THE ARTS Calling all youth
New Glasgow Theatre Society is inviting young actors to participate in their upcoming series of short plays and monologues
Youth, if you want to dabble in the arts or perhaps pursue a career on stage, the New Glasgow Theatre Society would like to meet you.
The Theatre Society, now in its sixth season, is gearing up for their spring production and is inviting local young actors between the ages of eight and 18 to participate in their audition-workshops.
This spring the troupe will be presenting “A Showcase of Theatre” which will be a presentation of short plays and monologues, set to take the stage on Thursday, May 31, and Friday, June 1, at Glasgow Square Theatre.
Artistic director Amanda Jefferson-Gillis said she is looking forward to working with children and youth eager to ‘tread the boards’ and maybe discover a lifelong passion for the stage.
While in the past they have done shows of varying lengths Jefferson-Gillis said choosing a variety of shorter plays allows more opportunities for younger actors to get started, without the stress of having too many lines to learn and having to commit as much time compared to a larger production.
“The audition-workshops are a relaxed, fun way to see if an actor is a good match for what we are doing,” she said. “We play a couple of games, read some scripts and discuss what is expected in preparing for a show. The idea is to keep it joyful and stress free.”
No experience and no preparation are required for the audition – just a good attitude of respect and willingness to try some new things, she said.
She believes there are a number of benefits that youth can take away from the experience of participating in the theatre society, from gaining confidence to learning how to carry themselves with poise.
“I really enjoy watching them build friendships and just bonding with kids their age and developing trust,” she said.
The amount of talent the youth she’s seen in past years is amazing, she said.
“The ones that are older now, I’ve been working with them since they were 13 or 14 years old. For four or five years I’ve watched them grow and gain confidence.”
The workshops will be held Feb. 3 and Feb. 10 at 558 South Frederick St., New Glasgow, (the Pictou County Gymnastics Club location.) Children ages 8-11 years will meet from noon to 2 p.m. and youth between the ages of 11-18 will meet from 2 to 4 p.m.
Participants are welcome to attend the workshops on either or both Saturdays. Indoor footwear is recommended for changing into at the PCGC location.
For more information, contact Jefferson-Gillis at 902-752-6824 or email ngyouththeatre@gmail.com.