roles.

This production will honor the casting instructions from the playwright: “The characters in Men on Boats were historically cisgender white males. The cast should be made up entirely of people who are not. I’m talking about racially diverse actors who are female-identifying, trans-identifying, genderfluid, and/or non-gender conforming. It is my strong preference that Tsauwiat/OG and The Bishop/Seneca be played by Native cast members [or] must at least be cast as non-white.”

John Wesley Powell: One-armed leader of the expedition
William Dunn: A hunter and trapper
John Colton Sumner: Former soldier, now an explorer
Old Shady: Powell’s older brother, a Civil War veteran
Bradley: A lieutenant, youthful and energetic
O.G. Howland: A printer, now a hunter. This actor doubles as Tsauwiat, a Ute chief.
Seneca Howland: O.G.’s younger brother, quiet. This actor doubles as The Bishop, Tsauwiat’s wife.
Frank Goodman: British, so excited! This actor doubles as Mr. Asa, a desert settler.
Hall: A mapmaker, an old soul
Hawkins: The cook

Sandy Spring Theatre Group
In conjunction with the City of Gaithersburg/The Arts Barn in the Kentlands

Directed by Kevin Sockwell
Music Directed by Arielle Bayer

Opening November 25 (the Friday after Thanksgiving) and running weekends through December 11, 2022.
All performances are matinees.
Gaithersburg Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Opens December 2nd
The British Players
Present,
Rapunzel: A Tangled Panto
December 2rd, 2022 – January 7th, 2023
Kensington Town Hall
3710 Mitchell Street Kensington, MD 20895

Princess Rapunzel has been kept locked up in a tower for almost eighteen years by witch Gothel, who she believes to be her mother.
But her royal parents, have not given up hope that one day she may return to them. And every year they celebrate her birthday
by releasing one sky-lantern for every year she’s been gone. Rapunzel’s solitude is broken by the arrival of three Fairies,
who persuade her to let them transport her to the outside world. Gothel discovers Rapunzel has been freed,
and enlists the help of two villains to return her to the tower.

Buy Tickets: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=138919

AS YOU LIKE IT
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
DIRECTED BY FRED ZIRM
MUSIC DIRECTION BY ARIELLE BAYER
PRODUCED BY LAUREN PACUIT AND MICHELLE HESSEL

One of Shakespeare’s most beloved romantic comedies is transported to the Woodstock era as Rosalind decides to flee from her tyrannically uptight uncle
to the Forest of Arden, where her free-spirited father has been banished, along with his band of hippie followers.
Colorful country folk, comic and romantic complications, the cynical observations of Jaques (“All the world’s a stage.”)
and Shakespeare’s poetry make for a richer mixture than your typical romcom.
Folk and rock music popular in the 60s and 70s will be performed in place of songs from Shakespeare’s time.

Auditions Dates
Monday, December 12th  and Tuesday,  December 13th
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m
Bannockburn Community Club
6314 Bannockburn Drive
Bethesda,  MD  20817
Callbacks – By Invitation Only
Wednesday, December 14th
7:00pm-10:00pm.
Please use the sign up genius below to secure an audition slot.

Audition Sign up Genius Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044BA9AC2AA57-asyoulike

NOTE: Prepare a one minute monologue (modern or Shakespeare)  and 30 seconds of a prepared song      (around 16 bars).
A capella is fine or an accompanist will be provided if you bring sheet music. Guitar players welcome. There may be readings from the script.

We will accept virtual auditions submitted to Director Fred Zirm: bikebard@gmail.com by Monday, December 12th at 9pm.
Virtual auditions should include a one minute monologue and 30 second song.

ALL CALLBACKS WILL BE IN PERSON BY INVITATION ONLY ON DECEMBER 14th.
All roles are open and unpaid and actors of all ages, ethnicity, and genders will be considered.

Bring a completed audition form and headshot if available. Please look at the rehearsal calendar on the audition form and come with any conflict dates. 
These forms can be found at https://britishplayers.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Audition-form-As-You-Like-It.pdf

COVID19 Requirements:  All Auditioners, Cast, and Crew for this production must be vaccinated.  Proof of Vaccination will be checked prior to audition. 
Please have a copy of your vaccination record or a scan copy available. Masks will be worn at auditions except while acting or singing.

Important Dates
Tech Week
Fri March 10 – Thu March 16

Performances at Kensington Town Hall
Fri March 17 – 8:00 pm, Sat March 18– 8:00 pm, Sun March 19 – 2:00 pm.
Fri March 24 – 8:00 pm, Sat March 25– 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sun March 26 – 2:00 pm.
Thu March 30 – 8:00 pm, Fri March 31 – 8:00 pm Sat April 1 8:00 pm.
Sun April 2– 12 noon Strike – all cast and crew.

Character List:
Rosalind a rebel in her late teens or twenties
Duke Senior Rosalind’s banished father, a hippie, middle aged
Celia Rosalind’s BFF, but more of a preppy, also in her late teens or twenties
Duke (or Duchess) Frederick(a) Celia’s mean parent, middle aged
Touchstone the court jester, indeterminate age
Audrey Touchstone’s country wench girlfriend
Orlando Rosalind’s love, late teens or twenties
Adam Orlando’s aged servant
Oliver Orlando’s cruel older brother, young to middle aged
Le Beau a fastidious courtier to Frederick, young to middle aged
Attendant 1 One of Frederick(a)’s lackeys, young to middle aged
Attendant 2 One of Frederick(a)’s lackeys, young to middle aged
Charles the Wrestler a jock, young to middle aged
Sir Oliver Martext a drunken priest, middle aged
Amiens a hippie follower of Duke Senior (preferably a guitar player), young to middle aged
Jaques(a) a cynical follower of Duke Senior, probably a Vietnam vet (might play the guitar)
First Lord a hippie follower of Duke Senior, young to middle aged
Second Lord a hippie follower of Duke Senior, young to middle aged
Corin an older shepherd
Silvius a young shepherd, teens to twenties
Phebe a young country woman but with a touch of Valley Girl, teens to twenties

The Maryland Community Theatre Festival Association
Will hold its next
MD Community Theatre Festival

February 10th and 11th, 2023

Hosted by Port Tobacco Players
LaPlata, MD
Featuring some of Maryland's Best Community Theatres

Please let me know what our wonderful local theatre community is doing.
I'm still happy to post any notices you have.

Above all else, be safe!
Be creative, but be safe.