PUHI— Space for the auditioning workshop is limited to just 10 people, in-person, at the Puhi Theatrical Warehouse.
This being said, preregistration is important, and registration is being accepted online at www.HCTKauai.org.
“The goal of the program is to train teens and young adults on all aspects of auditioning so they can be better equipped to join the next generation of aspiring artists on Kaua‘i and beyond,” said Allegra Gaines, the Hawai‘i Children’s Theatre administrator.
“Classes start on Saturdays from Jan. 14 and Jan. 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is an opportunity to dive deep into acting and auditioning, and learn the tricks of the trade in a small group where every participant will receive individual coaching,” she said.
Tom Frascatore, who moved to Kaua‘i a little more than a year ago, will create and conduct a musical audition workshop on Jan. 14, and on Jan. 21 a non-musical version based on cold reading skills.
Frascatore brings more than 40 years of experience in directing, teaching and coaching, and can be seen as Weller in the Kaua‘i Community Players production of “The Gin Game” that opens Jan. 6 and runs through Jan. 22 at the Puhi Theatrical Warehouse. More details and online ticket sales for “The Gin Game” can be found at https://kauaicommunityplayers.org/.
“In casting multiple shows, Tom notices that most actors do not understand that acting and auditioning are very different skill sets,” Gaines said.
“Acting is the active, collaborative creation of organic truth onstage, in nonorganic circumstances, or … the job auditioning is the process of presenting your best self and talent in a compressed time frame to mostly strangers with little or no idea what they are really looking for, or the job interview — two complimentary but completely different things.”
Gaines said when it comes to teaching and coaching, Frascatore’s philosophy is simple.
“Art is a lighting strike,” he said. “Craft is the lightning rod you can make of yourself that directs and controls that inspiration in the service of storytelling. Like any craft, acting can be learned.”
Over the period where Frascatore was an actor and a director, he concluded it is a director’s responsibility to help create and inspire the next generation of actors. This workshop grew from this drive to create memorable storytelling through theater.
“This workshop, designed from decades of experience with input from directors and musical directors, will lead to an understanding of the audition process, how to succeed and measure your progress using a set of tools that are easy to understand and implement,” Gaines said. “Many students in the past have remarked that it’s like ‘a lightbulb switching on.’”
Hawai‘i Children’s Theatre’s mission is to inspire youths through the study, performance and appreciation of theater arts.
“Now that our big fall performance, ‘Seussical,’ has ended, we are proud to support the ‘study’ aspect of our mission by offering classes in our HCT Theatre Academy program,” Gaines said.
“HCT’s Theatre Academy presents a new audition intensive workshop series for those 11 to 23 years old. It’s fun for the experienced actor seeking new tools, and beginners ready to dive in and explore the art of auditioning,” she said.
