Top Ten Reasons You Should Audition!

10.  You need a creative outlet.

Unless you happen to be a music or art teacher, your job probably requires a lot of left-brain thinking. Perhaps you spend much of your work day crunching numbers or assembling parts or filing paperwork. Singing in the shower might not be cutting it. You find yourself telling stories of the "glory days" when you starred in your high school production or got that solo in church. It's time to create new stories and find that balance in your life again.

9.  Your coworkers and neighbors will be awestruck by your secret talents.

Sure, your family members are already your biggest fans and your friends know you can do a mean karaoke, but do the other people in your life know the tricks you have up your sleeve?  There's nothing quite like having your mind blown when you see your family dentist or favorite waitress singing and acting up there on the stage.

8.  You can help foster an appreciation for the arts in your community.

You're a regular patron of the arts and show your support for local businesses and organizations in town. You've even donated money to non-profits or political causes that matter to you. But here's where it gets tricky. We literally need you. All the audience support in the world can't cast a production from thin air. We rely on local talent like you to create the kind of show we can all be proud of.

7.  You don't have to be a triple threat to be an asset in a small-town production.

Sometimes you have mixed feelings about living in a small town, but here's one decided advantage: you can be cast in an amateur theater production as long as you can carry a tune (in the case of a musical) or memorize some lines. The larger the community or school, the more likely it is that you will face tougher competition for a role. In fact, many large towns and cities opt out of open auditions for community theater productions and instead rely on semi-professional regional actors to fill out their cast.

6.  You like hanging out in air-conditioned buildings during the hottest weeks of summer.

I mean, come on. It's going to get hot out there come July. We both know you'd like to spend those humid evenings in the comfort of our air-conditioned Little Theater.

5.  You want an excuse to spend time with your family.

Maybe your kid is about to head off for college. Or maybe they're returning home for the summer. Perhaps you want the chance to bond with your teenager or parent doing something you both love. Maybe you've never thought to try out for a play but your spouse has been participating for years. Some of my fondest family memories have roots in community theater--it was a place our busy lives seemed to intersect in the summers. During the 2001 production of South Pacific, the Mankato Free Press even did a cool article featuring the familial nature of community theater in St. James.

4.  You want to meet new people and be part of a "theater family."

You've wanted an excuse to reconnect with old friends. You're new to town and could use an opportunity to meet like-minded people. You wouldn't mind a break from your real family (in which case, ignore #5)! Community theater offers the unique chance to be part of something bigger than yourself while forming lasting bonds. As the Von Trapp family bravely trekked through the mountains (up the theater aisles) in 1992's production of Sound of Music, you would have been tempted to credit the seven children as impressive actors for their ability to cry on cue. In reality, we were all weepy on closing night because we had grown attached to one another and were reluctant to see it end.

3.  You would like a decent part in a play but are reluctant to overcommit yourself.

In many musical productions, there are two levels of casting. Leading roles or chorus extras. While The Secret Garden has plenty of opportunities for both, this play also offers a rarely-seen third category, known as "The Dreamers." These nine named characters serve a special purpose in the production by acting as narrators to the story. Each has no more than a few spoken lines to deliver but they sing in most of the musical numbers--sometimes as an ensemble, sometimes with additional chorus, and sometimes in a verse or two of their own. Added bonus for those who prefer their roles to be low-maintenance--they're ghosts, so you won't have to worry about a costume change.

2.  You often say "maybe next year" but know deep down that there may never be a perfect time.

You've been tempted to try out but talk yourself out of it every summer because you're not sure you can swing it. I understand. I have a day job, too. Maybe you really will be in a better position to join a production in a year or two. But it's hard to predict the future. Life happens. People move, babies are born, jobs change, the unexpected hits. So if you've been on the fence for awhile, now might be as good a time as any. We're reasonably flexible and don't need you to put your life on hold to join us.

1.  You'd like to become a part of the storied history of St. James Community Theater!

Great!  I'm glad you finally came around. History will be lucky to have you! See you at try-outs at the St. James H.S. Little Theater this Monday or Tuesday evening. See here for more details and remember to e-mail me if you need a different night to audition.