Academy Youth Company Presents "Alice in Wonderland Jr."

The Fairmont State University Academy for the Arts Youth Acting Company is hosting auditions for its upcoming production of “Alice in Wonderland Jr.”

This 60-minute musical for young performers is brought to life by a delightful cast of characters including Alice, the White Rabbit, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Caterpillar, the Queen of Hearts and, of course, the Cheshire Cat. Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” is a fast-paced stage adaptation of the timeless film, featuring updated dialogue and new arrangements of such classic Disney songs as “I’m Late,” “The Un-birthday Song” and “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.”

The show will be produced by Academy Director Leigh Anne Bolyard and Dr. Francene Kirk. The artistic staff includes veteran academy teachers and FSU grads Lakyn Arrick and Tyler Kovar.

Auditions will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, in Room 229 of Wallman Hall and are open to youth in sixth through 12th grades. A minimum of 15 young actors will be cast. Rehearsals will begin Monday, Sept. 21, and the show runs Nov. 6, 7 and 8 in the Wallman Hall Theatre. The cast will rehearse three nights per week, and then five nights per week once they move into the theatre. Tuition for those cast in the production is $230 per student.

In addition to being in the performance, the cast will gain skills in character development while adding valuable skills to their actor’s tool box. They will learn how to read and interpret a script and vocal score while also exercising their creativity using body, voice, and imagination.

Interested students must memorize and sing a sample of a pre-selected piece of music from Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” and a pre-selected monologue cut from the script. All auditioning students will do a cold read from the script.

E-mail Academy Director Leigh Anne Bolyard at Lbolyard1@fairmontstate.edu or call (304) 333-3655 to schedule an audition appointment and receive audition sheet music, monologues and other information.

For additional information, including course schedules, dates, registration forms, prices and instructor information, check out the Academy for the Arts web site at www.fairmontstate.edu/academyarts or call (304) 333-3655. Find the Academy on Facebook at Fairmont State University Academy for the Arts. 

The FSU Academy for the Arts is dedicated to providing students quality training and exposure to the arts. Instruction in visual art, music and theatre enables students to appreciate, perform and create. The Academy utilizes Fairmont State facilities and highly qualified instructors drawn from Fairmont State faculty and area teachers. The Academy is a member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, using its standards as a base for its curriculum. The Academy for the Arts is integral to Fairmont State’s long-standing identification with its community, in particular the cultural and social development of the region.

School of Fine ArtsAcademy for the ArtsAlice in Wonderland Jr.Leigh Anne Bolyard