Directing Projects

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    Directing Projects

     

    Directing Projects and Miss Nelson is Missing (Frosh-Soph Play) Auditions 2024-25
     

    All interested New Trier students are encouraged to audition for the Directing Projects presented by the Theatre 4 students in the curricular Theatre program. 

    All interested New Trier freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to audition for Miss Nelson is Missing presented by the extracurricular Performing Arts Division. 

    The audition process has been combined for both productions. Freshman and sophomore students will automatically be considered for both projects unless they indicate otherwise on one on the audition form.
     

    General Auditions

    FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES: Thursday, January 9, between 3:40 and 8pm, Hayes-McCausland Theatre, Winnetka. Students will be seen in 30-minute time slots. Signup for a time slot on the Audition Form. (Form available by January 9)
    now Date (if needed) Saturday, January 13, 9-12pm


    JUNIORS AND SENIORS" Friday, January 10, between 3:40 and 7pm, Hayes-McCausland Theatre, Winnetka. Students will be seen in 30-minute time slots. Signup for a time slot on the Audition Form. (Form available by January 9)
    Snow Date (if needed) Saturday, January 11, 9-12pm

    Callbacks (for Miss Nelson is Missing only)
    If needed: Wednesday, Jan 15 3:30pm to 7pm in the McGee Theatre, Winnetka.

    WHAT IS MISS NELSON IS MISSING ABOUT?

    Miss Nelson can’t control her crazy classroom because she’s just too nice. But when she disappears, her replacement is the hard-as-nails, detention loving, recess canceling, homework overloading substitute teacher Viola Swamp! With the Big Test approaching, the kids suddenly realize how much they miss Miss Nelson and they'll do anything, including hiring a private eye, to solve the mystery of her disappearance and bring her back.

    WHAT IS A DIRECTING PROJECT?

    Directing Projects are the culminating activity for Theatre 4 students. Students design, stage, and present a short play of their choosing during their assigned class period. Student performers attend no more than 20 rehearsals, including one mandatory technical rehearsal and one mandatory dress rehearsal within 2 weeks prior to the performance date. Students will be excused from up to 1.5 blocks of class on the day of the performance in order to prepare, present, and regroup. A wide variety of plays will be presented, each promising to provide a unique opportunity for student actors and directors alike. The Directing Projects are an advanced classroom assignment and some deal with mature subject matter such as body image, violence and prop weapons, sexual activity, substance abuse, race, and religion. Copies of the play will be available in the Thespian Advocacy Group course on Canvas. If you don’t have access to that course, please email Ms Lynn (LynnN@nths.net) and she will add you. The Directing Projects have at least 50 roles to be cast during this process. It is possible for students who participate in this production to also be in the Freshman-Sophomore Play.

    WHEN ARE REHEARSALS? 

    FROSH/SOPH PLAY: Rehearsals start on Wednesday, January 30 and run from 3:30-6 on weekdays and 9am-12pm and/or 1pm-4pm on Saturdays. Not every student will be called every day. There will be no rehearsal February 14 - February 17. Beginning on Tuesday, February 18 through March  4 weekday rehearsals extend to 8pm. Performances are in New Trier's McGee Theater on Saturday, March 1 at two elementary schools on Monday, March 3 and Thursday, March 6. It is possible for students who participate in this production to also be in the Directing Projects. Please note that any students cast in this production will not be able to participate in the optional NTHS Vocal master class offered on March 1.

    DIRECTING PROJECTS: Each play will have 18-20 rehearsal sessions between the end of January and the assigned performance date in March or April. Rehearsals are scheduled depending on the availability of the cast members and directors. The director and cast will agree to a rehearsal schedule within one week of casting. Once the rehearsal schedule is established, students and parents will be asked to approve the schedule with their signature. Excessive excused or unexcused absences from scheduled rehearsals or inappropriate behavior may result in dismissal from the cast at the discretion of the instructor. 

    PLEASE NOTE: It is possible for students who participate in clubs, sports, or in the cast or crews of Freshman Play, Choir-Opera, Frosh-Soph Play, and Spring Play to also be in the Directing Projects. Students in these activities may only audition if they are available for Directing Project rehearsals at least two evenings a week and/or on Sundays. 

    HOW DO I AUDITION?  

    1. Complete the Parent/Guardian Consent/Conflict Form and bring it to the audition.

    2. Complete the AUDITION FORM. Form will be available on or before January 6. It will close on January 10. 

    NOTE: The Audition form for the Directing Projects AND Freshman Sophomore Play are the same. You’ll see more information about that on the form. 

