Auditions for the Gifford Family Theatre production of “How I Became a Pirate” will be held in the Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Feb. 18.
Interested actors must sign up for a 5-minute slot outside the PAC office and pick up audition materials from the office, to be memorized for the audition itself. Actors should also prepare 16 bars of an upbeat character piece and bring sheet music. The auditions will run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; if callbacks are required, they will take place at 1 p.m. the same day.
“Actors coming to auditions should come ready to move,” Gifford executive director Lynn Kasper added. “Much of director Lauren Unbekant’s work is movement-based and she will no doubt be encouraging actors to express themselves not only vocally but physically. She is looking for pirate types, which can cover a wide range of possibilities!”
Based on a book written by Melinda Long with illustrations by David Shannon, “How I Became a Pirate” continues Gifford’s tradition of performing musical adaptations of popular children’s books.
“‘How I Became a Pirate’ tells the story of a boy who is recruited by a band of pirates to join in their hunt for buried treasure,” Kasper said. “Although the idea of adventure is exciting, he finds that there are a number of things missing on pirate ships, like kisses goodnight and the comfort of home and family.”
According to Kasper, this will be a particularly interesting project for Gifford.
“The popularity of the book is one of the reasons we chose this play,” Kasper said. “Because we believe that the arts are crucial to the development of children and their subsequent participation in our community, it is important to us to try to reach as large an audience as possible. The more recognizable the title, the more likely we are to draw an audience, even an audience that might not usually come see theater. Plus, who hasn’t ever secretly dreamed of being a pirate?”
The show will be directed by Lauren Unbekant, director of Educational Outreach at Syracuse Stage and an instructor with Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. Others involved include costume designer Lisa Morrill (also from Syracuse Stage), set designer Jason Grasso (technical director of performing arts at Le Moyne) and musical director Jocelyn Rauch (voice instructor and director of the Le Moyne Singers and Chamber Singers).
“Based on discussions thus far, this is going to be an exciting piece of theatre to watch!” Kasper said. “I can’t wait to see how this talented group of designers and the cast that Lauren puts together bring this fun script to life.”
Auditions will take place at the Performing Arts Center Saturday, Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (with callbacks at 1 p.m., if necessary). Rehearsals will run from May 7 to May 21 and the show will run from May 22 to June 16 (which includes a special “dress-like-a-pirate performance” on June 9). Actors will receive a flat fee of $1,000 for the six weeks.
