Directing Projects

  • Directing Projects and Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook (Frosh-Soph Play) Auditions 2023-24

    To download this information as a packet, click HERE

     

    All interested New Trier students are encouraged to audition for the Directing Projects presented by the Theatre 4 students in the curricular Theatre program. 

     

    All interested New Trier freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to audition for Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook presented by the extracurricular Performing Arts Division. 

     

    The audition process has been combined for both productions.  Freshman and sophomore students will automatically be considered for both projects unless they “opt out” of one on the audition form.

     

    General Auditions

    FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES 

    Thursday, January 11, between 3:40 and 8pm, Hayes-McCausland Theatre, Winnetka. Students will be seen in 30-minute time slots. Signup for a time slot on the Audition Form.

    Snow Date (if needed) Saturday, January 13, 9-12pm

     

    JUNIORS AND SENIORS

    Friday, January 12, between 3:40 and 7pm, Hayes-McCausland Theatre, Winnetka. Students will be seen in 30-minute time slots. Signup for a time slot on the Audition Form.

    Snow Date (if needed) Saturday, January 13, 9-12pm

     

    Callbacks (for JUNIE B JONES IS NOT A CROOK only)

    If needed: Tuesday, Jan 16, 3:30pm to 7pm in the McGee Theatre, Winnetka.

     

    WHAT IS JUNIE B JONES IS NOT A CROOK? 

    The play follows Junie B. as she tries to find out who stole her furry mittens. Along the way, she finds a pen of many colors and decides that since “finders keepers, losers weepers” is the rule, she should keep it instead of looking for its rightful owner. In addition to her own mystery, the arrival of a new handsome boy named Warren is putting intense strain on her friendship with Grace and Lucille. In the end, Junie B. learns a valuable lesson about not taking what doesn’t belong to you and being yourself is the best way to make friends.

     

    WHAT IS A DIRECTING PROJECT?

    Directing Projects are the culminating activity for Theatre 4 students. Students design, stage, and present a short play of their choosing during their assigned class period. Student performers attend no more than 20 rehearsals, including one mandatory technical rehearsal and one mandatory dress rehearsal within 2 weeks prior to the performance date. Students will be excused from up to 1.5 blocks of class on the day of the performance in order to prepare, present, and regroup. A wide variety of plays will be presented, each promising to provide a unique opportunity for student actors and directors alike. The Directing Projects are an advanced classroom assignment and some deal with mature subject matter such as body image, violence and prop weapons, sexual activity, substance abuse, race, and religion. Copies of the play will be available in the Thespian Advocacy Group course on Canvas. If you don’t have access to that course, please email Ms Lynn (LynnN@nths.net) and she will add you. The Directing Projects have at least 50 roles to be cast during this process. It is possible for students who participate in this production to also be in the Freshman-Sophomore Play.

     

    WHEN ARE REHEARSALS? 

    FROSH/SOPH PLAY: Rehearsals start on Tuesday, January 30 and run from 3:30-6 on weekdays and 9am-12pm and/or 1pm-4pm on Saturdays. Not every student will be called every day. Starting on Monday, March 4 weekday rehearsals extend to 8pm. Performances are at two elementary schools on Tuesday, March 12, Thursday, March 14 and at New Trier on Saturday, March 16. It is possible for students who participate in this production to also be in the Directing Projects.

     

    DIRECTING PROJECTS: Each play will have 18-20 rehearsal sessions between the end of January and the assigned performance date in March or April. Rehearsals are scheduled depending on the availability of the cast members and directors. The director and cast will agree to a rehearsal schedule within one week of casting. Once the rehearsal schedule is established, students and parents will be asked to approve the schedule with their signature. Excessive excused or unexcused absences from scheduled rehearsals or inappropriate behavior may result in dismissal from the cast at the discretion of the instructor. 

    PLEASE NOTE: It is possible for students who participate in clubs, sports, or in the cast or crews of Freshman Play, Choir-Opera, Frosh-Soph Play, and Spring Play to also be in the Directing Projects. Students in these activities may only audition if they are available for Directing Project rehearsals at least two evenings a week and/or on Sundays. 

     

    HOW DO I AUDITION?  

