AUDITIONS: CHICAGO CHILDREN’S CHOIR NEIGHBORHOOD CHOIR, JAN. 13 & 14, 2020

CHICAGO CHILDREN’S CHOIR

NEIGHBORHOOD CHOIR AUDITIONS, 

JAN. 13 & 14

Children 3rd grade + invited to New Singer Day open rehearsal and quick audition, no prior experience needed!  

Chicago Children’s Choir, the nation’s preeminent youth choral organization, leads 11 after-school neighborhood choirs – from Albany Park to Hyde Park. Students in grade 3 and up are invited to audition at the upcoming Neighborhood Choir New Singer Day, taking place at various locations throughout Chicago Monday, January 13 and Tuesday, January 14.  Check-in begins at 4:15pm, with the Choir’s open rehearsal starting at 4:30pm and auditions taking place immediately following from 5-5:30pm. 

 

Auditions for the following neighborhood choirs will take place on Monday, January 13:

                Austin: Austin Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 5615 W. Race Ave.

                Bucktown: Moadon Kol Chadash, 2464 N. Clybourn Ave.

                Englewood: Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 415 W. Englewood Ave.

                Humboldt Park: Casa Central, 1335 N. California Ave.

                Pilsen/Little Village: Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western Ave.

                Rogers Park: Indian Boundary Park, 2500 W. Lunt Ave.

Auditions for the following neighborhood choirs will take place on Tuesday, January 14:

                Albany Park: North Park Covenant Church, 5250 N. Christiana Ave.

                Beverly: Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th Street

                Hyde Park: First Unitarian Church, 5650 S. Woodlawn Ave.

                Lincoln Park: Holtschneider Performance Center, 2330 N. Halsted Street

No prior experience is necessary to join the Neighborhood Choir Program, and singers do not need to prepare anything for the audition. Chicago Children’s Choir is looking for students who can match pitch and have an enthusiasm for singing.  Plus, students should be willing and able to commit to twice-weekly rehearsals for the season.  Advance registration for auditions is recommended but not required; to reserve a spot or for more information, please visit: https://ccchoir.org/join/.

The Chicago Children’s Choir currently serves over 5,000 students across Chicago in all 52 zip codes through its vast network of in-school and after-school choir programs. CCC’s after-school Neighborhood Choirs are found in Albany Park, Austin, Beverly, Bucktown, Englewood, Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park, Lincoln Park, Pilsen/Little Village, and Rogers Park. These groups perform at several events in their community throughout the school year. They’ll also have a chance to travel with their Choir.

Chicago Children’s Choir, led by president and artistic director Josephine Lee, is a non-profit organization that inspires and unites youth from diverse backgrounds to become global citizens through music. Founded in Hyde Park in direct response to the Civil Rights Movement in 1956, CCC has grown from one choir into a vast network of in-school and after-school programs driven by one mission: to inspire and change lives through music. CCC has impacted the lives of more than 50,000 diverse youth throughout its 63-year history. Since its founding, CCC has focused on building programs that reflect the racial and economic diversity of Chicago. Eighty percent of youth served are from low-moderate income homes, with over 4,000 students annually participating completely free of charge. All singers in CCC programs receive some level of subsidy. High school seniors enrolled in CCC have a 100% graduation and college acceptance rate, becoming global ambassadors who carry on CCC’s core values in a wide array of professional fields.  Learn more at ccchoir.org.

AUDITIONS: A&A BALLET HOLDS OPEN AUDITIONS FOR “PINOCCHIO” IN CHICAGO JANUARY 12, 2020

A&A BALLET (A&A), under the artistic direction of Anna Reznik and Alexei Kremnev, holds open auditions for the production of Alexei Kremnev's “Pinocchio,” Sunday, January 12, 2020 from 12-2 p.m. A&A welcomes dancers from ages six to twenty-four to audition for various roles, which will take place at Chicago’s Studebaker Theatre (410 S. Michigan Ave) May 16, 2020 for two performances.

Auditions will be held at A&A BALLET’s newly opened studios, Center for Dance (731 S. Plymouth Court), on January 12. Inspired by the original Italian tale of 1883, this much-loved fairy tale follows the mischievous and charming wooden puppet, Pinocchio, the most translated book in the world, as he pursues his dream of being a real boy. We accompany him as he learns the life-lessons that make one real.

