The Schenectady Light Opera Company and Proctors Theater announced a local production of the popular Broadway musical, 13, at the Proctors GE Theatre Feb. 17 to 21, 2010 on Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. at the Fennimore Gallery.
Producers will hold an open casting call on Nov. 12 and 13 for teens in the Capital District and surrounding areas.
`We are pleased that the Schenectady Light Opera Company is bringing this family friendly show to add to the fun and activities of the 2010 Winter Recess at Proctors,` said Director of Programming and Marketing Susan Fowler in a statement. `It promises to be a very exciting week.`
The New York State United Teachers 2010 Winter Recess will be held at Proctors in Schenectady. Teachers from around the state will come to the program and the musical 13 will be one of the highlights of the week during the NYSUT event.
`I think it’s fun to work with young people,` said Co-Director and Choreographer Joseph Fava. `I treat them as adults because I want them to be adults in the show.` Fava and his partner, Co-Director and Choreographer Jeffrey Scott, are looking for young adults and teenagers from the ages of 13 to 18 for the show, which centers around the portrayal of `13` year old Evan Goldman as he moves from New York City to Appleton, Ind. The original production premiered in 2007 in Los Angeles and moved to Broadway in the fall of 2008. With music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, the musical has become popular with teenagers and their families.
`I think the kids already know the music,` said Musical Director Lisa Franklin. `The theater kids already love the show.`
With the popularity of the music with young theatre students, members of the program hope that young adults from around the region will come out for auditions. Fava stated that in recent productions for `The Music Man` and `Oliver,` young actors came from across the Capital Region and as far away as Bennington, Vt.
` I think this will be nice because it will expose the kids to a new atmosphere. It will be a more professional experience for the kids,` said Fava. `We want to get as many kids from different areas involved in the program.`
The production is looking for approximately 30 kids, ages 13 to 18, for the local adaptation of the musical. `13` is also a part of the SLOC’s `Renovation Series` of events to raise funds for the company’s new downtown performing arts center. The non-profit theater company recently announced the purchase of the former St. John the Baptist Church property and plans for a 25,000+ square foot complex to accompany Proctors, Bow Tie Cinemas and other arts and entertainment venues in the downtown area.
“