Northern Valley Regional High School Musical Productions

1. Why did you pick "Beauty and the Beast"?
From the moment we picked "Sweeney Todd" we knew we wanted to give cast, crew and audiences a different experience the next year. We wanted to something for families. We wanted to do something with dance. And we wanted to challenge our crew members who now out number the cast 3 to 1. There are few family shows more rewarding than "Beauty and the Beast". It is a show that truly speaks to people of all ages through its universal themes, its timeless songs, its unforgetable stage craft and its very human characters. There will never be another show at NVOT like it because there is no other musical like it. For the cast and crew, "Beauty and the Beast" will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For the audience, it will be an event they will never forget.

2. What's new this year?
For starters, more performances! We will be doing FOUR public performances: two evening shows and two matinees. There is already unprecidented interest in the production so we want to be able to share your work with as many people as we can. (Also, evening performances will start at 7pm this year).

Because of the HSPA, we will not be able to do our traditional Wednesday matinee for 8th graders and senior citizens. This year we are at the mercy of the school calendar and the state testing. However, we will be inviting senior citizens to attend, for free, our final dress rehearsal.

The orchestra is going back into the pit. After four years of building an extention, we are going back to a more traditional stage set up. Why? Because there is so much scenery. We need to be able to move massive sets on and off the stage. And we want to be able to use out fly system! We need the space for castles and wells and ballrooms and attackng wolves and confetti cannons and smoke machines and-- I've already said too much.

But I will say one more thing: The demands of the production are so great and the projects we are schemeing are so crazy that we will have new and expanded crews this year. There will be a Set Construction and a Set SCULPTING crew in addition to Set Painting and Set Dressing. Hair & Make-Up will include wigs and the many make-up special FXs. The Costume crew will not only be responsible for the largest rental in NVOT history, but we will also be designing and building many of the "Be Our Guest" costumes and a full set of moving Gargoyles. And some of the crews will be working together for special projects... like the attack of the Wolves.

Oh, and we'll be casting some children.

3. How do I get involved?
On September 23, 2010, we will have an information meeting. At that time, you will be able to sign up to audition for the cast or to work on one of the crews. Check this website in September, there will be copies of the sign up forms posted here!

4. I've seen the movie three times and my parents took me to the Broadwaty show when I was sixe. What should I know about our production?
The movie celebrates its 20th Anniversary this winter, so it will be getting a lot of attention. The movie is amazing. It still works after all of this time. Watch it closely. It's a chance to study characters without stealing an actor's performance. The animators knew an aful lot about humanity. Learn from them. I'm always surprised when stage versions present two dimentional characters. The movie does not! The best family entertainment is not simple. It's complex and dimentional and very, very human.

The stage version is wonderful-- but it is also long. As we often do, we will be making cuts to fit our resources and our audience. Some of the number you hear on the cast recording will not be in our production. You can find out more at our Information Meeting on September 23, 2010.

Lastly, of course, we want to do surprising and exciting things with this show. Just as we did with Sweeney Todd, we wanted to try and find new insight, new design ideas, new choices. We want people who have seen the movie to feel that they are seeing something fresh and exciting and not just a good recreation of other people's work.

5. How many roles are there?
The cast is huge. This is not a show that features only one or two students. There are all of the classic characters from the movie. There is an ensemble of Featured Dancers. And then there is the largest chorus we have had in a long time. Most of the songs in the show are production numbers involving large portions of the company: "Belle", "Gaston", "Be Our Guest", "Human Again", "Kill the Beast". Every chorus member will be both a Villager and an Enchanted Object. It's a great opportunity for singers, actors, and dancers.

6. How can I get more information?
Of course, you can watch the amazing movie that inspired the show. It doesn't matter that it is animated, the characters all richly developed and surprsingly human. The cast recording is very good though we have cut some numbers in order to turn the 2 hour 40 minute show into a length that is a little more family friendly.

And lastly...
Come to our Information Meeting on September 23, 2010. Anyone interested in joining the cast or crew should attend!

