Audition Advice from One Who Knows

First off, this is NOT Chuck Minsker crafting this installment of the Tri-State Theatre blog for you... this is merely an "honorary" Minsker, Clint McElroy. It is easy to distinguish between Chuck and myself... Chuck went to Marshall, has a lot of white in his hair and beard, has amazing sons, married an incredible woman, is on the First Stage Theatre Company Board of Directors.... was in Huntington Outdoor Theatre's production of 1776. Hmm... maybe it's not so easy to distinguish. Apparently, Chuck and I are the same person.

Regardless, I am taking this opportunity to encourage any young person entering grades 6 through 12 this fall, to audition for First Stage's upcoming presentation of Disney's High School Musical. The auditions are this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Pea Ridge United Methodist Church, 5747 East Pea Ridge Road in Huntington (which can't be a coincidence... you know, the whole "Pea Ridge" thing).

Here is what will be required of you:
1.) You fill out a very simple form
2.) You sit in a room with a bunch of other kids trying to act like they are not as nervous as you are.
3.) Go into a nice room full of even nicer people and sing 30 seconds of a song.
4.) Maybe read a line or two.
5.) Maybe move a step or two
6.) Exit the room and tell all those tense kids yet to go: "I wasn't nervous at ALL!"
7.) Anxiously wait to find out the Cast
8.) Get cast and spend a wonderful part of your fall doing a great show learning from one of the best directors in the region: the aforementioned Chuck Minsker... and his remarkable production crew: Musical Director Mark Smith, Choreographer Amy Browning and Producer Jeanette Rowsey.

No joke, Moms and Dads: These are some of the best theatre people ANYWHERE... with a true desire to teach and inspire young people. Your children will be in the best of hands, and they will come out of it with terrific experiences.

It's going to be a fantastic show. Why if I were twenty years younger... I'd still be about 15 years too old. I guess I'll just have to fall back on my striking resemblance to Chuck so I can sneak in and be dazzled by rehearsals.