    1. Complete the Parent/Guardian Consent/Conflict Form
    2. Complete the Audition Form. It will close on January 11.
      NOTE: The Audition form for the Directing Projects AND Freshman Sophomore Play are the same. You’ll see more information about that on the form. 
    3. Read How to Audition for a New Trier Production from the Performing Arts webpage and this information in the packet carefully.  
    4. Memorize and prepare a monologue from this packet or a one-minute piece that you already know. See the “What about the monologue” section for additional information. 
    5. Come to the audition about 15 minutes before your appointment. We will check you in and you will present your monologue for the directors. 

     

    WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO THE AUDITIONS?  

    Wear clothes that you can move in and make you look and feel good. Make sure your hair is out of your face. Do not wear costumes.

     

    CALLBACKS

    If needed, the Freshman Sophomore Play callbacks will be held on Tuesday, January 16 from 3:45 - 6:00 PM in the McGee Theatre, Winnetka.

    The callback list will be emailed by 6pm on Monday, January 15. 

    There are no callbacks for Directing Projects.

     

    FROSH/SOPH CASTING

    Freshman-Sophomore Play will be cast by the director, Ms. James-Noonan. Conflicts with the set rehearsal schedule, as well as a student’s history with conflicts in previous productions, will be taken into consideration. Students are expected to be at every scheduled rehearsal. 

     

    DIRECTING PROJECT CASTING

    Student directors will identify student actors with the skills and schedules that are most appropriate choices for their projects. However, the casts for each project will be determined by the members of the Theatre faculty. You will audition in front of the student directors and faculty directors/producers/mentors. The student directors are not permitted to discuss any part of the audition or casting process with students who are not members of their class. Please respect the confidentiality and responsibility required in this process and avoid any perception of trying to influence or gain information from the directors, even as a joke. 

     

    WHEN DO THE CAST LISTS GO UP? 

    Please note: Casting for so many projects takes time. The Directing Project and Freshman-Sophomore Play cast lists will be emailed on or before Monday, January 29. Students cast in Directing Projects will be contacted, within one week, by their director regarding the date of their first rehearsal. Directing Project rehearsals can begin as early as January 30. 

    Frosh-Soph Play rehearsals will begin Tuesday, January 30. 

    Thank you for your patience. 

     

    CREW APPRENTICESHIP

    All performers are required to fulfill the Crew Apprenticeship Program within one year after being cast in their first NT production. Current Theatre 1 and Technical Theatre and Design students fulfill their CAP in class. Please see the NTHS Guidebook or Performing Arts website for more information. 

     

    WHAT IS THE DIRECTING PROJECT SHOWCASE?

    Directing Projects are usually presented again as part of the Directing Project Showcase if the producer approves the director’s application for Showcase. Shows will be assigned one Showcase performance time between May 17 and May 23. In preparation for this performance, 2-5 additional “brush up” rehearsals will be scheduled between the in-class performance and Showcase dates. 

     

    WHAT IF I’M NOT CAST IN BUT I STILL WANT TO BE INVOLVED? 

    Stage Crew is a great way to get involved with the productions. All crews are open to anyone interested, and they are a LOT of fun – no prior experience is necessary. If you are interested in joining crew, please visit www.ntstagecrew.org. Looking ahead, auditions for the Spring Play are in March.

     

    QUESTIONS

    If you have any questions about Freshman Sophomore Play or Directing Projects process or schedule or concerns about the plays, please contact Ms. Lynn (12c Winnetka), 847-784-6888, LynnN@nths.net or Ms. James-Noonan jamesnoa@nths.net. 

    Ms. Lynn be available to offer feedback on your audition and answer questions for one week after the cast lists have been posted. Please contact her via email for an appointment. 

    PLEASE NOTE: The student directors are not permitted to discuss any part of the audition or casting process with students who are not members of their class. Please respect the confidentiality and responsibility required in this process and avoid any perception of trying to influence or gain information from the directors, even as a joke. 

     

    WHAT ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE?

    Pick one of the following monologues or one of your own choosing (1-minute long) for your audition. All selections should be memorized. The monologues may not be from the Directing Projects or the Freshman-Sophomore Play but were chosen from plays with similar language, styles, or characters. YOU MAY PERFORM ANY OF THE MONOLOGUES, REGARDLESS OF GENDER. CHANGE PRONOUNS AS NEEDED. After you perform your monologue, you may be asked to start it again with a different intention or focus. It’s not because your first interpretation was wrong. Instead, the directors are interested in learning more about your range as a performer and how you respond to direction. Think of it as a mini callback. 