Audition attire: Girls: black camisole leotard, pink footed tights, pink canvas ballet and pointe shoes (age/level appropriate); Boys: black-footed tights, white tight fitted t-shirt, black ballet shoes. The audition will include dance movement and combinations to be performed in character. No preparation of audition material is necessary. Dancers will be notified via email within the week after the audition if they have been cast. A production fee will be required for dancers performing “Sleeping Beauty” and varies depending on role. Rehearsals begin on February 15 (for most of the parts) and will take place primarily on Saturdays at the A&A BALLET Center for Dance. A pre-registration form may be downloaded at aacenterfordance.org.

A&A BALLET, growing at a fast pace since its inception, has recently garnered rave reviews for their production “The Art Deco Nutcracker” that. Lauren Warnecke at the Chicago Tribune called it “a glitzy production (featuring) top notch student dancers and professional guest artists from American Ballet Theatre and BalletMet.” PerformInk raved that “it’s a fresh and fantastic work that holds its own with ballets in every season.”

A&A BALLET, based in their new home at 721 S. Plymouth Court, is devoted to training in strong, versatile dance technique, as well as the development of personality, independence and artistry. Led by internationally acclaimed artists and former Founding Artistic Directors of the Joffrey Academy and Joffrey Studio Company, Anna Reznik and Alexei Kremnev, A&A offers a wide variety of classes, professional performance opportunities, private instruction, choreography and training for dancers ranging from age 3 to adult. In a very short period of time A&A BALLET has gained national and international recognition receiving rave reviews for its programs and productions.  To date, its students have secured 65 full scholarships and nine apprentice and studio company positions with powerhouses including American Ballet Theater, Houston Ballet, Princess Grace Academy of Monaco, Bolshoi Ballet, Colorado Ballet, BalletMet and Sarasota Ballet. 

For more information visit aacenterfordance.org or call 312.545.2142.

Calling All Chicago Circus Superhumans! Audition For The Greatest Show On Earth® 11/20

Ringling Bros.® Knows: Chicago’s Got XTREME! Talent

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® to Hold Open Auditions Nov. 20 at United Center

The Greatest Show On Earth® is on the lookout for extreme talent, and has its sights set on Chicago. In town throughout the month of November with its newest spectacular, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus XTREME, Ringling Bros. will hold open auditions, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20, at Chicago’s United Center. Auditioners are encouraged to take it to the max with the biggest of their best, from freestyle running/parkour and BMX trick-riding, to extreme gymnastics, stunt skateboarding, contortion, breakdancing, fire-breathing, even bowling ball juggling. More traditional circus skills are also welcome.

Auditioners should come prepared with two to three minutes of family-friendly material and bring their own props. Advance registration and submission of music tracks is requested. For additional information or to reserve an audition slot, call 877-777-0818. Must be 18 years of age or older, and available to travel.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey has been entertaining Children of All Ages® for 145 years, creating indelible memories with unparalleled live family entertainment experiences that capture the imagination and lift the human spirit. While remaining true to its legacy as America’s Living National Treasure^TM, Ringling Bros. is continually re-inventing itself to appeal to increasingly-sophisticated audiences. Talent scouts scour the globe in search of the unprecedented and extraordinary: Shaolin Warriors from China, trick-riding Cossacks from Kazakhstan, trapeze titans from Mexico and, more than once in recent decades, talented standouts from right here in Chicago. In the early ’90s, a high-flying troupe of acrobats called the Chicago Kids, many of whom were former Jesse White Tumblers, headlined with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. In this year’s Circus XTREME, three of the seven members of the record-setting BMX stunt troupe come from Chicago suburbs.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is produced by Feld Entertainment, the worldwide leader in live touring family entertainment, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 75 countries and on six continents to date and, in addition to Ringling Bros., include Monster Jam^®, Monster Energy Supercross, Nuclear Cowboyz^®, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt, Disney Live! Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt and Marvel Universe LIVE! More information about Feld Entertainment is available online at FeldEntertinment.com.

