***Please Read if Interested in Being a Part of James and the Giant Peach.***

How Can I Be A Part of the School Play?

 This year’s school play is James and the Giant Peach. It performs March 22 at 7pm and March 23^rd at 1pm and 7pm at Lincoln Auditorium in Wallingford.Sign ups for the play will be in the lunch room and begin December 3^rd. Auditions begin December 10^th. Rehearsals begin December 17^th at 3pm. Fee to be in the play is $150 (scholarships available) Registration forms (see below for attachment), rehearsal schedule (see Lincoln schedule and rehearsal schedule)and all info you need can be found on the website, in the office and I’ll put some forms at GLSA too.

How do I audition?

 If you are in 3^rd-5^th grade:

1.     Fill out a registration form signed by your parent giving you permission to be in the play and okaying the commitment and dates for your family to participate.

2.     5^th graders have first priority to be in the play. Any 5^th grader with a completed registration form can sign up to audition. Sign ups for 5^th graders are at 3:00pm on Monday, December 3^rd. (Note—If you miss this date, you must wait to sign up after other grades have had their chance. Be prepared.)

3.     4^th graders have next priority. Any 4^th grader with a completed registration form can sign up to audition. Sign ups for 4^th graders are at 3:00pm on Tuesday, December 4th. (Note—If you miss this date, you must wait to sign up after other grades have had their chance. Be prepared.)

4.     3^rd graders will then have a chance to sign up if there are any spaces available. Any 3rd grader with a completed registration form can sign up to audition. Sign ups for 3rd graders are at 3:00pm on Wednesday, December 5th.

 ***Please note, there are only 40 audition spaces available. Not everyone who wants to be in the play, will be able to. Please make sure you are sure about making this commitment before you take a space. I will collect a waitlist. 3^rd graders who have been in the play will have priority for any of the available spots after the 4^th and 5^th graders have signed up.***

 When you sign up in the lunch room on your day, you will receive audition pieces to work on for Monday, December 10^th.

 After you have signed up:

•  Come on Monday, December 10^th from 3-5pm (once you have auditioned, you may leave—let me know if you need to go early) to audition for what part you will be. Pick one part to perform in front of the directors and other auditioners (does not need to be memorized—but being prepared is important—we look for character and do not care if words are messed up). Everyone who signs up will get a part. Auditions are used to determine which role students will have.
•  Be available to come in Wednesday, December 12^th from 3-5pm for Call Backs. The purpose of call backs is to give the directors more information for making casting decisions, try students in different roles and see what different combinations of kids look like.
•  ***Coming to call backs does not mean you will get a big part and not being asked to come to call backs does not mean you won’t get a big part. We work really hard to be fair and make the best decisions for the play as a whole. Disappointment can be a big part of casting. Please talk with your child about disappointment and how the important thing is not what part you have, but about being a part of the team and having fun with what you do get to do.***
•  Parts will be posted after school on Friday, December 14^th. Scripts will be handed out at a first read thru on Monday, December 17^th from 3-5pm.

 If you are in K-3^rd grade:

 You still have a chance to be involved in the school play. This year we have an after school drama class every Wednesday from 3-4pm January 9^th-March 20^th. Students who are in this class will get to have a small role in the play this year and will be needed at rehearsals and performances the week of March 18^th-March 23^rd. Fee for the class is $100 (scholarships available).

1.     Fill out a registration form and turn it in by Monday, December 17^th. There will be priority given by grade and then after that by if you have been in the play before. We will take up to 20 students. By taking the class, you are committing to being a part of the play and all that entails.

2.     You will be notified before Winter break if you received a space in the class.

***This drama class will be taught by Megan Shinner, graduate of The Art Institue of Seattle with a degree in video production. Megan has been doing theater since she was 7 years old and has been in many musicals, theatrical productions and was on the improvisation team at her high school. I (Molly) will also teach things to the class occasionally including their part in the play. The class will primarily be theater games and exercises. It will be fun, active and teach some of the fundamentals of theater.***

 If you are a parent:

 Whether or not your child is in the play, you are invited to help out with the show. All volunteers are welcome and needed. This is a community event and theater is fun. I started directing this program way before I had a kid in the play and this is the same case for many other parents who love theater and want to be a part of something creative.

There are many ways to support the play. Please come see it with your family and friends and spread the word to the community. Make a treat for or intermission concessions. Help us set up or clean up the theater. Do some sewing. Donate or lend a prop or costume piece for the show. Help build or paint sets or come hang and focus lights. Work backstage moving sets, putting makeup on kids, help manage kids backstage.

Everyone is welcome. Parents with kids in the play are required to help in some way big or small. At Green Lake Elementary we all work together as a team to make our school community the wonderful place it is for parents and students.

Any questions? Please contact me, Molly Goldman at molly.goldman@gmail.com.