Garfield Center

GCA’s Playmakers is Back with Winnie The Pooh this Weekend

July 26, 2022 by Garfield Center Leave a Comment

The Garfield Center for the Arts’ Playmakers has returned! The GCA’s annual summer youth education camp for children ages 8-15 has a long and successful history of teaching skills in theatre craft and performance. The camp had been suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic but has finally returned after its hiatus. This summer’s Playmakers will present “The Adventures of Winnie The Pooh” this weekend, starting at 7 PM on Friday and Saturday, July 29, 30, and 2 PM on Sunday, July 31.

The camp divided participants into two age groups, ages 8 to 11 and ages 12 to 15, for age-specific activities. The remaining camp time was spent with all participants working together to produce and perform their “Winnie the Pooh” production. Campers have also enjoyed the performances of professional cultural artists, presented by The Hedgelawn Foundation, on select camp days, including historical instrumentalist Stephen Christoff, storyteller Debra Mims, and dancer, drummer, singer and storyteller Ssuun.

Leading Playmakers has been its Director Amanda Mickle and Assistant Director Patrick Pearce. Originally from Smyrna Delaware, Amanda spent 13 years with The School of Delaware Ballet and Delaware Ballet where she danced in various supporting and lead roles in multiple productions, including “The Nutcracker” for seven years. Amanda attended Washington College, where she studied English and Education. Currently, she is the 7th and 8th grade Language Arts teacher at Kent School where she has directed and choreographed the 8th Grade Musical for two years with last year’s “Frozen Jr.” and this year’s “Beauty and the Beast, Jr.” Patrick recently appeared in the Garfield Center’s hit production of “The Play That Goes Wrong.” Last year, he appeared in “Clue” and Short Attention Span Theatre. Patrick received his BA in Drama from Washington College in 2000 and now teaches US History at the Kent School in Chestertown.

This year’s Playmakers campers are Lizzy Assante, Lillian Babylon, Bailey Bortz, Sydney Bortz, Olivia Coppage, Ben Gilbert, Giosue Greenwell, Sam Holdgreve, Madelyn Hopwood, Emy Karlik, Clover King, Maggie Lindsay, Ava Potter, Mallory Reed, Natalie Ritchie, Will Ritchie, Amelia Ritchie, Lia Schut, Masun Sullivan, Stella Sullivan, Alex Wilson, and Vivian Young. Playmakers has had a terrific staff of counselors and interns this summer, including Allison Holdgreve, Devin Merton, Josie Merton, Clare Padula, Eva Veciana and Kendall Willis.

The performances are free to the public, but donations made at the performances toward production costs and next year’s Playmakers camp is encouraged and appreciated. Lobby doors open one hour prior to show time and the House doors open for general seating starting one half hour prior to show time. No advance reserved seating is allowed.

Chestertown Jazz Festival 2022

June 21, 2022 by Garfield Center Leave a Comment

The Chestertown Jazz Festival committee announced today that the 26th Chestertown Jazz Festival will be held September 8 -10, 2022, with the theme, “The Many Moods of New Orleans Music.”

The musical group Zydeco-a-Go-Go from Philadelphia, PA will kick off the three-day event at The Mainstay in Rock Hall on Thursday, September 8. This seasoned band is led by Pete Eshelman, who sings and plays accordion. Other featured band members include saxophonist Troy Corley, a native of Louisiana who has played with Gladys Knight and the Pips, Freda Payne, and Cab Calloway; veteran bass guitarist, Randy Lipincott, who worked for years with the late Johnny Clyde Copeland, and guitarist Jared Snyder; drummer Bob Holden; and the newest band member, percussionist Pamela Eshelman. The new Mainstay director, Matt Melnick, is delighted to showcase this talented group of musicians and tickets for this event can be purchased at www.mainstayrockhall.org or 410.639.9133.

An evening of entertainment and food will be offered Friday, September 9 under the tent at Wilmer Park, featuring Dave Robinson and The Conservatory Jazz Band. A recent transplant to the Chestertown area, Robinson made his debut at the Jazz Festival in 2018, directing the youth jazz group, ‘Capital Focus.’ The following spring, he brought his Conservatory Jazz Band to the Garfield Center for the Arts to perform in the ‘Blues Series.’ Robinson has also developed and hosts a local New Orleans Jazz Radio show, called ‘Gumbo,’ which airs Sunday evenings on WKHS. New Orleans cuisine will be served during the concert. Tickets for Friday night as well as Saturday’s ‘Jazz in the Park,’ can be obtained at www.garfieldcenter.org.

