SEQUIM — Olympic Theatre Arts in Sequim will host auditions for an original take on the Nutcracker classic at 6 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Open auditions will be at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N Sequim Ave.
“The Nutcracker Cracked Up” is a collaborative, original script by Sequim Ballet and Olympic Theatre Arts. Creators call the play “a quirky adaptation of the classic Nutcracker tale, reinvented with dance, dialogue and comedic disarray.”
“I’ve always wanted to add dialogue to ‘The Nutcracker’ to better tell the story, because a lot of people don’t really know what it’s about,” said Laurel Herrera of Sequim Ballet, who used narration to add relevance to last season’s Sequim Ballet production of “Sleeping Beauty.”
“It’s very challenging and interesting to be integrating dance with the spoken word — not only to tell a story but to tell it in a creative way with a timely message for the holiday season,” OTA Executive Director Carol Willis said. “It should prove to be a wonderful learning experience for both actors and dancers in discovering some different methods of storytelling. We are excited to be a part of it.”
OTA is looking for these characters:
• Mother, a pretentious socialite.
• Father, a lovable but somewhat clueless tinkerer.
• Heloise, a matronly and all-seeing housekeeper (who enjoys some considerable eccentricity in the second act).
• Jeeves, a stuffy butler.
• Drosselmeyer, a flamboyant toy store owner.
• Two pairs of adult neighbors.
• Four to six children, belonging to the neighbors.
• The Narrator, who also plays a Christmas vendor selling flowers.
Auditioners will be asked to do a cold read from a script. While not being specifically asked to dance, auditioners will also be asked to demonstrate basic choreographed movement on stage, so they are asked to dress comfortably.
Auditions are open to all, with no appointments necessary. Those interested but not available to audition at scheduled times are asked to call 360-683-7326 to make alternate audition arrangements.
Olympic Theatre Arts is also looking for creative people to fill out the production team. “The Nutcracker Cracked Up” is a production with elaborate costumes, props and other sensational design elements, OTA representatives said.
The show will run Dec. 7-16, with performance times on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Call Olympic Theatre Arts at 360-683-7326 for more information.
