It’s a big commitment for any young actor but the experience of performing in live theatre is the reward up for grabs as ECHO Players looks for three young men to perform in their December production of Blitzen.
Auditions will be taking place Sunday, Sept.18 from 2 to 4 p.m. and Monday, Sept. 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hilliers Rehearsal Hall for boys’ only ages eight to 15 years old.
Directed by Eileen Butts, a long-serving member of ECHO Players who recently directed Anne of Green Gables for B2B Blitzen by Julian Wiles, is a warm, moving story about a family who re-discover the magic of Christmas following a hurricane which leaves their home in a shambles.
Butts said if there is a young man looking for a chance to get on stage this would be a good opportunity and acting experience isn’t necessary.
“We are looking for someone with enthusiasm who can buy into the circumstances of the story being told and who looks forward to telling the story,” she said.
She adds that commitment to learn and the respect of theatre etiquette is also important.
“It will be a fantastic opportunity to learn. It would be lovely to find someone who hasn’t done it before and get them interested in acting,” she said.
Butts said she has received a few calls already from parents wanting to know about the process and time commitments. She said these details are important because with anything a child takes part in the whole family gets involved.
She said there will be 13 performances between December 14 and 31 and on top of that are rehearsals which are three times a week.
There are three roles to be filled by boys in the family comedy. Two young men will portray brothers while the other role is a kid next door.
Anyone interested in auditioning should prepare a short 30 to 60 second monologue of their choice.
Butts said the auditioning process will be relaxed as possible and since Blitzen will be her 20th directorial venture the young actors will be in good hands.
Between 1992 and 2000, she co-directed six Christmas shows at the Village Theatre. Other directing highlights were Weekend Spice (1993) Vigil (1999) and The Dining Room (2006). Back onstage again, Eileen was one of the ensemble players in Uh-Oh, Here Comes Christmas (2009).
Butts has immersed herself in community theatre ever since she moved to the Oceanside region some three decades ago. She first appeared on the Village Theatre stage in The Mousetrap (1978).
Since then, and over the course of some 90 plus presentations, Butts has been involved in every aspect of community theatre production, mainly acting, directing and stage-managing, but also including twenty years on the board of directors of Echo Players.
In 1998, she received an honorary life membership.
The Hilliers Reshearsal Hall is at Unit 6, 3126 Van Horne Road. For more information on auditions for Blitzen you can call Butts at 250-248-3782.
reporter@pqbnews.com