Following the practice of the Newport Jazz Festival and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Saturday will begin with a gospel opening by vocalist Quiana Lynell, who performs with our headliner group, Don Vappie and the Creole Serenaders. Then, in the style of another exciting New Orleans tradition, a brass band will lead in a ‘Second Line’ to get audience members out of their seats.

Coming back to keep the feet tapping will be Dave Robinson and his youth group, Capital Focus.

Next up will be Philip Dutton and The Alligators, one of the most significant practitioners of New Orleans music and culture in the Chestertown area. A New Orleans native, Dutton has been inspired by famous artists such as The Meters, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Buckwheat Zydeco, and the Neville Brothers, while the Alligators have been influenced by such greats as Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong and Clifton Chenier, the famous zydeco accordion player. Dutton has spread the sounds of New Orleans throughout Maryland’s Eastern Shore and beyond. About a decade ago, he started ‘The Chester-gras,’ which has become a local February tradition that runs simultaneously with the Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans.

Our world-renowned headliner group, Don Vappie and the Creole Serenaders, will close the show in style, taking the audience through a musical combination of traditional jazz, soul-funk, blues, rhythm and blues, zydeco, and Dixieland. No strangers to Chestertown, they performed here during the National Music Festival in 2018. Vappie, who sings and plays guitar and banjo, received the “Steve Martin Banjo Prize” in 2021. In addition to Vappie and singer Lynell, the very talented group includes trumpeter Kevin Louis; clarinetist and saxophonist Tom Fischer; bassist Richard Moten; piano and keyboard player Mike Esnault; and drummer Brian Richburg.

The festival will again offer a wide variety of food and drink from local vendors. Patrons can find ticket and pricing information, as well as up to date COVID and health protocols, at www.garfieldcenter.org or 410.810.2060.

LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULEZ!

Garfield Center Presents Music, Storytelling and Portrayal of 1st Published African American Poet

May 27, 2022 by Garfield Center Leave a Comment

The Garfield Center for the Performing Arts will host a variety of offerings on Saturday, May 28 during the Chestertown Tea Party Festival: a portrayal of Phyllis Wheatley, the first published African American poet, Crankies, a fascinating form of old fashioned storytelling art form, and a musical performance by Stephen Christoff on a variety of colonial instruments.

The Phyllis Wheatley portrayal, performed by Janice Curtis Greene, begins at 11 AM. Born around 1753 in Gambia, Africa, Wheatley was captured by slave traders and brought to America in 1761. Upon arrival, she was sold to the Wheatley family in Boston, Massachusetts. Her first name Phillis was derived from the ship that brought her to America, “the Phillis.”

The Wheatley family educated her and within sixteen months of her arrival in America she could read the Bible, Greek and Latin classics, and British literature. She also studied astronomy and geography. Although she supported the patriots during the American Revolution, Wheatley’s opposition to slavery heightened. She wrote several letters to ministers and others on liberty and freedom. Wheatley died in December 1784, due to complications from childbirth. In addition to making an important contribution to American literature, Wheatley’s literary and artistic talents helped show that African Americans were equally capable, creative, intelligent human beings who benefited from an education. In part, this helped the cause of the abolition movement.

Back by popular demand, with performances at 11:45 AM and again at 1:00 PM, is Katherine Fahey and her Crankie show. This is an old fashioned story telling art form using a long illustrated scroll wound on two spools – a moving panorama accompanied by live music. Fahey’s work is based on folk tales as far reaching as the southern swamps of Louisiana to the northern reaches of Inuit Quebec. Others are personal stories from her childhood in Virginia and the streets of her longtime home of Baltimore Accompanying her will be puppeteer, and foley artist, Dan Van Allen, and musician Mark Dykeman.

Virtuoso musician Stephen Christoff, a perennial Tea Party Festival favorite, performs at 1:00 PM. He will captivate families with the jaws harp, banjo, guitar, mandolin, hand whistle, the musical saw, and even the bottles. The Colonial times were filled with music and Christoff explores the fun.