     

    The Way of All Fish by Elaine May

    I guess what I’m saying is I wanted to be famous. And I can be. Anyone can be. You know how? You can kill someone famous. Of course, it has to be someone really famous and people have to be convinced that you’re not part of a conspiracy. And meeting someone famous isn’t so easy. When I was younger that’s all I thought about — who can I kill who’s famous and how can I meet him. I mean, if there was another way — but I can’t write a novel, I can’t become a movie star, I can’t invent a vaccine — because I have no talent. I didn’t want to resort to murder. But fame is fame. The important thing to me is not to… just pass through. To leave a mark. To change the world. My curse has always been that I’m a special person with no special ability. 

     

    Bubble World by Joseph Arnone

    You are so wrapped up in your little world, Jess. You’re in this bubble that you need to break out of and realize that there are things in life other than having your face constantly in your phone.

    Don’t you realize that we never hang out like we used to? It’s like the only time we can go anywhere or do anything is if it revolves around something just you want to do and most of that stuff doesn’t even interest me anymore. God forbid I suggest something YOU don’t like. We used to always do things together. I feel like we don’t click anymore. For once it would be nice for you to call me and ask what I’m up to, do something I like doing for a change. I want us to hang out more and I want us to have fun again. Don’t you?

     

    Everything Will Be Different by Mark Schultz

    So I'll just come out and say it. Okay! I think I love you. I really do. And it’s not like this happens every day. You know. For me. I don't just like fall in love with people. It's hard. And I've really fallen for you. And I know it's stupid and like. Stupid and everything. But. I wanna know if maybe we can go out and be like a couple or something, I don't know. 'Cause I'm really. I'm in love. With you. And it's hard. Keeping it inside. All the time. And I came here to say that. And ask you. You know. If we can maybe go out sometime. And maybe you'd let me kiss you. I mean if that's okay. Is that okay? 'Cause I really love you. I really wanna be with you. It's so important to me right now. I really. Just had to come and tell you. I couldn't wait. Um. Shoot, I gotta get back to practice. Okay. I love you. Please love me.

     

    The Ghosts of Detention by D. M . Larson (change the name to Harmon/Harm and pronouns as needed)

    I need detention. I really need detention. See, there's… Her name is Harmony...But she goes by Harm. Cute huh? I was just gonna ask to borrow a pencil. One of those ones she sharpens with her pocket knife and then throws in the ceiling all over school. She even got one in the gym ceiling. You know how high that is? Like 5000 feet. And I just stand under those pencils, hoping one will fall down and I can have one of them for my very own. Something to remember her by. Until I get detention. I gotta figure out some way to get detention because I wanna see her more...Be with her more... Cause I see that beauty under all that gloom. She just needs a reason to smile and I want to be that reason.

     

    Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven by Reina Hardy

    JUST PLEASE STOP TALKING. First of all, stop screwing up the curve of binding energy. Second of all, why do you think your crappy explanation of nucleosynthesis is going to impress me? Why do you think you can use science I already know as a pickup line? And even if that did impress me, which it doesn’t, and even if you were cute, which you’re not, you are not a good person. You are being really, really, really mean… To my father. Not to some rando, but to my dad. And it wasn’t even your idea. You’re weak. You’re a follower, and you’ve got no freakin’ empathy.

     

    The Shadow Box by Michael Cristofer

    After Claire died, Mama started to get sick. Mama just seemed to give up. The letters . .. uh . .. It was after one of the last operations. Mama came home from the hospital and she seemed very happy. She was much stronger than ever. She laughed and joked...and then she told me she had written a letter while she was in the hospital ... to Claire… and she forgave her for not writing and keeping in touch and she asked her to come home to visit. I didn't know what to do. I tried to tell her. I tried...but she wouldn't listen. And, of course, no letter came. And Mama asked every day for the mail. Every day I had to tell her no, there wasn't any. Every day. And when there wasn't any letter for a long time, she started to get worse. I didn't know what to do ... So… I write the letters. 

     

    Oprah Made Me Do It by Bradley Hayward

    Oprah. I hate that woman. She goes on TV, day after day, promising sanity to the wrong kind of people. She puts her stamp on a book and it’s suddenly an FDA approved drug. You two need help. Serious help. And not from a talk show host. Don’t you get it? Oprah’s not therapy. Really her show’s just a procession of whining celebrities and sniveling housewives. Misery loves company, right? Well if you want to watch it go right ahead. But what gets my goat is her disregard for the little people. Sure, she feeds starving children during sweeps week. But what about the cashiers of America? Where’s our donation? For five-fifty an hour, I can’t take this much longer.