News

THANKS TO ALL WHO AUDITIONED! PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE CAST LIST.

​​Auditions and applications are open for Raleigh Little Theatre’s Teens on Stage (TOS) and Teens Backstage (TBS) program for summer 2024. The program is open to students grades 9-12. This year, Teens on Stage and Teens Backstage will present Thornton Wilder’s Our Town (Multilingual) featuring translated passages by Nilo Cruz and Jeff Augustin, performed in the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre. The production is directed by RLT’s Education Programs Specialist, Kasey McFerren.

About the Program

Together, TOS and TBS form RLT’s five-week intensive on-campus summer program that provides theatrical training and mentoring to teens. The program team’s approach prioritizes the agency of the youth participants and is grounded in the belief that young people are valuable creative collaborators. This approach supports the development of youth theatre artists as it engages them in critical thinking, creative problem solving, and a community-centered environment that recognizes what each person brings to the collaboration.

RLT seeks participants for the Teens on Stage program. All who are cast in the production divide their time between daily classes and rehearsals. Class content is designed to support students’ artistic skill development in areas that apply directly to the production, while helping them grow into well rounded theatre artists.

RLT seeks 6-8 participants in the Teens Backstage program. Participants will gain experience in all areas of technical theatre (set construction, costuming, lighting, sound and prop making) through rotating master classes and mentorship from the design team in creating all technical elements of the production. Teens Backstage participants then move into a focus area as technical rehearsals begin and then serve as the run crew with a specific role for all performances.

Auditions for Teens on Stage (TOS)

TOS/TBS 2023 production of Puffs. Photo by Jeannine Borzello.

Auditions will be held in person at RLT’s Sutton Theatre on Saturday, March 9, from 11:00am – 4:30pm.  Performers must register in advance and only attend one 10 minute audition time slot. Click here to register for an audition time slot. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes prior to your audition time.    

Please complete the TOS Audition Form and Program Conflict Calendar. Bring these forms to your audition or arrive 20 minutes prior to your audition to fill out the forms.   

All auditionees should come prepared to present a one-minute monologue and participate in cold readings.

Callbacks will be held on Sunday, March 17, from 1:00pm – 3:00pm at RLT’s Sutton Theatre. The callback list will be emailed to all auditionees by March 11 at 5:00pm.

Interviews for Teens Backstage (TBS)

Interviews for the Teens Backstage program will be held on Saturday, March 23, from 1:00pm – 3:00pm. Teens must register in advance and only attend one 10-minute interview time slot. Click here to register for an interview time. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes prior to your interview time.

Please complete the TBS Interview Form and Program Conflict Calendar. Bring these forms to your interview or arrive 20 minutes prior to your interview to fill out the forms.

Program Dates for TOS/TBS

An Apex Friendship HS student and RLT Technical Director Dennis Berfield during a tech workshop.

The first day of the program is Saturday, June 29. Performances run July 25 – August 4, with strike (deconstruction of the production elements, followed by a final group reflection) after the show on August 4.

Teens on Stage and Teens Backstage meets Monday-Friday.

Sample daily program schedule:

• 9:00 – 9:15am Check In/Announcements
• 9:15 – 10:45am TOS Class #1 & TBS Build Time
• 10:45 – 11:00am Break
• 11:00 – 12:30pm TOS Class #2 & TBS Build Time
• 12:30 – 1:00pm Lunch
• 1:00 – 4:45pm TOS Rehearsal & TBS Classes and Build Time
• 4:45 – 5:00pm End of Day Reinforcement

Tuition

The tuition cost for the program is $525. Once you have been accepted into the program, RLT will provide information about registration and scholarships. Raleigh Little Theatre has never turned away a student due to inability to pay.

Virtual Info Session

Want to learn more about this year’s program and get your questions answered? RLT’s Director of Education, Terra Hodge, and Education Programs Specialist, Kasey McFerren, will host a virtual informational session on Tuesday, February 27, from 5:30pm – 6:30pm. The session will include a program overview, Q&A, and guidance on how to prepare for your audition or interview. Parents/Guardians are also welcome to attend with their students.

Virtual information session here!

About the Show

Our Town (Multilingual) is a timeless masterpiece that follows the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry and eventually die. Edward Albee describes it as “the greatest American play ever written.” Written in three acts, the story is depicted in the small American town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. This version of the play is written in three languages – English, Spanish, and Creole – which infuses layers of culture and community.

About the Characters

Stage Manager – Both a character in the play at times, but primarily a narrator. Stage Manager cues the audience into the world of the play, as well as guides characters through the story. 

Mrs. Gibbs – Mother of George and Rebecca, married to Dr. Gibbs. Dreams of traveling and seeing Paris. Speaks Creole and English.

Mrs. Webb – Mother of Emily and Wally, married to Mr. Webb. Worried about her daughter getting married so young. Speaks Spanish and English.

Dr. Gibbs – Father of George and Rebecca, married to Mrs. Gibbs. The town’s doctor. Speaks Creole and English.

Joe Crowell, Jr. – A paperboy in the first act, then a scholar when he grows up, who is killed during WWI. Older brother to Si. 

Howie Newsome – Milkman who has an old horse. 

Rebecca Gibbs – Daughter of Mrs. Gibbs and Dr. Gibbs, younger sister to George. Speaks Creole and English.

George Gibbs – Son of Mrs. Gibbs and Dr. Gibbs, older brother of Rebecca. Plays baseball, in love with Emily. Speaks Creole and English.

Emily Webb – Daughter of Mrs. Webb and Mr. Webb, older sister to Wally. Known for her cleverness, in love with George. Speaks Spanish and English.

Wally Webb – Son of Mrs. Webb and Mr. Webb, little brother to Emily. Dies on a boy scout camping trip. Speaks Spanish and English.

Professor Willard – Professor at the university who shares facts about the town. 

Mr. Webb – Father of Emily and Wally, married to Mrs. Webb. Editor and publisher of the town newspaper. Speaks Spanish and English.

Simon Stimson – Plays the organ at church, subject of town gossip because of his alcoholism. 

Mrs. Soames – Talks about everyone in town, specifically Simon and George and Emily. 

Constable Warren – Local law enforcement, frequently checks that doors are locked and pipes are in good condition. 

Si Crowell – Joe’s younger brother, takes over his paper route. 

Sam Craig – Nephew of Mrs. and Dr. Gibbs, cousin to Emily and Wally. Returns to town in Act III after twelve years of being in upstate New York. 

Joe Stoddard – In charge burying people in town after they die. Provides commentary on grief and death, especially of young characters.

Dead Woman – With Emily in the graveyard, laments on the fragility and beauty of life.

All characters speak English, and specific characters noted above will speak another language in addition to English. It is not necessary to speak Spanish or Creole to be considered for the roles that speak those languages. We will have language and dialect coaches to assist in learning the lines and dialects.