Dear Newsies Parents,
Thank you for allowing your student to participate in the musical this year! We've had 143 students come and audition for the musical. That's almost double the amount we've had in years past. It's going to be AMAZING! 

The cast list will be posted today right after school. It will be posted on the Counseling Center windows and on the WJH theatre website. Everyone who auditioned will be in the show. If your child's name is not on the list, it is a clerical error. Please let Ms. Emily Thompson know so we can get that fixed.

Expect emotions from your student with the result. It will either be elated, meh, disappointed, sad or angry. It's okay to feel the feelings when results are posted. If your child is feeling disappointed, sad or angry at the results, please help them work through healthy ways to deal with this emotion. Please remind them that we don't use our hurt feelings to hurt others. Each role whether small or large is an opportunity to learn and grow. 

As a mom of theatre kids myself, casting results can also be really hard for us parents. We see how amazing our kids are and want the best for them which includes getting leading roles. I've definitely felt disappointed or sad when my daughter didn't receive the role she was hoping for.  As the director, these are the things I want you to know:

• I do see how AMAZING and SPECTACULAR your child is! I love auditions because I get to see them all individually shine and see how hard they have worked at something. It's also such a joy to see them year to year and see how much they've changed and grown. 
• Casting decisions aren't a judge on your child's worth or talent. Your student is already talented and of great worth. Not getting the part doesn't change that at all. It's a common thought that if someone doesn't get the part they must've done something wrong or it's because they messed up. That's simply not the case. There are so many factors that are being looked at for casting: chemistry between actors, fitting the director's vision, intrinsic qualities of the character and more. 
• Many hours and days are spent discussing casting. We're desperately trying to cast your child in a role. We really are. Even deciding who is called back is rough. We usually want to call everyone back, but we can't. If your child auditioned for a role, please know we have spent some serious time trying to place them. I tell students that it's like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. I'm taking the piece that is your student and trying to get it to fit in the leading role positions. I value your child and want to place them in a place that makes them shine.
• I've been there. I was a theatre kid growing up. I know what it's like. I've done my best to structure auditions and callbacks so that students feel like they've been given a good chance to show me what they can do. That's why we have students learn material from the show instead of choosing their own broadway song and monologue for auditions. 

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Double casting - If there are two people who fit perfectly in the same spot equally on the jigsaw puzzle (in a school musical), then we will double cast. This year, for Newsies, we have not double cast any roles. Double casting often leads to comparison. This comparison hurts students more and creates more problems in the long run.

I'm really looking forward to starting rehearsals. I wish you could've heard them sing at auditions. It was incredible and we have only just begun!

Sincerely,
Ms. Emily Thompson
 

P.S. Apologies to all those who have emailed and never heard any response. We just found emails stuck in a different inbox folder. We believe it is fixed now. So if you emailed us and never received a response, we deeply apologize. 

The Newsies Audition Packets are out now! This packet is required to be in Newsies as this is the permission slip to be in it. 
Speaking role audition time signup has been officially posted in the hallway by room 110. Sign up for a time on December 8th or 9th. Again, this is only for those looking to be a speaking role. Those who want to be in the ensemble only have to attend the Dance Auditions on December 11th from 3-5pm. 

Please be sure you are practicing with the music provided so you are ready to sing with it at auditions. We will only be playing the track without the person's voice.  All the music can be found in each character's folders along with the scene and sheet music.  

​Here's also a look at the tentative rehearsal schedule.

• Everyone who auditioned is in the musical. It is listed alphabetically by your first name. If you attended auditions and don’t see your name, that’s an error on our part. Please let Ms. Dallimore or Ms. Emily know.

• Please sign or initial next to your name to accept your role on the paper by Ms. Dallimore's room

• If you have decided to not do the musical after all, please don’t ghost us. Tell Ms. Dallimore, Ms. Emily or Ms. Whiting. 👻

• All speaking roles need to attend the Table Read on October 15th from 3-4pm in the Library

 

• Everyone on this list needs to attend our Cast Meeting on October 17th from 3-4pm in the auditorium.
  
  
  

The Drowsy Chaperone Cast List

If you've been asked to sing a song at callbacks, here is the music so you can practice. 
Callback Music

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