So You Want to Be a Star?

If you have dreams of singing and dancing on the Broadway stage (or manipulating a puppet on the same stage), you may have a chance to make your dream come true.

Disney has announced that it will be holding auditions in the Washington area for the hit musicals The Lion King and Mary Poppins.

All the pertinent details are in a press release, below.

Disney Theatrical Productions
HOLDS OPEN CASTING CALLS
FOR THE LION KING AND MARY POPPINS
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
IN MID-AUGUST

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 29, 2008) Disney Theatrical Productions will be hosting open auditions, seeking possible future replacements for the Broadway and touring productions of THE LION KING and MARY POPPINS in Washington, D.C., August 15 - 18 at The Washington Ballet. These open calls are for anyone, regardless of experience, who would like the opportunity to audition and be part of these stage productions. Performers of all cultural backgrounds are encouraged to attend.

The casting search will be overseen by Jennifer Rudin (Director, Casting and Talent Development for Disney Theatrical Productions). Jennifer spent five years as head of casting for Walt Disney Animation Studios in Los Angeles and cast the following animated movies to name a few: Chicken Little, The Incredibles, Meet the Robinsons, The Wild and Brother Bear. Jennifer serves on the Board of Directors for the Casting Society of America.

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These casting calls coincide with the premiere engagement of THE LION KING currently playing in Washington, D.C., at The Kennedy Center Opera House through August 24, 2008. The production includes four local performers: Andrew Frace (Ed) from Olney; Maia Moss (Ensemble) from Silver Spring; Marquis Moss (Ensemble) from Washington, D.C.; and Dion Wilson (Ensemble) from Baltimore. The run is sold out at this time, but patrons may check the Kennedy Center Box Office for last-minute availability, by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600, or by visiting the Kennedy Center’s website at www.kennedy-center.org.

THE LION KING

Singers
Seeking strong, dynamic singers for all roles including the African lions Simba and Nala.

WHEN:
Friday, August 15
Sign in 9:30am
Sign in no later than 11:00am

PREPARE: Please bring sheet music of a song that shows off your voice and range in 16 bars that you will sing with piano accompaniment (eg. R&B, gospel). Bring a recent picture and resume or list of performance experience.

Children
We are seeking children ages 9-12, with a maximum height of 58”, who can sing, dance and act to play the African lion cubs Simba and Nala. No performance experience necessary

WHEN:
Saturday, August 16
Sign in 9:30am
Sign in no later than 11:00am

PREPARE: Be prepared to be taught the last verse of Just Can’t Wait to Be King. All children must be accompanied by parent/guardian, who must remain at audition site at all times.

Dancers
Seeking strong male and female dancers with a classical and modern dance background. Some male dancers require strong acro skills. You must be warmed up and ready to dance in flat jazz shoes or bare feet.

WHEN:
Monday, August 18
Female Dancers: Sign in 9:30am
Male Dancers: Sign in 1:30pm

PREPARE: You may be asked to sing. Please prepare a song that shows off your voice and range (eg. R&B, gospel). Bring the sheet music. A pianist will be provided. Bring a recent picture and resume or list of performance experience.

MARY POPPINS

Children
Disney Theatrical Productions is seeking children with a maximum height of 4’10”, who can sing, dance and act to play Jane and Michael Banks:

WHEN:
Sunday, August 17
Sign in 9:30am
Sign in no later than 11:00am

PREPARE: Please prepare a song of your choice that shows off your range. Please provide sheet music for the accompanist, and remember to bring a current picture and resume. All children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian who must remain at audition site at all times.

WHERE:
The Washington Ballet @ THEARC
1901 Mississippi Avenue SE
Washington, D.C. 20020
www.washingtonballet.org

If you are unable to attend these auditions, send a headshot and a resume ASAP to:

For THE LION KING
Binder Casting, ATTN: The Lion King
321 W 44th Street, Suite 606, New York, NY 10036

For MARY POPPINS
Tara Rubin Casting, ATTN: Mary Poppins
570 7th Avenue, Suite 401, New York, NY 10018

For more info visit www.disneyonbroadway.com or email casting@disneyonbroadway.com

ABOUT THE LION KING
Now in its second sold-out decade in New York, The Lion King is the winner of six Tony Awards® including Best Musical, eight Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, the New York Drama Critics award for Best Musical, the Evening Standard Award for the Theatrical Event of the Year, two Olivier Awards, a Theatre World Award, the Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography, two Drama League Awards and a Grammy Award® for Best Musical Show Album.

ABOUT MARY POPPINS
MARY POPPINS, a co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on November 16, 2006. The Tony Award® winning production quickly proved to be a hit with audience members and critics alike.

The MARY POPPINS North American Tour begins performances in Chicago at The Cadillac Palace Theatre on March 11, 2009. After Chicago, the tour is scheduled to play The State Theatre in Cleveland, The Fox Theatre in St. Louis, and The Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, with additional cities, venues and dates to be announced. For more information please visit www.MaryPoppinsTour.com.

The London production continues its record-setting run at London’s Prince Edward Theatre through January 2008.

Based on P.L. Travers’s cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, MARY POPPINS features the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The stage production has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has written the book, and the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who have composed new songs and additional music and lyrics.

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So grab your resume and photo, put on your dancing shoes and leotard, and head over to the auditions for The Lion King and Mary Poppins ... you never get cast if you don't audition.