For a full schedule of events and more information, visit https://www.chestertownteaparty.org/

The Garfield Center Announces Auditions for Short Attention Span Theatre 2022

May 3, 2022 by Garfield Center Leave a Comment

Jen Friedman, left, played a young girl possessed by a demon as her parents, played by Sharon Herz and Patrick Pearce, try to decide if having a demon or a badly behaved child for their daughter is worse. The play, “The Possessthion,” was part of last season’s SAST at the Garfield Center.

At the Garfield Center for the Arts, playwrights, directors and actors who delight in the art of the 10-minute play are at it again! Short Attention Span Theatre (SAST) offers an evening of 10-minute plays, designed to hold your attention for “just. long. enough.”

Auditions for this year’s SAST will be held at the Garfield Center on Saturday, May 7 at 2:00 PM, Monday, May 9th at 6:00 PM and Wednesday, May 11th at 6:00 PM. We are seeking actors and stage crew. Auditions will consist of cold readings from scripts being considered for presentation.

Short Attention Span Theatre will run three weekends: June 24-26, July 1-July 3, and July 8-10. The show will feature a multitude of actors and directors as well as continuing our long tradition of premiering original works by local playwrights and playwrights from around the world.

For any additional inquiries about auditions, please contact GCA Executive Director Steven Arnold at sarnold@garfieldcenter.org.

Enrollment Registration for the Garfield’s Playmakers Camp Begins March 28

March 23, 2022 by Garfield Center Leave a Comment

Amanda Mickle is the Garfield Center’s 2022 Playmakers camp director. Enrollment begins Monday, March 28.

Registration for the Garfield Center for the Arts summer theatre camp, Playmakers, will begin Monday, March 28 online at garfieldcenter.org/camps/. Registration will be accessible starting promptly at 8:00 AM that morning.

Playmakers at The Garfield Center for the Arts is a successful annual summer youth education camp for children ages 8-15 that teaches skills in theatre craft and performance. The camp had been suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic but is finally returning after its two year hiatus. This summer, Playmakers runs four weeks, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, starting Tuesday, July 5. The camp culminates in two 7:00 PM evening performances and a 2:00 PM matinee performance that includes all participants on the weekend of July 29, 30 and 31. The production title for this year’s camp has not yet been determined but performances will be free to family, friends and the public with donations welcome. When the Playmakers production title is chosen, a social media post will be put up on the Garfield Center’s Facebook page.

The camp divides participants into two age groups, ages 8 to 11 and ages 12 to 15, for age-specific activities. The remaining camp time is spent with all participants working together to produce and perform a selected play title. Campers will also enjoy cultural performances, presented by The Hedgelawn Foundation, on select camp days. The cultural performances are also open to the public for a nominal fee.

The enrollment fee for Playmakers is $400.00 for each child that falls in the 8 to 11 year old age group and $450.00 for each participant that falls in the 12 to 15 year old age group.

The Garfield Center is pleased to announce that leading Playmakers this summer as its director is Amanda Mickle. Originally from Smyrna Delaware, Amanda is no stranger to theatre and performance. She started at an early age in dance, learning and performing ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical for 13 years with The School of Delaware Ballet and Delaware Ballet. She danced in The Nutcracker for seven years, holding various supporting and lead roles, and other spring performances. Amanda’s favorite role was The Wicked Stepmother in Delaware Ballet’s performance of Cinderella. After graduating high school, she attended Washington College, where she studied English and Education. At Washington College, Amanda was immersed in various types of literature ranging from poems, essays, novels, literature, and drama. Currently, she is the 7th and 8th grade Language Arts teacher at Kent School. At Kent School, she has directed and choreographed the 8th Grade Musical for two years with last year’s Disney’s Frozen Jr. and this year’s Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. Amanda currently resides in Galena with her husband and three pets, Henry, Bonnie, and Molly, and she is incredibly excited to lead the Garfield Center’s prestigious Playmakers.

General inquiries about Playmakers, other than registration, may be sent to the GCA’s Education Coordinator Julie Gill at jgill@garfieldcenter.org. The Garfield Center for the Arts is located at 210 High Street in Chestertown and can be found online at www.garfieldcenter.org.

The Garfield Center Announces Cast and Production Staff for Shrek The Musical

November 10, 2021 by Garfield Center

Closing the Garfield Center for the Arts’ 2021 season is the delightfully funny and family-friendly Shrek The Musical. Based on the Dreamworks animated film Shrek, which featured powerhouse voice performances from Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, the story centers around the disagreeable ogre Shrek who, in an effort to save his swamp, reluctantly agrees to rescue fairy tale princess Fiona from a fiery dragon to marry local King Farquaad. Joining him on the quest, much to his annoyance, is the wise-cracking and over-the-top Donkey.

