MAT seeks dozens of cast members for 'Cinderella'

Local thespians are looking for a major cast for a theatrical musical production and hope to see a mass of people show up for auditions Saturday, Aug. 27.

Angela Pratt, who will direct the Havre High School-Montana Actors' Theatre co-production of the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II adaptation of "Cinderella, " said she hopes to see many new, as well as many returning, people come to the auditions.

"Nothing is precast, " she said. "I am looking for anybody to come out of the woodwork. I would like to see new faces. "

She added that musical or acting experience is not required. Anyone could be cast for any part, Pratt said.

"As long as you are confident in what you do, " she said.

People will have to have something ready to perform, "Just a snippet, so we can hear them sing, " Pratt said.

She also encouraged male actors to come audition — the play has many strong masculine roles, and needs a male presence, including in the choruses.

Pratt also said she would like to see families come to audition. Many times, MAT has successfully cast father-daughter and mother-daughter teams, she said.

"It's neat to see families come out to do things together, " she added.

The casting will be extensive — Pratt said she is looking to cast 50 to 60 people. The process will begin at 10 a. m. at Havre High Theatre, when the directing crew will give an introduction and talk a bit about the story and characters.

Everyone trying out will fill out a form including contact information, and have their picture taken, then will be given a time to come back for the actual audition.

Pratt said part of the reason for that is so, if someone won't be trying out until 1 or 2 p. m., they don't have to wait in the auditorium for hours.

A second audition will be held after Havre High School starts its educational year, Tuesday, Aug. 30. Pratt said high school students are welcome to come to the Aug. 27 audition, and encouraged them to do so, but that the second audition will be held to give the students who miss the first a chance to try out.

This will be the fourth MAT-HHS collaboration. The first was a production of a stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol, " then two years ago the groups produced Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and last year put on "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

The co-produced musicals have run as the winter production, but that has been pushed back this year, and is scheduled to run two weeks in November, Nov. 10-12 with a matinee and a night-time production on the 12th, and Nov. 17-19 with, again, two shows on Saturday, Nov. 19.

The show also will have extensive sets, costuming and special effects. Pratt said she has started receiving donations to make costumes — "fabric and dresses and everything. It's just been great; hats and shoes and everything you can think of" — and the sets have been designed and work on that will start once the high school year begins.

She said some of the production has been farmed out to carpenters who have volunteered to help, and some weekend sessions will be set for people to come help with the sets as well.

"There's lots of ways to help if they don't want to be on stage, " Pratt added.

The special effects will combine with the sets and costumes to make a special experience, she said.

"It will be kind of a magic show in a way (with) Cinderella transformed right in front of their eyes, and the pumpkin into the carriage, " she said.