Book & Lyrics by Tom Macrae
Music by Dan Gillespie Sells
From an idea by Jonathan Butterell
Directed By Lysander Abadia
Jamie New is 16 and lives on a council estate in Sheffield. Jamie doesn’t quite fit in. Jamie is terrified about the future. Jamie is going to be a sensation. Supported by his brilliant, loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies, and steps out of the darkness into the spotlight.
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Our Fall 2024 production is a coming-of-age musical by Tom MacRae (book and lyrics) and Dan Gillespie Sells (score), inspired by the British television documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16. We’re very excited to bring this smash hit to our community for a multitude of reasons — it’s got a fantastic score, there are so many wonderfully diverse characters waiting to be brought to life, it’s both funny and moving, and of course the title character wants to wear a dress to Prom.
But it’s also about so much more than that.
It’s about how we stand up for ourselves, and for the people we love. It’s about the heartbreak that happens when a parent can’t or won’t acknowledge who their child is. It’s about bullies: and how they can either make us shrink, or give us a reason to become larger than life. It’s about forgiveness, and understanding that sometimes people do what they do because they don’t know a better way to deal with an unfamiliar situation.
*This production contains subject material and language that might be considered PG-13 by some families and we encourage you to watch a production (or the movie version) to determine if this show is appropriate for your 12 year old. The show includes themes of verbal and physical abuse, gender discrimination, references to sex, and coarse language.
REGISTRATION OPENS JUNE 15, 2024
Registration is open to ages 12+
*This production contains subject material and language that might be considered PG-13 by some families and we encourage you to watch a production (or the movie version) to determine if this show is appropriate for your 12 year old. The show includes themes of verbal and physical abuse, gender discrimination, references to sex, and coarse language.
NEEDED FOR REGISTRATION
** If you have previously registered for one of our productions using our registration system most of your information will be in the system.
- Actor information (name, birthdate, allergies/medical conditions, t-shirt size)
- Email contact for at least one family member. Please be ready to provide email address for any family member that will want cast updates.
- Rehearsal Availability – which day(s) actor is available/unavailable for rehearsal and specific conflict dates for days where actor is available but has a conflict.
- No conflicts allowed during Tech/Show week
VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION HOURS
For each participating cast member, 15 hours of adult volunteer work is required (25 hours for two cast members/35 hours for three).
If unable to fulfill hours of participation, a buyout option is available at the time of registration. Late buyout payments will have a 20% late fee added on.
Information on Job Choices will be communicated to registered participants when it becomes available.
AUDITION DATES AND REQUIREMENTS
Open to Ages 12+
All auditions will be held in person at the Historic Hoover Theater studios.
Video auditions will be accepted on a case by case basis.
Auditions will be one hour slots in small groups.
AUDITION DATES:
Monday & Tuesday August 12-13, 2024 from 7-10pm
CALLBACK DATES:
Wednesday & Thursday August 14-15,2024 from 7-10pm
HOW TO AUDITION
Actors should arrive prepared for a group dance audition. You will receive a video with a dance combo a couple of weeks before auditions so you can be prepared.
Then, actors will be asked to sing 16 bars of any musical theater song that shows off their voice (yes, really, only 16 measures– do your best), and provide recorded backing tracks for their song (NO lyrics, music only – karaoke tracks can be great for this).
They should expect to tell their favorite joke and possibly some other acting exercises. They should come in comfortable clothing that allows for ease of movement.
You will be notified about callbacks after the second night of auditions.
REHEARSALS:
Begin August 19, 2024
Rehearsals will be Monday – Thursdays, 7-9:30pm, and Saturdays 10am-5pm
This does NOT mean that all actors will be called every day each week. Any conflicts (standing appointments, trips, etc.) need to be identified on the required supplemental registration form. A full rehearsal schedule will be provided after casting that will tell which actors are rehearsing on what day.
ALL participants must be available every day of tech week
TECH WEEK REHEARSALS (MANDATORY) are Tuesday, October 22 – Friday, October 25, 2024.
Tuesday 10/22 – Cast A , 5:30-9:30pm
Wednesday 10/23 – Cast B, 5:30-9:30pm
Thursday 10/24 – Cast A, 5:30-9:30pm *DRESS REHEARSAL
Friday 10/25 – Cast B, 5:30-9:30pm *DRESS REHEARSAL
Please Note: Time of tech rehearsals may change and will be confirmed once production begins.
PERFORMANCES:
October 26 – November 3, 2024*
*PLEASE NOTE THE WEEKNIGHT PERFORMANCES FOR EACH CAST (10/29 & 10/30)
There will be no performances or rehearsals on Thursday, October 31
Cast A
Saturday 10/26 at 1:00pm
Sunday 10/27 at 1:00pm
Tuesday 10/29 at 7:00pm
Friday, 11/1 at 7:00pm
Saturday 11/2 at 7:00pm
Cast B
Saturday 10/26 at 7:00pm
Sunday 10/27 at 7:00pm
Wednesday 10/30 at 7:00pm
Saturday, 11/2 at 1:00pm
Sunday 11/3 at 1:00pm
VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION HOURS
For each participating cast member, 15 hours of adult volunteer work is required (25 hours for two cast members/35 hours for three).
If unable to fulfill hours of participation, a buyout option is available at the time of registration. Late buyout payments will have a 20% late fee added on.
Information on Job Choices will be communicated to registered participants when it becomes available.
IMPORTANT DATES
June 15, 2024: Registration opens
August 12-13, 2024: Auditions
August 19, 2024: Rehearsals begin
October 21, 2024: Load in to Theater
October 22-25, 2024: Tech Week Rehearsals (MANDATORY)
October 26, 2024: Opening Performances!
November 3, 2024: Closing Performance & Strike