Auditions begin September 8Rehearsals begin September 19

Performances December 1-3

About “Shrek”

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek: The Musical is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale advanture, featuring all new songs from Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie; Caroline, or Change) and a sidesplitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire. Shrek brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there’s more to the story than meets the ears.

“Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek …” And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty pricess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attiude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand … and his name is Shrek.

Auditions & Casting

Auditions for Blue Water Theatre Company’s production of Shrek are open to all actors who are currently students in grades six through twelve (2016-2017 school year). Actors who wish to audition should show up to their choice of one of the following three audition times:

Thursday, September 8 from 7:00-9:30pmSunday, September 11 from 7:00-9:30pmMonday, September 12 from 7:00-9:30pm

Please be on time and be prepared to stay for the entire audition session. Note that parents and other guests are not allowed in the studio while the auditions are taking place.

Auditions will be held at Blue Water Theatre Company’s studio in the lower level of the Wayzata Home Center (1250 East Wayzata Boulevard).

Actors do not need to prepare any audition material in advance. Please, however, come to the audition with a completed and signed “Actor Information Sheet” and “Rehearsal Conflict Sheet” to turn in. You will find both of these forms at the end of this packet. Please note that a parent signature is required. Also, please dress for your audition comfortably, in clothes and appropriate footwear in which you are able to freely move and dance.

Callbacks for Shrek will be held on Saturday, September 17 from 9:00-noon. A list of actors required at callbacks will be posted on the audition page of the Blue Water web site by noon on Tuesday, September 13, following Monday night’s final first round of auditions.

The final cast list will be posted on the Blue Water web site noon on Sunday, September 18.

We intend to cast approximately 40 actors in Shrek. Depending on how many audition — and what our needs are — cuts will likely be necessary.

Rehearsals & Attendance Expectations

Rehearsals for Shrek will begin on Monday, September 19 with a full-cast meeting and read-through. Regular rehearsals will generally be held on the following schedule.

Mondays from 7:00-9:30Tuesdays from 7:00-9:30Thursdays from 7:00-9:30Saturdays from 9:00-4:00

In an effort to be respectful of our actors’ time, we do not call every actor to every rehearsal. A schedule will be emailed to the cast each Sunday afternoon detailing the upcoming week’s rehearsal schedule.

We do expect our actors to be at every rehearsal for which they have been called, unless proper notification has been given to the director prior to the weekly schedule being completed and posted. While we recognize that emergency conflicts do arise, the directing team reserves the right to deal with situations appropriately if attendance becomes a major issue.

All regular rehearsals will be held at Blue Water’s studio in the lower level of the Wayzata Home Center (1250 East Wayzata Boulevard).

Parents should note that we generally take an hour lunch break on Saturdays (usually from 12:00-1:00). There are a number of eating establishments within walking distance of Blue Water's studio. Unless parents specifically email Charlie Leonard to tell him otherwise, it is assumed that students have permission to leave Blue Water (unsupervised) for lunch. Note that, if they do leave campus, Blue Water is not responsible for your kids during this time. Please discuss this with your son or daughter, and bring any concerns to Charlie's attention.

Dress/Tech Rehearsals & Performances

We will have three dress/tech rehearsals and three performances*, at which attendance is mandatory. It is expected that all cast members will clear their schedules for these dates and times. The only acceptable conflicts on these nights are those that the directors are told about on your audition forms.

Monday, November 28 from 4:00-9:30 (dress/tech rehearsal)Tuesday, November 29 from 4:00-9:30 (dress/tech rehearsal)Wednesday, November 30 from 4:00-9:30 (dress/tech rehearsal)Thursday, December 1 from 5:00-10:30 (performance @ 7:00pm)Friday, December 2 from 5:00-10:30 (performance @ 7:00pm)Saturday, December 3 from 5:00-midnight (performance @ 7:00pm; Strike)

*NOTE: Please leave your schedules clear for the entire day on Saturday, December 3. Depending on ticket sales, we may decide to add a second (matinee) performance on that day, but a final decision will not likely be made until mid-November at the earliest.

All dress/tech rehearsals and performances will take place at Eisenhower Community Center in Hopkins (1001 Highway 7).

Production Fee

The fee for a student actor to take part in Shrek is $355 (please make checks out to Blue Water Theatre Company). This helps cover our show licensing, theatre rental, rehearsal studio rent, set/prop/costume needs, insurance, and staffing.

