October 15, 2007

WILL THE STARS OF TOMORROW PLEASE STEP INTO THE LIGHT

Auckland Theatre Company and New Zealand Post announce
OPENCALL 07

The largest open call theatre audition ever held in NZ goes live on October 15. It’s when Auckland Theatre Company and New Zealand Post offers emerging young actors the chance to train and perform alongside the crème of New Zealand’s theatrical talent.

OpenCall 07 is a nationwide search to discover the next generation of actors who have the talent, creativity and drive to embark on a professional acting career. This ambitious project offers aspiring actors aged between 18 and 25 the opportunity to post a 3minute audition on the OpenCall 07 website, http://www.opencall.co.nz/ . The digital audition grants young hopefuls the rare chance to be seen by some of the country’s most influential and highly regarded theatre professionals.

When applications close on November 4 Auckland Theatre Company will select over 100 actors from the online pool of applications to participate in a series of live workshop auditions in late November. Auckland Theatre Company Artistic director Colin McColl and freelance director Margaret Mary-Hollins will be joined by a celebrity panel of judges including Robyn Malcolm, Toni Potter, Craig Parker and Dave Fane to select ten of the most talented young actors from the live audition process.

The final ten chosen by the panel take their well earned place in an intensive 3 week theatrical boot camp that culminates in late January with a short season of ‘Shrew’d’ – a radical new work inspired by Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Drawing on the energy, ideas and experiences of young actors the rigorous 3 week summer school provides a starting point for the demanding training, commitment and theatrical skills required to succeed as a first rate actor.

Over the last 15 years Auckland Theatre Company has enjoyed its position as the most popular producer of professional theatre in Auckland. Over 75,000 people flock to the annual programme of work which delivers our most talented actors, directors, designers and writers to the stage. The company is inundated with requests from young inexperienced actors who want to become involved with New Zealand’s largest professional theatre company.

New Zealand Post National Sponsorship Manager Hermione Bushong says this is a very exciting project. "New Zealand Post is a company that works hard at connecting people to people and helping New Zealand run.  We have been working successfully with New Zealand’s arts community over many years, supporting a variety of events and activities. This is our second year working with the Auckland Theatre Company – a company with which we are proud to be associated. By supporting Auckland Theatre Company, New Zealand Post is helping them inspire Aucklanders to aspire by seeing the power of imagination and creativity through theatre" says Bushong.

The risk of casting new, undiscovered talent is not the domain of a professional theatre company of this calibre, whose highly sought after auditions are offered to professional actors by invitation only. "As the country’s leading theatre company we need actors who are at the top of their game but thanks to New Zealand Post and OpenCall 07 we will now get the opportunity to turn the spotlight on the exciting new talent who will be the theatremakers of the future." says Auckland Theatre Company, Artistic Director – Colin McColl

OPEN CALL 07 Key Dates
15 Oct – 4 Nov: Online submissions accepted
9 November: 120 successful live audition applicants announced
23 Nov- 26 Nov: Live workshop audition
27 Nov: Ten actors announced for Summer School
7 Jan – 23 Jan: Summer school and rehearsal process
24 Jan – 27 Jan: Season of ‘Shrewd’