Mount Carroll–Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional summer theatre of Northwest Illinois, will host several programs this summer for area youth, including the opportunity to perform with the resident professional company in their productions of The Big Meal, Peter Pan, Big Fish and James and the Giant Peach. The company will also conduct its annual theatre education workshops for both children and teens.
Auditions will be held for children and teens for various roles on Saturday, May 2, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the theatre in Mount Carroll. Full information about available roles, dates and audition requirements is available at the playhouse's website, www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. Anyone interested in auditioning should contact the theatre office for an appointment by calling 815-244-2035 or emailing info@timberlakeplayhouse.org.
The Magic Owl Children's Theatre at TLP has provided three generations of young people with their first experiences of live theatre. The tradition continues this year with two productions, The Commedia Pinocchio and James and the Giant Peach.
The Commedia Pinocchio is a 50 minute long adaptation of the famous story of the puppet who comes to life portrayed by five actors in the madcap style of commedia dell'arte. The production will be seen by over 1500 area school children and performances are also open to the public. Performances are May 6-9 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and tickets are $6.00.
A stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved James and the Giant Peach will run for four performances only August 4, 6, 7 and 8. Tickets are $7.00 and will be available in May. TLP's annual one-day children's theatre workshop will take place on Saturday, August 8, and ends with the 2:00 p.m. performance of James and the Giant Peach.
Participation in the children's theatre workshop is open to kids ages 7-11. The three-hour workshop includes structured storytelling games, creating characters, team-building ensemble activities, and a chance to learn about all of the creative departments involved in putting on a show. The cost is $30 and includes a ticket to James and The Giant Peach.
A weeklong theatre workshop for teens (ages 12 and up) will take place July 13 - 17. This five day immersive experience will feature workshops in acting, dance and music, improvisation, playwriting, theatre design, and how to audition for schools and professional shows. The cost of the five-day workshop is $135 and includes daily lunch and a ticket to TLP's production of the new musical Big Fish.
In addition to the annual events for young people at Timber Lake Playhouse, the company has also added afternoon and morning performances of its mainstage production of Peter Pan to accommodate families and groups.
The programs presented at Timber Lake Playhouse are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information or to register or purchase tickets to any TLP events, visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org or call 815-244-2035 Monday through Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
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