Kimberley Summer Theatre is back, after a one year hiatus, and prepared to mount a very ambitious season.
The KST Board is planning two plays at two different venues this year — a musical, the Wizard of Oz at McKim Theatre, and the comedy Self Help at Centre 64 Theatre.
The Board has hired Tony James from Victoria to produce both shows. James has worked 30 years in the theatre business and is looking forward to a summer in Kimberley.
Auditions have already been held at the performing arts colleges in Vancouver and Victoria, and locals will have an opportunity to audition this Sunday, March 10 at Centre 64.
With two shows being cast, a variety of roles are being looked for, from chorus for the musical to children’s roles to leads and extras.
“We will begin with the children’s roles on March 10,” James said. “The auditions begin at 1:30 so if parents could have their children there at about 1:15ish. Then we’ll go on to adult roles after the children.”
These will be standard auditions. Children should have a short dance routine prepared, as well as a song.
For adults, please bring a resumé and head shot, be prepared to perform one song of your choosing, a monologue, one song from the Wizard of Oz and be prepared to learn a short piece of choreography. Please wear appropriate dance and footwear.
Following local auditions, there will be auditions in Calgary.
“It’s quite a vast season and we want to pull a good cast together,” James said. “We want all levels of years and experience. It gives young people the chance to learn from older folks.”
There are six full time, paid lead roles and two part time. There are also many smaller roles to fill out the cast.
Announcements of audition results will be made by April 1.
In addition to actors, Jones will be looking for key production personnel as well.
“I’m looking for some paid positions, such as stage manager, set design, costume and props. And there are a lot of volunteer positions, maybe a photographer who can shoot the show, a videographer, makeup, hair.
“We’ll need a volunteer coordinator to lead that — someone with a special events coordinator background would be ideal.”
Jones says he has been to Kimberley before and looks forward to the summer.
“I’ve heard of Kimberley Summer Theatre and I was just looking for something to do this summer and it seemed interesting. I think it’s great that there is a summer theatre in that part of the province. To have that sort of professional theatre in the region is great. Not many towns can say that.”
Jones will be in Kimberley next week. Anyone interested in being a part of Summer Theatre is asked to email him at tjames1976@yahoo.ca
You can also check out Kimberley Summer Theatre on Facebook.