Bisceglie’s latest production comes to the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse stage in August
Published in the May 13-26, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Auditions: Thursday, May 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center. Children who can’t attend the May 14 audition can attend a make-up audition on May 21 by emailing Bisceglie at [email protected] and including the participant’s first and last names and age. Rehearsals will be held every Thursday starting May 21.
Performances: Aug. 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22 and 23.
Young people between the ages of 5 and 25 have an opportunity to shine as pop music stars in “POPular,” children’s theater director John Bisceglie’s latest production that will be performed at the Morgan Hill Playhouse in August.
“POPular” is a song and dance revue show that takes on the multi-media pop concert genre hit tunes often heard on TV talent shows such as “American Idol.”
“It showcases music from today’s artists that are popular on today’s radio— kind of a combination of new stuff and stuff from the 1980s as well as affectionately giving a nod to the the one-hit wonders, some of the songs you love to hate as well as some of the more overplayed songs,” Bisceglie said.
In addition to performing live, all cast members will experience working with a film crew and will star in music videos in this multi-media spectacular incorporating both live and professionally-recorded performances, Bisceglie said. No experience is required, and all children and young people who audition will be accepted. Families must commit to a 12-week program with only one rehearsal per week. Each cast member is allowed to miss only two rehearsals.
“One thing that sets us apart from most children’s theater is that we create our own shows,” Bisceglie said. “And the shows are mostly genre-driven revue or a story about a time period like a 1950s show or 1970s show.”
The registration fee is $295 per child and includes a DVD of the show and a glitzy, ready-to-wear costume borrowed from the Gilroy Children s Musical Theater group. In addition, cast members are responsible for providing/purchasing dance shoes, and selling tickets to the show.
Children who are interested in auditioning for the show should prepare to sing about sixteen bars (around 30 seconds) of any pop song without music, Bisceglie said.
“Select a dynamic song that really shows off your personality and pipes,” he said. “Even if it’s ‘Happy Birthday,’ be ready to sing it with confidence.”
Children should also bring a print-out photo to the audition that will help the director remember them when it comes to casting.
