The Victoria Quadrille (December the 25th)

Here's a sneak peak of the style you are in for tonight at the December the 25th rehearsal.  Use this as a guide for the overall feel of the Quadrille.

Thank You Very Much

I know Dickens is quickly approaching when I become painfully aware of my overuse of the term "Thank you very much!"  I don't know about you, but I am pretty excited to get going on Saturday!

Just to give you a heads up for Saturday's schedule, here is what to expect:

The entire cast should arrive at 9:00 am. (Remember to enter through the West Door of our Saturday rehearsal location: 2933 E 3300 S)  How long you get to stay is dependent on your character.

ORPHANS who are only orphans will be done at 10:30 am
orphans who are also URCHINS will be done at 12:30 pm
orphans/urchins who are also PICKPOCKETS will be done at 1:00 pm
MOST ADULTS will be done at 1:00 pm

The best way to know for certain how long you are needed is to cross reference the calendar with the song breakdown.  Or if you don't want to think that hard, you can always just email Arlee for clarification.

In addition to starting several major songs, we will also be having a cast meeting to discuss all the particulars including:

• scheduling
• conflicts
• costumes

And most importantly, you will receive a SCRIPT and CD.  Scripts and CDs will each require a $5 refundable deposit.  Plan for each member of your family to need a script*, but you should be able to share a CD.  So for a family of 5, the deposit would likely be $30 (for 5 scripts and 1 CD).  Please bring cash in increments of $5, or you may write a check payable to Andrea Fife, which we will hold until you return your script and/or CD.

*If your child is an ORPHAN only, he or she will receive a lyric packet and CD combination instead.  This is only $5 for the combination.  

Please arrive on time on Saturday morning with a pencil, a water bottle, and a hard-working attitude.  Here we go!

Rehearsal Location(s)

Thank you for your patience as we have worked to arrange an alternate rehearsal location (after finding out the Utah Opera would be unable to host us after all).  

I'm excited to announce that our rehearsal facility for Wednesday and Saturday will feature two separate rehearsal spaces, each with their own sound system, dance mirrors, and one with an upright piano.  Not only that, but we will also have access to a lounge and locker room.  I am looking forward to being able to hold simultaneous music and dance rehearsals and to have a space for people to be able to chat without suffering the wrath of Andrea.  

The "BROWN" rehearsal room

The "WHITE" rehearsal room, which includes a piano

The "LOUNGE"

The "LOCKER ROOM" (and bathroom)

 We are grateful to THOMPSON LANE entertainment for allowing us to take over their space twice a week from now until Dickens!

DETAILS:

2933 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City

Enter through the West Door

Wednesdays from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Songs and scenes from both shows (mostly ages 12 and up)

Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm - Songs and scenes from both shows (including all ages)

We have arranged an alternate rehearsal space for the five Thursday evening rehearsals.  We are grateful to the MECHAM family for allowing us to take over their basement rehearsal room, which features a large open space and an upright piano.

DETAILS:

3303 S Hunter Oak Way (6975 West), West Valley City

Enter through the North Gate

Thursdays from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm - Pickpockets, Fagin, Nancy, and Bet ONLY

I am still sorting out the complete rehearsal schedule.  Please make certain Arlee has all of your conflicts as soon as possible so I can schedule around them when I can.  You can, however, plan to be at the Thompson Rehearsal Location on Saturday, October 12th at 9:00 am for our first cast meeting and rehearsal.  I can't wait to get started!!

Cast List 2013

I know it took me forever to post the cast list, and I'm sorry to all of you who have been waiting so very patiently.  Here it is: your 2013 cast lists.

Remember that most of you have been cast in both Oliver and Scrooge, so don't forget to check both lists.  Also, your name may possible appear in more than one place, so look carefully.

I will soon be posting information about our first rehearsal (Saturday, Oct 12th), so check back frequently.  I'm excited to get to work with so many amazing people to make Dickens Festival 2013 the best year yet!

OLIVER 2013

SCROOGE 2013

Also coming soon:

SONG and SCENE breakdown (who is in what)
FULL rehearsal schedule

Can't wait to see you all on October 12th!

--Andrea

Call Back List

WOW!  Amazing auditions, especially from some of our returning talent.  We heard a full range of audition songs from classical Broadway to Christmas songs to a bit more contemporary.  But it was the monologues that made my day.  It was fun to see your personalities through Harry Potter and Monty Python as well as through famous poetry and the more expected monologue styles.

