The Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts announced theatre opportunities for youth: Theatrical Young Kids Education Workshop and auditions for the fall Wagon Wheel Jr. production and holiday musical “Cinderella.” Registration is open for the 2015 Wagon Wheel TYKE Workshop. Enrollment fee is $100. This theatrical workshop is tailored to young actors ages 7 to 9. Over the course of six days, participants will learn the basics of acting and performance through theater games, improvisational exercises and rehearsals for a short production. Students will become more confident speaking in front of an audience and develop a heightened sense of focus and teamwork as they collaborate on a performance – all while creating new friendships and gaining experience in the theatrical arts, according to a press release from the Wagon Wheel. Students will be involved in all design aspects of a performance, including making props, costumes and scenery. This short performance will take place on the Wagon Wheel stage and will be open and free to friends and family. Instructors are Kira Lace Hawkins and Jennifer Dow. Workshops are Sept. 14-18, from 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. The performance is at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 19. Due to time constraints, Wagon Wheel will not accept anyone with scheduling conflicts into the workshop. To register a child, submit your request to wagonwheeljr.kids@gmail.com with the subject TYKES. The theater will respond with confirmation and payment instructions. Space is limited, and the workshop will fill up quickly, the release states. For more information, go to wagonwheelcenter.org or email wagonwheeljr.kids@gmail.com The Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts also announced auditions for youth and teens for the 12th Wagon Wheel Jr. production and the professional holiday show “Cinderella.” This junior production is a Halloween-themed show (to be determined after the auditions) promises to be another SPOOKtacular production, according to the release. “Cinderella” is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic telling of the fairy tale. Both productions will be auditioned at the same time. The release states that an actor auditioning just needs to fill out the form when they arrive, stating for which show or shows they want to be considered. They may audition for just the junior show, “Cinderella” or both. There is no need to prepare anything, but they will be taught a a short song. Auditions are Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. for ages 9 to 11 and noon for ages 12 to 18 at the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, 2515 E. Center St., Warsaw. The junior production will rehearse Oct. 16 to 30, with performances Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. Rehearsals for “Cinderella” will be Nov. 23 to Dec. 3 – with Thanksgiving Day off – and performances will be Dec. 4 to 20. Details for the rehearsal and performance schedules will be available at the auditions. Cast members selected for “Cinderella” will be required to miss some school. For more information, email wagonwheeljr.kids@gmail.com.
