12.14 Foundation's Summer of Shows: 2014 Program Line-up Announced

The 12.14 Foundation is pleased to announce 12.14 Foundation's Summer of Shows: 2014 program line-up. They're planning a diverse range of programs in Newtown aimed at building on last year's amazing Seussical kick-off. 

They are in need of financial support to help them bring quality arts programming to the Newtown community. Ticket sales help, but they don't come close to covering the costs.

Click here to help enrich the lives of our children and strengthen the resilience of the Newtown community.

A Rockin Midsummer Nights Dream

They are creating a brand new pop/rock musical adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. That's right – a world premier musical created for Newtown's young performers! They also hope to produce and release a CD of the production.

It will involve performers between the ages of 9-ish and 19-ish. The show will be mostly double-cast, similar to Seussical.

The musical will use William Shapespeare's text and will be adapted by Michael Unger and composer/lyricist Eric Svejcar. Jeffrey Saver will music direct with Brett Bowles as his associate, and Jennifer Paulson Lee will choreograph.

There will be eight performances – with each cast having four – scheduled for August 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10. Rehearsals will start on June 23rd, 2014.

Audition details are provided below.

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In addition to A Midsummer Night's Dream, they are planning to produce a musical for performers between the ages of 5ish and 13ish, with some older performers as well. They have not yet secured the rights for this production so they can't yet announce the title yet, but it will likely be a regional premier of a very well known story with a very large cast. Stay tuned for details.

This show will be directed by Michael Unger, choreographed by Jennifer Paulson Lee, music directed by Jeffrey Saver with help from Brett Boles and will be designed by Newtown High School student designers.

This show will most likely not be double-cast, and performances will be held on August 6, 7, 8 and 10. Rehearsals will start on July 7, 2014.

Audition Details for Midsummer and the Younger Kids' Musical

Auditions for both productions are currently planned for April 26, 27 and May 3, 4 with callbacks on May 10.

Click here for audition details and to sign up. You are CONFIRMED unless you hear otherwise from us. 

Click here for the audition form.

There will be a renowned documentary company (The Documentary Group) videotaping the auditions. They are making a film about the 12.14 Foundation and want to follow our process this summer. We will, of course, respect anyone who does not want to be videotaped. Those who are taped will have to sign release forms (minors must have their parents sign) – similar to what we all signed last summer.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD and forward this to anyone you think might enjoy joining them this summer.

Orchestra and Apprenticeships

ORCHESTRA: We will again be welcoming student and parent volunteers who are interested in playing in the orchestra. If you play an instrument and are interested in being in the pit, please click HERE and fill out the form.

TECHNICAL APPRENTICESHIPS: We will also be looking for student volunteers to help on the production crew – both building the show and running the show. If you are interested, please click HERE and fill out the form.

ADULT/PARENT VOLUNTEERS:We will also be relying on the wonderful parent volunteers who kept things running so smoothly during Seussical. If you (or anyone  you know) would like to help out throughout the rehearsal process and performances – or any portion thereof – please click HERE.

AUDITION PREPARATION

EVERYONE will have to sing a one minute cut of a song – any song you like. Both of these shows will be contemporary pop musicals, so any song from this or the last decade is a good choice. But you can really choose to sing anything as long as you love singing it!

If you are interested in A Rockin' Midsummer Night's Dream, please bring a short (ONE MINUTE) speech from any Shakespeare play – Midsummer… is ok. If you need help finding a monologue, click HERE – and there are plenty more where those came from! You can also visit http://www.shakespeare-monologues.org/home for a complete selection.

If you are auditioning for the Younger Kids' Musical, please bring a short (ONE MINUTE) reading of whatever you like – book, poem, play, nursery rhyme, whatever. For younger children, any story, joke, nursery rhyme, what-I-did-last-summer will be fine.

Note: performers will most likely only be cast in one of the two shows.

If you are interested in both shows, the Shakespeare monologue will serve for both.

These audition pieces do NOT have to be memorized – but they certainly COULD be.

Auditions will be held at Newtown High School. Most likely in the cafe-torium.

12.14 Foundation Dance Concert

Many local dance studios will participate in an evening of dance pieces. The concert will be curated by Jen Turey of Dance, Etc. and Jenifer Paulson Lee, and will include a line-up of local and guest choreographers.

The performance date for this event is July 30.

Monday Night Musicals

Every Monday night during rehearsals for our summer shows, we will be showing movie musicals – come and sing along!

Dates will be June 30, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, August 4.

Connecticut's Got Talent

12.14 Foundation will be providing "celebrity" judges who will award fun prizes to contestants.