Casting call: Bottle Tree Productions offers musical theatre class

Posted Jan 12, 2012 By Kristen Coughlar

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EMC Entertainment - Are you serious about musical theatre? Are you looking for an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, and step into the spotlight on stage? If so, a great opportunity awaits you.

Beginning Jan. 16, Bottle Tree Productions will be offering a 10-week Musical Theatre Class out of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.

Offered to children and students between the ages of six and 18, the class is geared toward those with a keen interest in musical theatre.

"There are a lot of kids that really want to do music theatre...There's one show in school in a year, and they might get cast in it and they might not," said instructor Anne Marie Mortensen, adding that the musical theatre class being offered by Bottle Tree Productions provides an opportunity for all those interested in being a part of a staged production.

"We've double-cast shows before so that more kids get a chance at the lead roles," she said.

There is a lot of commitment, dedication and hard work required however, before students will have the chance to take to the stage.

"It's a lot of work. They have to come to class two to three times a week for eight weeks, and then five times for two weeks, and it's two to three hours a class," Mortensen said, noting that students are not only responsible for learning choreography, memorizing lines and honing their acting skills, but also set design and construction, lighting, and costumes.

That's not all. The world of theatre is competitive. One can't rely on talent alone. This is where experience with resumes, head shots and auditions come in.

As part of the 10-week class students will also be taught how make resumes, what's required for head shots, what to expect from and have prepared for professional auditions.

"I saw something online from Toronto, a summer program, and I thought of one of our students...He went to Factory Theatre and did a professional show in Toronto, so now he has that as his credit. The reason he got it was because he had a really good looking resume and a really good photo, that's all they see in the beginning," Mortensen said.

She noted that often participants of the class aren't prepared for its intensity, but by the end of the 10 weeks the individual improvement she sees in the students is vast.

"We have people who can't sing a note, and still sometimes can't sing a note by the end, but they pull it off. That's really what matters. In 10 weeks you can't expect somebody who really can't sing to all of a sudden have a golden throat."

"If you work hard, are a team player and have a modicum of talent you'll be brilliant by the end of the show," said Artistic Director Charles Robertson.

This year participants will have the opportunity to present the fruits of their labour in a production of Disney's Aladdin.

"It will be a magical show," he said.

The Musical Theatre Class starts Jan. 16 and runs for 10 weeks on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 .m. The class costs $400 dollars plus HST. Registration and payments can be made online at www.bottletreeinc.com/acting_classes.html. For more info call 613-384-8433. The production of Disney's Aladdin will take place on March 31st and April 1st at 3 p.m. at the Octave Theatre. Tickets will cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for children. They can be purchased online at www.bottletreeinc.com/prod_sched.html.

kcoughlar@perfprint.ca




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