The registration fee is due at the first rehearsal (Monday, September 19), unless special arrangements have been made with us in advance. Refunds are not available. If a student drops out of the production, the registration fee will be considered a donation to Blue Water Theatre Company.

Financial assistance is available for those who can demonstrate reasonable need. If you would like more information, please contact Charlie Leonard (charlie.leonard@bluewatertheatre.com) prior to your student's initial audition. All requests will be kept confidential.

Questions

If you have any questions about Blue Water Theatre Company's production of Shrek, or if you have any questions about Blue Water in general, please contact:

Charlie LeonardExecutive & Artistic Directorcharlie.leonard@bluewatertheatre.com(952) 855-9147

ACTOR INFORMATION SHEET (please return at the time of your audition)

Name ___________________________________________________________________ Date of Birth (MM/DD/YY) ______/______/______

School_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Age ______________

Cell Phone _________________________________________ Grade (2016-2017 school year) ___________ T-Shirt Size (Adult) ___________

Street Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Student Email Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian #1 Name _____________________________________________________________ Phone ___________________________

Parent/Guardian #1 Email _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian #2 Name _____________________________________________________________ Phone ___________________________

Parent/Guardian #2 Email _____________________________________________________________________________________________

In the space below, please describe your past performing experience (theatre, music, dance, etc). Use the back of this sheet if necessary:

Are there any roles/characters in the show that you are most interested in being considered for? If so, what are they?

Are you willing to accept any role in the show? If “no,” please explain further. _____ YES _____ NO

************************************************************************************************************

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE:

I have read through the entire Shrek production packet, and am fully aware of all that the production entails (auditions, rehearsal schedule, performance dates, registration fee, deadlines, etc). I have also proofread my student's conflict sheet to make sure everything is included. My son/daughter has my permission to take part in this production. In addition, I grant permission to Blue Water to use photos that may include my son/daughter in any online and print marketing, including BWTC social media sites and mainstream press coverage of the production.

________________________________________________________________________ (parent signature) _________________________ (date)

________________________________________________________ (print parent/guardian name) ____________________________ (phone)

REHEARSAL CONFLICT SHEET (please return at the time of your audition)

Name ____________________________________________________________________________________

Please list all known rehearsal conflicts clearly on the lines below. Include any event (school, personal, religious, or otherwise) that would keep you from attending the scheduled rehearsal on any given day. Please be extra careful to double-check with your choir/band/orchestra teacher to find out when your fall/winter concerts take place, and carefully note them. You all have one at some point.

Also, please note that Thanksgiving is the only day that we will not have rehearsal. Keep in mind that every school district has a slightly different calendar, so a randoom day off of school for you doesn’t mean a day off for everybody else. Rehearsal will proceed as scheduled on all dates — including the MEA Break in mid-October.

Monday, September 19 ____________________________ Monday, November 14 __________________________Tuesday, September 20 ____________________________ Tuesday, November 15 __________________________Thursday, September 22 ___________________________ Thursday, November 17 _________________________Saturday, September 24 ____________________________ Saturday, November 19 _________________________

Monday, September 26 ____________________________ Monday, November 21 __________________________Tuesday, September 27 ____________________________ Tuesday, November 22 __________________________Thursday, September 29 ___________________________ Thursday, November 24 _________NO REHEARSALSaturday, October 1 _______________________________ Saturday, November 26 _________________________

Monday, October 3 _______________________________ Monday, November 28 _____________DRESS/TECHTuesday, October 4 _______________________________ Tuesday, November 29 _____________DRESS/TECHThursday, October 6 ______________________________ Wednesday, November 30 __________DRESS/TECHSaturday, October 8 _______________________________ Thursday, December 1 ___________PERFORMANCE

Friday, December 2 _____________PERFORMANCEMonday, October 10 _______________________________ Saturday, December 3 ___________PERFORMANCETuesday, October 11 _______________________________Thursday, October 13 ______________________________Saturday, October 15 _______________________________

Monday, October 17 _______________________________Tuesday, October 18 _______________________________Thursday, October 20 ______________________________Saturday, October 22 _______________________________

Monday, October 24 _______________________________Tuesday, October 25 _______________________________Thursday, October 27 ______________________________Saturday, October 29 _______________________________

Monday, October 31 ________________________________Tuesday, November 1 ______________________________Thursday, November 3 _____________________________Saturday, November 5 ______________________________

Monday, November 7 ______________________________Tuesday, November 8 ______________________________Thursday, November 10 ____________________________Saturday, November 12 _____________________________