Shrek The Musical opened on Broadway in December of 2008, and it was followed by a US Tour production and a run on the West End in London. Its music is by Jeanine Tesori, whose previous works include the Broadway musicals Thoroughly Modern Millie, Violet and Caroline, or Change, among others. Shrek the Musical features a book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, author of the plays Fuddy Meers, Good People and 2007’s Pulitzer Prize winner Rabbit Hole, among others.

In rehearsal for the Garfield Center for the Arts’ production of Shrek the Musical, the Dragon (Melissa McGlynn) scares Donkey (Max Hagan) while Fiona (Shannon Whitaker) and Shrek (Dan Guidice) try to sneak away.

Director Jennifer Kafka Smith, who brought local audiences the hugely successful Garfield Center production of Annie in December, 2019, is the director of Shrek the Musical. Choreographer and Dance Captain is Nalatie Donoso, with Erin King serving as Assistant Dance Captain. Costumes are by Barbi Bedell, with the Pinocchio costume is by Stu Crawley, the Production Stage Manager is Hester Sachse, and the Production Assistant is Melissa McGlynn. The Scenic Design is by Jennifer Kafka Smith, Steven Arnold, Abbey Wark and Nic Carter. Original Scenic Backdrop Animations are by Steven Arnold. Set Construction is by Butch Clark and Nic Carter, and the set painter is Beverly Hall Smith. Lighting Design is by Butch Clark and Sound is by Nic Carter. The Music Engineer is Allegra Fass, Makeup is by Kat O’Grady-Melson and Kellie Guidice. Francoise Sullivan oversees the Program and Steven Arnold is the photographer.

Playing the title character of Shrek is Dan Guidice. Audiences will remember him as Wadsworth in the recent GCA production of Clue on Stage and various roles in SAST. Performing the role of Donkey is Max Hagan, who audiences will remember as Anthony in Sweeney Todd at the Garfield in 2018. Playing Fiona is Shannon Whitaker, who has appeared in a variety of GCA presentations, including Johanna in Sweeney Todd and show-stopping performances over the years in Women Helping Women.

Performing other key roles are Doug Porter (Lord Farquaad and Papa Ogre), Melissa McGlynn (the Dragon and Mama Ogre), Dominic Delcoco (Gingy), Natalie Donoso (Pinocchio), Cooper Goodman (Little Shrek, Grumpy and Baby Bear), Bobby Walton (Thelonius), Gil Rambach (Captain of the Guard and Bishop), Olivia Coppage (Young Fiona and Peter Pan) and Erin King (Teen Fiona and Humpty Dumpty).

Playing the various Fairytale Creatures are John Mann (Big Bad Wolf), M.G. Brosius (Pig 1, Straw), Kathy Ruckman (Pig 2, Sticks), Rob Melvin (Pig 3, Bricks), Dylan Lyles (White Rabbit), Adrienne Wrona (Fairy Godmother), Connie Fallon (Wicked Witch), Izzie Squire Southworth (Sugar Plum Fairy), Sharon Herz (Ugly Duckling), Kellie Guidice (Mama Bear), Zac Ryan (Papa Bear) and David Ryan (Elf).

The production opens December 3rd and runs weekends through December 19th, with performances starting at 7:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:00 PM on Sundays. Tickets are already on sale and can either be purchased online at www.garfieldcenter.org or by calling the Box Office at 410-810-2060. Box office hours are Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

The Garfield Center will continue to maintain its Covid safety policies and protocols throughout the production of Shrek the Musical. This means that Lobby, Concessions and Box Office volunteers, GCA staff and all patrons (audience members) will be required to wear masks at all times while inside the building.

The Garfield Center to Hold Auditions for The Play That Goes Wrong

November 3, 2021 by Garfield Center

Opening the 2022 season at the Garfield Center for the Arts in February is the over-the-top hilarious new comedy The Play That Goes Wrong, by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields. The Garfield Center’s Executive Director, Steven Arnold, will direct the production.

Auditions are scheduled for Saturday, December 4th from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, Tuesday, December 7th from 6:30 to 9:00 PM, and Thursday, December 9th from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. The play will be performed over three weekends from February 11 – 17, 2022.

