Gold Coast Plays auditions for GIFT RAP, holiday play for kids

Gold Coast Plays, a professional theatre company that presented several critically-acclaimed productions at the Civic Arts Plaza is back to work. The company will hold professional auditions for its upcoming production of the one-act musical GIFT RAP, for young audiences.

With at least one Equity Guest Artist contract available, the company will also pay its nonunion actors for each performance. Auditions are being held on Saturday, October 17 from 1 – 5pm in Thousand Oaks for professional actors who sing and move.

GIFT RAP is written by Richard Hellesen with music by Disney Afternoon’s Michael Silversher, directed by Stephanie Wilson with musical direction and choreography by Billy Parish.

Music and Lyrics are by Grammy award winning composer Michael Silversher, also nominated for numerous Emmy’s for Winnie-the-Pooh, The Muppets and other Disney productions.

Playwright Richard Hellesen has won numerous awards for his plays that are produced by professional companies around the country. The critically-acclaimed musical originated at South Coast Repertory and toured Southern California schools. “There are no references to Christmas or Hanukah, but since this play is about giving it’s perfect for this time of year,” says director Wilson.

Gold Coast Plays was founded as an Equity Theatre Company in 1997 by Artistic Director Stephanie Wilson and Gold Coast Performing Arts Association Founder, Larry Janss. The company produced critically-acclaimed productions at the Civic Arts Plaza, including A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, SWEENEY TODD and FOREVER PLAID.

Director Stephanie Wilson has produced and directed for The Olympic Arts Festival, Cabrillo Music Theatre and Young Artists Ensemble. Also a playwright, her original productions have been showcased at the Mark Taper Forum and Covent Gardens in London. Producer Billy Parish is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, The National Theater Institute, the Moscow Art Theater, and holds a bachelor in Theater from Occidental College.

Originally written for four adult actors to play all nine roles, these roles can be all ethnicities and actors must be 18 and over. GIFT RAPPER must sing and move and be able to rap a large amount of text, and can be any age and male or female. VERA is a young girl, very materialistic who knows what she wants (Alto/Mezzo). CHUCK is a young book reader who loves to wander the fantasy world of his books (Tenor to B flat). DAVE is a lonely and kind young man whose greatest wish is to find a friend (Baritone/Tenor to E). VERA 2 is the part of Vera who wants everything (Alto/Mezzo), KATE/PAUL is a volunteer for Toys for Kids, PAIGE is a girl whose family moves around a lot, and is a bit lonely (mezzo), WENDY (Mezzo) and WALLY (Baritone/Tenor) WATCHMAN are addicted to television, must have strong comedic timing.

Nonunion rehearsals start December 1 and union rehearsals begin December 7. Performances are Dec. 19 -21 at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks, CA. To audition, actors can submit at http://www.backstage.com/casting/gift-rap-89250/ or send a headshot and resume to vivamorem@gmail.com for an appointment and audition information.

Gold Coast Plays is a not- for-profit organization and a division of Gold Coast Performing Arts Association tax ID 77-0031586.

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