ODDFELLOWS PLAYHOUSE SEEKING YOUNG ACTORS for 2014 Productions!

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theatre will produce two Connecticut original productions this Spring with actors in grades 6 - 12 through the Teen Rep and Jr. Rep Companies.

The Teen Rep Company is seeking actors ages 14 - 20 for the Connecticut premiere production of  SHE KILLS MONSTERS by Qui Nguyen.  It will be directed by Kristen Palmer.

The show switches between fantasy and reality as his edgy teen focused play tells a story of loss, family, identity and acceptance – in an exciting comic book style.  When Tilly dies suddenly in a car accident her older sister Agnes’s only connection to her is a role playing adventure Tilly left behind. Agnes enters her sister’s fantasy world and learns about who her sister was – while fighting off the real and imagined monsters that plagued Tilly’s short life.

Young Actors will thrive in this show as they develop their acting skills and are part of an ensemble Teen Rep Production project. There will be opportunities for stage combat, choreography, puppetry and creating stage effects.

All interested teens are invited to attend an open workshop to learn more about the script and ensemble at Oddfellows Playhouse on January 6th or 8th from 6-8pm.  Rehearsals start January 13th and will be held every Monday and Wednesday nights from 6 - 8:30pm.

Performances: March 20-23^rd

Tuition: $300.  Financial Aid, Scholarships and Work-Study Available. 

The Jr. Rep Company seeks actors in grades 6 – 8.   This show will also feature a first ever east coast musical production.  The Connecticut premiere production of BUCCANEERS by Liz Duffy Adams will be directed by Lorra Webb.

Young Enid Arabella longs for adventure and escape from her family’s poverty. She runs away and is captured by a pirate king and his crew of kidnapped children. She summons her courage and wits to lead a mutiny and overthrow their oppressor – only to find herself in charge of a crew as fractious as the seas.

This new musical, premiered in 2012, is an exciting performance opportunity for young actors to sing, dance, act and be a part of an ensemble that values their voices and talents at any stage of development. Led by long-time Jr. Rep director Lorra Webb this musical presents great messages about leadership, empowerment and family.

Rehearsals begin January 14th and are held every Tuesday & Thursday, 4:30-6:30pm until the Performances on April 3, 4 and 5th.

Tuition is $300.  Scholarship and Financial Aid are available.

All actors will have a role in the production.  Oddfellows has been producing plays with young people for over 38 years.  The cadre of directors and designers are professional artists with a commitment to young people’s personal growth and artistic development.

To register, or for more information on how to get involved go to oddfellows.org or contact Artistic Director, Kristen Palmer at 860 347 6143, ext. 103.

About us:

Oddfellows Playhouse was founded in 1975 as a community-based, multicultural theater program designed to include children from all backgrounds. Oddfellows remains Connecticut’s largest and most active year-round youth theater, an independent, not-for-profit organization that annually serves over 1,200 young people.  The mission is “ to build essential life skills through the performing arts.”
In 2013 Oddfellows Playhouse was named “Connecticut’s Best Children’s Theatre by Connecticut Magazine.  In 2012 Oddfellows was awarded its very first National Endowment for the Arts award for the Our Town grant. In 2003, Citizens Bank named Oddfellows Playhouse its Community Champion for youth services, and CPTV featured the Playhouse and its program on a special titled art.culture.life. In 1999, the Playhouse received a Community Service Award from the Middlesex County NAACP in recognition of its years of commitment to young people, particularly those challenged by poverty.  The New England Theatre Conference recognized the Playhouse’s history of quality performing arts and youth education with an Award of Excellence in 1998.
The Playhouse has produced over 350 shows, including classics, contemporary and world premieres.

For more information contact:  Kristen Palmer at (860) 347-6143 ext. 103 or Kristen@oddfellows.org.