BLUE MAN GROUP ANNOUNCES OPEN CASTING CALL FOR NEW BLUE MEN AT CHICAGO’S BRIAR STREET THEATRE 11/11

Casting Call to be Held Tuesday, November 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both Men and Women and Invited to Audition It's not easy being blue. But how cool would that job be?! The world famous Blue Man Group is casting again in November, 11/11 to be exact. Come on out and show off your mad drumming, circus, and physical comedy skills. Here at ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows we've been fans of Blue Man Group since their Milly's Orchid Show beginnings.  Click here and scroll down for loads of our original photo filled Blue Man features. Then come on out and audition or spread the word. YOU could be the new blue!

Blue Man Group, the critically hailed theatrical phenomenon, announces the 2014 Blue Man Group open casting call scheduled for Tuesday, November 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Briar Street Theatre (3133 N. Halsted Street). The Blue Man Group casting department is searching for talented performers with a unique combination of qualities to be a Blue Man for existing and upcoming productions and multimedia projects in Orlando, Las Vegas, Boston and Chicago.
Blue Man Group, best known for multimedia performances that feature three bald and blue characters, blends innovative theatrical spectacle and dynamic original music with hilarious comedy, art, technology and science to create a performance experience unlike any other. The Blue Man cast features performing artists with a diverse mix of disciplines: classically-trained actors, rock musicians and dancers.

“Casting and training Blue Men is always a bit of an exploratory adventure,” said Manager of Casting and Training Tasha Van Auken. While there are, of course, certain base skills and physical requirements we look for, what I look forward to is discovering the wonderful oddities that make each person distinctly who they are.” 

The Blue Man Group open casting calls have been instrumental in finding the next generation of wide-eyed explorers of contemporary civilization. In a recent Chicago open casting call, a local, Nick Rush, auditioned and now performs as one of the ever-curious and creative Blue Men at the Briar Street Theatre.

What does it take to be a Blue Man? Blue Man is an egoless, genderless being.  Male and female performers are encouraged to audition.  All necessary audition equipment will be provided.  The basic criteria for Blue Man performers are:

• Height between 5’10” and 6’1” tall (athletic build)
• Drumming skills / musicianship are an advantage, but a good sense of rhythm is a must.
• Excellent acting skills. Strong candidates frequently have backgrounds in physical theater and improvisation. Candidates are compelling and genuine nonverbal storytellers. They must thrive in a constantly evolving team environment on and off stage.
• Willingness to relocate

This open call audition is for Blue Man performers. For more information about ongoing Blue Man Group casting efforts, performers may visit http://www.blueman.com/casting.

About Blue Man Group 
Blue Man Group is a unique and thrilling multi-sensory experience that fuses innovative theatrical spectacle and powerful original music with hilarious comedy to create a performance experience unlike any other. The iconic, silent, inquisitive Blue Man character has remained consistent since the show’s opening, but the world he reacts to is continuously changing, allowing for a production that continuously evolves. One of the world’s most popular theatrical productions, today’s Blue Man Group is a blend of signature material that has been in the show since the opening, as well as newer passages that examine the influence of technology on today’s world with a funny and perceptive look at contemporary communication vehicles. The performance then closes with a pulsating finale that has audiences up and out of their seats, featuring an original Blue Man Group music score.

Chris Jones from the Chicago Tribune gave the show a Four Star rating and said the material was “brilliantly revamped” and “truly joyous.” After seeing the new material, Hedy Weiss for the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, “The show's creators have cleverly updated the production with new wizardry while retaining its essential mind-set.” Chicago Parent editor Tamara L. O'Shaughnessy said “the coolest blue guys in Chicago just got cooler.”

Currently, Blue Man Group theatrical shows can be seen in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Berlin and on tour throughout the U.S. Blue Man Group can also be seen onboard the Norwegian Epic by Norwegian Cruise Line – the Official Cruise Line of Blue Man Group. 

The company’s music, featuring custom made instruments and signature, percussive sound, can be heard on five albums, including the Grammy-nominated “Audio,” as well as
various film and television projects. As the company grows, it remains true to its vision of providing exciting experiences in a variety of media, appealing to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds. 

BLUE MAN GROUP TICKET INFORMATION  
Tickets are available from $49-$99. Tickets may be purchased at the Briar Street Theatre by calling the box office at (773) 348-4000; by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787; at all Ticketmaster ticket centers or via the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com/bluemanchicago.  For more information, visit www.blueman.com/chicago.

Blue Man Group Chicago Open Casting Call at the Briar Street Theatre (3133 N. Halsted St.) Tuesday, November  11 – 10 a.m. – 4p.m.