    1. Read How to Audition for a New Trier Production from the Performing Arts webpage and this information in the packet carefully.  

    2. Memorize and prepare a monologue from this packet or a one-minute piece that you already know. See the “What about the monologue” section for additional information. 

    3. Come to the audition about 15 minutes before your appointment. We will check you in and you will present your monologue for the directors. Bring your completed Consent/Conflict form. 

     

    WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO THE AUDITIONS?  

    Wear clothes that you can move in and make you look and feel good. Make sure your hair is out of your face. Do not wear costumes.


    CALLBACKS

    The Freshman Sophomore Play callbacks will be held on Wednesday, January 15  3:45 - 6:00 PM in the McGee Theatre, Winnetka.

    The callback list will be emailed by 6pm on Tuesday, January 14 

    There are no callbacks for Directing Projects.


    FROSH/SOPH CASTING

    Freshman-Sophomore Play will be cast by the director, Ms. James-Noonan. Conflicts with the set rehearsal schedule, as well as a student’s history with conflicts in previous productions, will be taken into consideration. Students are expected to be at every scheduled rehearsal. 


    DIRECTING PROJECT CASTING

    Student directors will identify student actors with the skills and schedules that are most appropriate choices for their projects. However, the casts for each project will be determined by the members of the Theatre faculty. You will audition in front of the student directors and faculty directors/producers/mentors. The student directors are not permitted to discuss any part of the audition or casting process with students who are not members of their class. Please respect the confidentiality and responsibility required in this process and avoid any perception of trying to influence or gain information from the directors, even as a joke. 


    WHEN DO THE CAST LISTS GO UP? 

    Please note: Casting for so many projects takes time. The Directing Project and Freshman-Sophomore Play cast lists will be emailed on or before Tuesday, January 28. Students cast in Directing Projects will be contacted, within one week, by their director regarding the date of their first rehearsal. Directing Project rehearsals can begin as early as January 30. 

    Frosh-Soph Play rehearsals will begin Wednesday, January 29. 

    Thank you for your patience. 


    CREW APPRENTICESHIP

    All performers are required to fulfill the Crew Apprenticeship Program within one year after being cast in their first NT production. Current Theatre 1 and Technical Theatre and Design students fulfill their CAP in class. Please see the NTHS Guidebook or Performing Arts website for more information. 

    WHAT IS THE DIRECTING PROJECT SHOWCASE?

    Directing Projects are usually presented again as part of the Directing Project Showcase if the producer approves the director’s application for Showcase. Shows will be assigned one Showcase performance time between May 17 and May 23. In preparation for this performance, 2-5 additional “brush up” rehearsals will be scheduled between the in-class performance and Showcase dates. 

    WHAT IF I’M NOT CAST IN BUT I STILL WANT TO BE INVOLVED? 

    Stage Crew is a great way to get involved with the productions. All crews are open to anyone interested, and they are a LOT of fun – no prior experience is necessary. If you are interested in joining crew, please visit www.ntstagecrew.org. Looking ahead, auditions for the Spring Play are in March.

    QUESTIONS

    If you have any questions about Freshman Sophomore Play or Directing Projects process or schedule or concerns about the plays, please contact Ms. Lynn (012c Winnetka), 847-784-6888, LynnN@nths.net or Ms. James-Noonan jamesnoa@nths.net. 

    Ms. Lynn be available to offer feedback on your audition and answer questions for one week after the cast lists have been posted. Please contact her via email for an appointment. 

    PLEASE NOTE: The student directors are not permitted to discuss any part of the audition or casting process with students who are not members of their class. Please respect the confidentiality and responsibility required in this process and avoid any perception of trying to influence or gain information from the directors, even as a joke. 

    WHAT ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE?

    Pick one of these monologues or one of your own choosing (1-minute long) for your audition. All selections should be memorized. The monologues may not be from the Directing Projects or the Freshman-Sophomore Play but were chosen from plays with similar language, styles, or characters. YOU MAY PERFORM ANY OF THE MONOLOGUES, REGARDLESS OF GENDER. CHANGE PRONOUNS AS NEEDED. After you perform your monologue, you may be asked to start it again with a different intention or focus. It’s not because your first interpretation was wrong. Instead, the directors are interested in learning more about your range as a performer and how you respond to direction. Think of it as a mini callback.