Puppets Up! is putting on a fundraising Fall Chautauqua (aka variety show) on Saturday, November 15 with matinée and evening performances at the Almonte Old Town Hall. Tickets will be available soon from TicketsPlease.ca
Auditions will take place Sunday, September 14 from 1-4 pm and Monday, September 15 from 7-9 pm in the conference room of the Almonte Library.
If you’ve got an act — or an idea for an act — and are looking for a place to perform it, Puppets Up! invites YOU to audition. We’re looking for a diversity of local talent: musicians, poets, actors, jugglers, comedians, magicians – even puppeteers! Everyone is welcome.
Sign up here: https://www.volunteersignup.org/B3BFH
Director Kris Riendeau answers questions about the audition below.
1) What can people expect at the Puppets Up! Fall Chautauqua?
We’re hoping for 12 acts; six in the first half and six in the second half. And it’ll be a wide variety of acts, everything from magic to singing to recitation, a little stand-up comedy if we can get some, whatever people bring to the table.
2) How good do folks need to be to audition?
They need to be SOOO good. No, just kidding. Whereas the Normal Puppets Up Festival is professional acts from around the world, this Chautauqua is by and for our locals. It’s a chance for community members to get up and just try stuff out and have a wonderfully supportive audience cheering them along. They’ll have great hosts on stage with them. And the other director, Hollie Mappenbauer and I will work with them to polish their act over the couple of months that we have between now and November.
3) How ‘polished’ does and act need to be in order to audition? What do you mean by that?
Well, it depends on what type of act they have and how far along they are,” Kris says, if they show us a fully polished act in their audition and we go, yep, you’re in, then they don’t need to see us again. If they’ve got a couple of minutes of let’s say stand up, or a comedy skit, some poetry or a some puppetry or whatever they’ve made up and they’re not quite done or they’re not quite sure how it’s gonna’ come across to the audience, then we will arrange to come to them or meet with them in the library or somewhere else to give them feedback, just as we would if we were directing a regular show. And that can be once or a couple times between the auditions and the November performances.
4) So, it’s an opportunity really for people to explore their potential?
Exactly! And then they’ll be amazed at the warm welcome they’ll receive once they’re on the stage and then they’ll get bitten by the bug and we’ll have to have many, many more events like this, trust me.
One of the things we’re hoping to do is to nurture the next generation of talent in this community. And so, this is folks’ opportunity to come and try something out in a very safe and welcoming environment with some help if they want it. And they’ll be amazed, they’ll astound themselves once they’re on stage.
5) Will the performers be paid?
They’ll be paid in karma and in food and in great feelings. And perhaps hugs from puppets. They’ll be paid in ways that are priceless – far more valuable than money!
6) Are there any restrictions regarding who can audition in terms of age?
So far, we have auditioners who range in age from 16 to 69 years old signed up, that’s a wide playing field. We’re going for a bit of a PG-13 vibe, so parents maybe be aware that if you have a ‘toddler in a tiara,’ that’s perhaps a little young for this show.
7) What would you say to folks who might like to audition, but feel a bit shy or anxious?
If you think you have something to offer, but you’re a little bit trepidatious, book yourself an audition time, come to the audition, talk to us. If you can do even a couple of minutes or seconds of what you think you want to perform, it’ll give us an idea of how we can work with you. And we would just love to see it. And we really encourage everyone to come on out for auditions.
Kris adds: “I am so looking forward to having an opportunity to meet new performers in our community. I’ve been lucky enough to have directed several shows over the past decade. Every time I see someone get on stage and realize that they love performing or that the audience is reacting to them, I get a thrill. More important, they get a thrill too! It’s exciting and heartwarming and just plain wonderful.”
Sign up to audtion here: https://www.volunteersignup.org/B3BFH