We were able to cast much of the show based off your auditions.  I know people often say, "Just because you're not called back doesn't mean you're not in the show."  Let me set your minds at ease: we'd love to have each of you in the shows, and we've already figured out the perfect spot for many of you.  The full cast list will post within the next 10 days or so, but before we can do that, we need to put some of you through a few final tests in order to arrange the best line up for this year's festival.  So here it is:

Call back notice:

KEARNS LIBRARY

Wednesday, 9/25

6:00 pm to 8:45 pm

We will be moving quickly through the callback process.  Please arrive on time and be prepared to sing, dance, and/or read.

6:00 pm to 7:15 pm - Chance, Blake, Hayden, Evan
6:00 pm to 6:30 pm - Hunter, Blake, Alex F., Hailey
6:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Gabe P, Abby, Malaki, Jocelyn
7:00 pm to 7:45 pm - Miki, Lindsey, Hayden, Skyler, Colton, Astchyn
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Emily, Kelli, Ashley, Ema, Alexis
7:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Rick, Gary, Diana, Kim, Rebecca, Lisa, Celeste, Wendy, Kenzie
7:45 pm to 8:00 pm - Anna Claire, Victoria, Brittany, Cami, Miki
8:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Brett, Charlie, Diana, Kim, Rebecca, Lisa, Celeste, Wendy

If you have a conflict with your scheduled time, please contact Arlee (arlee.heslop@gmail.com).  Otherwise, I will plan to see each of you on Wednesday.  Thanks in advance for your time!

Andrea

UPDATE to Audition Information

The location and time for auditions has changed.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

Auditions will still be held September 21st but will now go from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The new location is:

SOUTH JORDAN PUBLIC LIBRARY

10673 South Redwood Road

See you all there on Saturday.  Please contact Andrea (801) 641-3898 with questions or concerns about this change.

Salt Lake Dickens Festival 2013

Dickens is around the corner once again!  Whether you're back for another season or considering Dickens for the first time, here is a preliminary look at things you may want to know:

• SHOWS: We will continue to perform a 50-minute revue of Oliver! and a 50-minute revue of Scrooge.  However, if you've done Dickens before and think you've seen it all, expect new choreography and a few surprises this season.  (Most actors will be cast in both productions.)
• ORPHAN CHOIR: The orphan choir will continue its tradition of providing advanced singing opportunities for the youngest members of the cast.  Orphan choir members are only required to rehearse on Saturday mornings making it a great first experience in theater.
• PERFORMANCE VENUE: Our performance venue for this year will be the South Town Expo Center located in Sandy, Utah.  The Dickens Christmas Festival expects this to be a positive move for the vendors and the productions. (More information: http://dickenschristmasfestival.com/salt-lake-city/)
• REHEARSAL VENUE: Our rehearsal venue for this year IS TBA but should be in the Salt Lake Valley.
• PERFORMANCE RUN: There are positives and negatives to the length of any run.  A shorter run at Christmastime means less time away from your families when you commit to the festival.  This year's run will include evening performances on December 11, 12, 13, and 14 with an additional matinee on the 14th.  
• REHEARSAL COMMITMENT: We have pushed back the rehearsal dates, opting to begin rehearsals on October 12th.  This change will hopefully accommodate local talent previously committed to an October-run production.  In order to keep our traditional Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday rehearsal schedule, we have extended weeknight rehearsal times to 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm and plan to continue to hold 4-hour Saturday rehearsals from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
• STREET THEATER: We will be returning to the original Dickens Festival format with show actors doubling as Street performers.  We have a new Street Theater coordinator who will teach street performance skills and organize the performances in an efficient (and non-exhausting) manner.
• PRODUCTION STAFF: Both Jackie and Andrea are back for another year, and we are excited to have prior cast member Arlee Heslop added to the staff as both Assistant Director and Costumer.  

If this type of commitment is something you are interested in, then MARK YOUR CALENDAR now:

Auditions: 

September 21st

10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

SOUTH JORDAN PUBLIC LIBRARY
10673 South Redwood Road

Schedule your audition: email Arlee to request an audition time

Audition requirements:

• 60 seconds of a song in the style of the show (traditional Christmas carols work well for young performers).  Sheet music is required; an accompanist will be provided.
• 30 second monologue or poem recited with a British or Cockney accent (optional, but required if auditioning for a speaking role)
• You may be asked to do a short dance audition; please dress accordingly.

All roles are open; however, priority consideration may be given to returning cast members.  Returning cast members are required to re-audition on the regularly scheduled date.