7. Do I need experience in order to audition or to join the crews?
Absolutely not. This is a perfect year for new people to join the program and get an intensive training and experience in the theater.

8. Is there seniority in casting?
Absolutely not. Whether you are a freshman or a senior, makes no difference to us. If you've been in the All-School before or have never even attended one, you get an equal shot. If you were a lead in "Sweeney Todd" or you couldn't pick Mr. Housley out of a police line-up, there is no bias in casting whatsoever. Don't believe me? Talk to the underclassmen who got leads the last several shows!

9. How do auditions work?
First, you need to get an audition packet which contains the SONG AND SCENE excerpts you need to learn. You can pick up a packet from Mr. Housley in F206 or at the Information Meeting in September. Then, at the beginning of November, you will need to sign-up for TWO AUDITION TIME SLOTS. Check back HERE for opportunities to sign up.

During the FIRST TIME SLOT you will be taught a dance combination.

The following day, at a SECOND TIME SLOT, you will be asked to perform all of your audition pieces and your dance combination.

You will perform the dance combination in small groups. You will perform the songs alone. You will perform the scenes with a scene partner.

Their will be a professional accompanist playing for you. Also on the stage will be a long table behind which sits the Audition Committee. The committee is made of seven people, both All-School staff and NVOT faculty, who will be taking notes and scoring you in various categories. Those notes and scores will then be tallied. This is to ensure that you get a fair shot at each of the roles.

More will be explained about the cast and crews at our Information Meeting on September 23, 2010. Anyone interested in joining the cast or crew should attend!

10. How do I prepare for an audition?
Learn your music and memorize everything. Rehearse as though you were rehearsing for opening night. Don't just come in and sing or talk your lines. Play the role. Create a character. Stage your songs and numbers. We want to see your personality. We want to see you use all of your talents to create a character and communicate a song. You want to prepared as you possibly can.

11. Is there anything else I can do to prepare for the cast or for the crew?
Treat the musical like a winter sport. You need to train and get in shape. The better health you are in, the better you will audition. You need to be in good health to handle the stamina required for weeks and weeks of rehearsals and performances. And in general, the better you feel and feel about yourself, the better your work will be.

12. Do you recommend watching the movie or listening to a cast recording?
Please don't try to mimic some else's performance! Only use these materials to introduce you to the show and to help teach you the audition materials. Don't assume the audition committee is looking for a copy of the original cast. We're not!

13. What is the time commitment?
Again, this is a winter sport. You will need to be available Monday thru Saturday from the Monday after Thanksgiving to the first Monday in March. Weekday rehearsals may run anytime between 3:30pm and 8:30pm. Saturday rehearsals may run anytime between 9:00am and 5:00pm. You will not be asked to be here for all of those hours, but you must be available for those time slots. As we near the performances, your rehearsal commitments will get more and more intense.

Students must also be available for the entire February Break! This is our most important week of work, including dress and tech rehearsals.

14. What happens if I don't get cast?
We are determined to put people in positions where they will learn and where they will succeed. And for 46 students, that will mean participating in the cast. If you want to perform, you should work as hard as you can to earn one of those positions. Students have asked: "If I don't get cast, can I join a crew?" The crews are not consolation prizes. They are as vital to the show as the cast. If you join crew, it is because it is your first choice. It is your only choice. If you happen to have the talent and interest in both onstage and offstage work, you may choose to audition first. But also contact the faculty member that heads the crew you are interested in and let them know that you would like to participate on that crew if your schedule allows. All crew leadership positions will be selected at the same time as casting.

15. How do I get selected for a crew leadership position?
Students interview for all leadership positions. Those interviews happen in late September. You can get information about interviews at our meeting on September 20th, 2010.

16. What happens now?
More will be explained about the cast and crews at our Information Meeting on September 23, 2010. Anyone interested in joining the cast or crew should attend! And check back here regularly! We are always updating the website. If you still have questions, email Mr. Housley or stop by F206 to see him in person.