The Play That Goes Wrong is the brainchild of The Mischief Theatre Company, which was founded in 2008 by a group of students from The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art in West London. Since its inception, the company has performed scripted and improvised comedy in the West End of London, across the United Kingdom, and in Europe and Asia. The group also wrote Peter Pan Goes Wrong, which premiered in December 2013, and Magic Goes Wrong, which premiered in August 2019. Two television specials, an adaptation of Peter Pan Goes Wrong and a sequel titled A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, aired on BBC One in December 2016 and 2017, and a TV series, The Goes Wrong Show, which is currently available to American audiences via streaming services, followed in 2019. The Play That Goes Wrong won a BroadwayWorld UK award and the Olivier Award for best new play in 2015, and it won the 2017 Tony and Drama Desk awards for its set design when it came to New York for its Broadway debut production.

In the play, the fictitious, chronically underfunded Cornley Drama Society, fresh from such hits as The Lion and The Wardrobe, Cat, and James and the Peach, has received a substantial bequest and is putting on a performance of The Murder at Haversham Manor. However, during the performance, a plethora of disasters befall the cast, including doors sticking, props falling from the walls and floors collapsing. Cast members are seen misplacing props, forgetting lines, missing cues, breaking character, mispronouncing words, stepping on fingers and being manhandled off stage, with one cast member being knocked unconscious and her replacement (the group’s technician) refusing to yield when she returns. The cast attempts to forge ahead through the mayhem, but will they make it to the finish line before the set collapses around them? The Play That Goes Wrong, which has gathered worldwide attention and fans, is a hilarious, fresh comedy which gives its audience the opportunity to howl at the misfortune and squeamish moment-by-moment reactions from the players enduring these events.

The play was originally performed with 6 men and 2 women. However, non-traditional casting is possible and may result in a more even distribution of roles between men and women.

For additional information or questions, contact director Steven Arnold at sarnold@garfieldcenter.org.

The Garfield Center Announces the Cast and Crew for the Live Comedy CLUE On Stage

August 31, 2021 by Garfield Center

The Garfield Center for the Arts in Chestertown continues its 2021 season with the hilarious murder mystery spoof Clue On Stage. Adapted from the Paramount Pictures film written by Jonathan Lynn and the board game from Hasbro, Inc., the play is adapted from the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn with additional written material by Hunter Foster, Eric Price and Sandy Rustin. Not a stranger himself to memorable onstage comedic performances, the director of the production is Brad Chaires.

It’s a dark and stormy night, and you’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well . . . dead. So whodunnit? Join the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard as they race to find the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, Clue on Stage is a madcap comedy that will keep you guessing until the final twist. The production is presented by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc., New York, NY.

Director Chaires has assembled a terrific cast and production crew for the show. The main protagonist, Wadsworth, is played by Dan Guidice. Yvette, the maid, is played by Brianna Johnson, Sharon Herz plays Miss Scarlet, Adrienne Wrona plays Mrs. Peacock and Hannah Banez plays Mrs. White. Brian Whitaker plays Colonel Mustard, Patrick Pearce plays Professor Plum and Michael Moore plays Mr. Green. In various ensemble roles is Kellie Guidice as The Cook, The Singing Telegram Girl and The FBI Agent. Tom Dorman will play additional ensemble roles as The Motorist, The Cop and the FBI Agent. Paul Cambardella rounds out the cast playing Mr. Boddy and The Mystery Murderer.

Shelagh Grasso oversees the scenic design, with Carmen Grasso and Butch Clark constructing the set. The lighting design is by Nic Carter and Butch Clark, and Nic Carter will oversee sound. The production’s Stage Manager is Jordan Dixon, Costumes are by Connie Fallon and Props are by Jennifer Kafka Smith. Francoise Sullivan of Moo Productions oversees production promotion and ad graphics, and the Garfield Center Staff provides production administrative support. Christopher Wallace assists as a directing consultant and Kendall Chaires assists as a tap consultant.

Tickets are already on sale for the show, which runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM starting September 24th through October 10th. Tickets are $18.00 for Adults/General Admission and $10.00 for students, and they can be purchased online anytime at www.garfieldcenter.org or by calling the Box Office from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays.

Chestertown Jazz Festival: Sholbertshire Swingtet & Bratcher Project play Wilmer Park

August 19, 2021 by Garfield Center

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Chestertown Jazz Festival on Friday, September 10 under the festival tent in Chestertown’s Wilmer Park with a cocktail party and concert featuring the Bratcher Project and the Sholbertshire Swingtet.

