The Court House Players is holding back-to-back auditions over the next two Sundays for a pair of musicals: the comedy “Little Shop of Horrors” and the local period piece “Crickets on a Hill.”
Little Shop of Horrors
Auditions for “Little Shop of Horrors” will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Newington Baptist Church, 6169 Main Street, Gloucester.
In this Broadway and Hollywood musical, meek floral assistant Seymour stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II” after the coworker he has a crush on. Soon, however, this foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivorous plant begins promising Seymour unending fame and fortune as long as he keeps feeding it … his blood.
The show will be performed April 17-19 at Mathews High School.
For questions about the show and Sunday’s auditions, call 804-815-1734.
Crickets on a Hill
The nation is gearing up for its 250th birthday in July, and residents can become part of the festivities by joining the Mathews VA250 Committee and the Court House Players as they bring to life local musical “Crickets on a Hill.”
Auditions for the show will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, at the Cobbs Creek Art Center, 61 Cobbs Creek Lane, in Cobbs Creek. Rehearsals will begin in late April or early May, and show dates are July 2, 3, 5 and 17-19.
There are opportunities for everyone. Men and women of all ages are needed. The musical portrays the nature and general populous of the times, with roles ranging from Lord Dunmore and his loyalists to patriots fighting for freedom. One central character is a free black man. There will be limited opportunities for children ages 6-11, while children 12 and older will have active roles.
People aged 12 and older who would like to audition for a singing role must be ready to sing about 1 minute of a prepared song that shows their voice and range. Bring Karaoke-type background music on a CD, iPod, cell phone, etc. There are also non-singing roles.
The audition registration form and more information about auditions can be found online at courthouseplayers.org/shows.
Rehearsals for “Crickets on a Hill” will not begin until after the final performance of CHP’s spring musical “Little Shop of Horrors,” so actors and crew will be able to participate in both shows.
About the show
Written by Mathews natives Judy Ward and David Shuber, the musical hearkens back to the nation’s beginnings and provides a peek into life during the colonial era. Originally performed in 1976 to commemorate the nation’s bicentennial, “Crickets on a Hill” quickly became a beloved community treasure and now, 50 years later, it will be revived with additional characters, scenes, and staging as part of a full month of patriotic events in the county.
The musical celebrates driving out the last Royal Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, at the Battle of Cricket Hill, land situated on the mainland across Milford Haven from Gwynn’s Island in modern-day Mathews County.
“This isn’t simply a performance—Mathews County is stepping onto the stage with heart, history and hometown pride to celebrate our nation’s history. We invite the community to join in this celebration—both on stage and in the audience,” said Mathews VA250 Committee chairman Fred Lyon.
For more information about the upcoming productions, visit courthouseplayers.org.