February 5, 2013

AUDITIONS: Educational Theatre NZ tour  

Echelon Productions Pty Ltd

Echelon Productions is a multi award-winning theatrical producer and one of the largest touring theatre companies in Australia and New Zealand. Based in Melbourne, the company has been established since 2000 and in that time has produced a number of Helpmann Award and Green Room Award nominated plays and musicals.

Also operating as Perform Educational Musicals, which specialises in touring educational musicals into schools across Australia and New Zealand, the company employs around 50 performers throughout the year.

Our educational theatre division is holding auditions across New Zealand during February for our 2013 productions celebrating NZ Storylines Festival and Cyber Safety.

The performances, which take place within schools, are highly interactive and feature action packed narratives, appealing, identifiable characters, loads of comedy, singing and dancing that captivate and engage all audiences, including teachers!

Casts of two actors perform up to three shows a day in schools. Each cast will have one performer nominated as the team driver who has access to their own reliable car for the contracted period. Both cast members are required to bump in and out the basic set which takes around 20 minutes either side of performance.

All productions are one hour musicals and include PA and individual headset microphones for each performer.

Cast requirements: Performers are the ambassadors of the company and significant role models for thousands of students and this means we have high standards for hiring performers.

Age: between 20 and early 30s Skills: creative and comedic acting, strong singing voices and the ability to move well. Personal qualities: Warm, friendly, energetic, excellent communicators, fun loving, reliable, committed and most importantly, enjoy working with children.

We are casting:

2 males and 2 females

Auditions will be held on the following dates:

AUCKLAND – Thursday 14th February 2013

CHRISTCHURCH – Friday 15th February 2013Page 2 of 2

TO SUBMIT YOUR DETAILS FOR AN AUDITION EMAIL US AT casting@echelon.net.au  

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR CV AND HEADSHOT

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FRIDAY 8th FEBRUARY, 2013

AUDITION DETAILS:

The acting audition will involve a 30 minute group session involving upto 8 auditionees per group.

This will be followed by an individual singing audition.

The aim of the group session is to offer a relaxed and enjoyable experience that closely resembles that of our productions – creative, playful, interactive and fun.

Scene – We will forward one short scene from the script to be learnt prior to the audition. This scene will also be used as a basis for improvised play.

Song – We will forward a specific song to be learnt including vocal guides and backing track plus vocal chart.

These auditions may be video recorded for casting reference only.

NZ Storylines Festival 2013 production: AND THE WINNER IS! by Craig Christie

Jonno has a solid gold ambition – to be crowned champion of something. Anything! But Claire is always around and she also has the special ability to bring books to life!

Our new Book Week musical AND THE WINNER IS… has been created to celebrate the 2013 STORYLINES FESTIVAL combining a love of reading with exciting physical competition.

Cyber Safety 2013 production: MYFRIENDS DOT COM! by Craig Christie

Emma arrives at a new school facing new friendship groups while Dylan is spending more time away in his room on the computer. Soon they both will discover how the anonymous cyber world will threaten to take over their lives in a way from which they can see no escape!

MyFriends Dot Com explores the world of cyber-bullying and the importance of cyber-safety in a story that resonates throughout schools and households everywhere. An exciting and engaging production that uses an energetic, fast paced narrative and contemporary music, MyFriends Dot Com brings into focus these vital issues to alert young people of the dangers and consequences of not taking the cyber world seriously.

Craig Christie has been writing educational musicals for nearly 20 years and has also written several full scale commercial musicals including Eurobeat – Almost Eurovision which opened on the London West End in 2008. www.craigchristie.com

CONTRACT DETAILS:

Performers are contracted full time for a specified period.

All successful performers will be required to undertake a Working With Children Check and/or Police Check.

Rehearsal dates/times:
From Wednesday 8th May 2013
Ten days in total for rehearsal period

Exact dates to be confirmed – dependent upon which production and cast the performer is allocated to

Will not exceed 8 hours per day and 48 hours in total

Season dates:

Term 2: From Monday 20th May to Friday 28th June 2013

Term 3: From Monday 12th August to Friday 30th August 2013

Exact dates to be confirmed – dependent upon which production and cast the performer is allocated to

Fee: Flat fee as contractor (to invoice Producer with personal IRD number)

$1,300 total for rehearsal period $815 per week for performance Team leader an extra $40 per performance week Petrol: The nominated team driver will be paid an allowance of $250 per performance week

Travel: Some regional travel and accommodation may be required for part of the tour. Each performer will be paid an additional allowance of $140 per day to cover accommodation, meals and incidentals.

TO SUBMIT YOUR DETAILS FOR AN AUDITION EMAIL US AT casting@echelon.net.au  

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR CV AND HEADSHOT

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FRIDAY 8th FEBRUARY, 2013