The festivities begin at 6 pm with heavy hors d’oeuvres, a signature Jazz Festival cocktail, beer and wine and Vaughn Bratcher’s smooth jazz band. The Sholbertshire Swingtet follows with swinging jazz. This all star group features Amy Shook – upright bass, Joe Holt – piano, Scott Silbert – sax and Steve Abshire – guitar (thus the name Sholbertshire). Tickets are $40 per person.

In the interest of community health and safety, masks are encouraged under the tent.

The Mainstay in Rock Hall hosts the kickoff concert Thursday, September 9 with Chuck Redd’s “Dedication to Charlie Byrd” show.

Christian McBride and his “New Jawn” headline Saturday’s event. Also in Saturday’s lineup are The Burke Family gospel, up and coming jazz youngsters The Ephraim and Ebban Dorsey Quintet, and the Chestertown Jazz Festival Revue with Sue Matthews, Lena Seikaly, Sherry Winston, Dick Durham, Giacamo Gates, Stef Scaggiari, Marlon Saunders, and the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet.

For tickets and more information on the 25th Annual Chestertown Jazz Festival, September 9 – 11, visit https://www.garfieldcenter.org/gcaevent/chestertown-jazz-festival-25th-anniversary/ or call the Garfield Center at 410.810.2060.

The Garfield Center for the Arts to Hold Auditions for “Shrek The Musical”

August 11, 2021 by Garfield Center

The Garfield Center for the Arts is preparing to begin work on its 2021 season-closing production of “Shrek the Musical.” Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure, featuring songs from Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie; Caroline, or Change) and a side-splitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire. Shrek brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there’s more to the story than meets the ears. The production will be Directed by Jennifer Kafka Smith, who brought us the hugely successful production of ANNIE that closed the 2019 season.

AUDITION DATES are Tuesday, September 7 at 6:30 PM, Thursday, September 9 at 6:30 PM, and Sunday, September 12 at 2:00 PM. Performers who audition should be prepared to be available for the following mandatory dress rehearsal/technical rehearsal and performance dates: Dress/Tech Week runs Sunday, November 28 through Thursday, December 2 (start times TBA), and performances run three Weekends (Friday and Saturday evenings, Sunday afternoons) opening December 3 and closing December 19 (call times TBA).

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING COVID19: it is the current Garfield Center for the Arts safety policy that only performers who are vaccinated against Covid19 are eligible to be cast in any of our shows. Shrek the Musical has opportunities for young performers to participate. If vaccine-ineligible kids wish to audition, these young performers will be considered for casting only if a permission and liability release form is signed by parents or legal guardians at the time of auditions. THE GARFIELD CENTER STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT EVERYONE ENTERING THE BUILDING FOR AUDITIONS, BOTH KIDS AND ADULTS, SHOULD WEAR A MASK.

GENERAL CASTING INFORMATION: nearly everyone in the cast will play multiple roles – only the identified principles will play just one part. You will also note that several roles are listed as “Youth/Adult” which means there is flexibility in casting these parts. You are welcome to come to the auditions with a preferred role (a specific Principal or Fairytale Creature).

PRINCIPAL ROLES: Shrek, Adult Fiona, Donkey, Lord Farquaad, Pinocchio, Dragon and Gingy. If you are auditioning for one of the Principal Roles, choose one of their solo songs. You will sing with the actual rehearsal tracks as your accompaniment. Gingy has specific vocal and character needs and will be auditioned as such – but the performer cast as Gingy will also have multiple roles as a member of the ensemble.

ENSEMBLE: The majority of the cast falls into this category. Expect that you may have up to 3 roles, including Fairytale Creatures. If you are auditioning for the Ensemble, please plan on singing What’s Up, Duloc? or Freak Flag from the show. There will be many Fairytale Creature opportunities and fun voices are key, so be prepared to show off your character voices. If you do not know any of the songs from the show, Happy Birthday will be an acceptable alternative and an accompaniment track will be provided.

There will be no accompanist provided, so the Director’s preference is to hear you sing songs from Shrek the Musical. In addition to singing, auditions will include learning a short dance routine and some line readings.

Detailed audition information is also available on the Garfield Center’s website at www.garfieldcenter.org/shrekauditions/. Additional questions may be emailed to Jennifer Kafka Smith at: kafkasmith@gmail.com.

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