New Talent Competition on NBC

New Talent Competition
Simon Cowell & FremantieMedia, the producers from AMERICAN IDOL, team up with NBC in the search for the hottest variety & novelty acts from across the country! Are you talented? Audition at one of our open calls for the chance at being Simon's next big discovery and a huge cash prize!
Talents of all kinds are invited to try out. Individuals and groups welcome, singers, dancers, animal acts, bizarre novelty acts, magicians, comedians, belly dancers...all ages...the sky's the limit!! The series is scheduled to premiere this summer on NBC. Don't miss your opportunity to perform before a panel of celebrity judges on television and to prove to America YOU have what it takes to be the next big star!
Attend An Open Call—Here's How:
Please Note: Pre-book your audition time by e-mailing your confirmation and get on the VIP LIST! email: americantalent@aol.com to confirm your audition reservation! OR CALL: 323-782-0430. Just let us know WHAT CITY you are coming to!
Let us know if you have an elaborate set up, such as bands, illusionists, animals...so we can give you time to set up. Also, call us if you have animals or are performing physical and/or dangerous stunts as there is paperwork we need you to fill out before. Production reserves the right to refuse an audition to any individual or act, in its sole discretion.
A photo ID is required in order to audition.
Applicants under the age of 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and must have parental permission.
Please come to the audition dressed in as much of your costume as possible.
Candidates must be either a US citizen, legal permanent resident of the US, or possess a current legal visa allowing you to seek employment freely in the US.
Animals: must have proper immunization papers*
Singers: prepare a second number
Open Call Dates/Locations
Doors scheduled to open 10AM
Thurs. April 6, Fri. April 7, Sat. April 8
Sheraton Lost Angeles Downtown Hotel711 South Hope St. (south side of Wilshire)LOS ANGELES, CA 90017
Wed. April 12 & Thurs. April 13
The W Hotel Chicago City Center172 West Adams St.CHICAGO, IL 60603
Mon. April 17
The Westin Hotel Time Square270 Est 43rd St.NEW YORK CITY, NY 10036
Wed. April 19
The Crowne Plaza Hotel-LaGuardia Airport area104-04 Ditmars Blvd.EAST ELMHURST, NY 11369
Sat. April 22 & Sun. April 23
America's MartBuilding #2-Atlanta Gift Mart230 Spring St.ATLANTA, GA 30303

Casting Call from MTV.com

"Are You MTV's Most Talented Singer, Dancer or Actor? How About a Triple Threat?Are you ready to be discovered on MTV?MTV and three celebrity judges are looking for 10 talented, show stopping newcomers to compete in the areas of singing, dance and acting for the ultimate title of MTV's Most Talented.We are searching for confident and eager aspiring idols to show their undiscovered talent and appear on MTV's Most Talented!The search begins in Los Angeles so if you have what it takes to compete, MTV's Most Talented wants you!If you live in the Los Angeles area and appear to be between the ages of 18-24, send an e-mail to newshows@mtvstaff.com, ASAP, and be sure to include:Your nameCity you live inYour Phone #Attach a recent picture of yourselfAnd tell us whether you're a singer, dancer, actor or a triple threat!"

So You Think You Can Dance - NYC Auditions

On Thursday, March 2 I attended the NYC So You Think You Can Dance auditions. Unfortunately, I can't tell you a lot about it because we all signed a confidentiality contract! But I can tell you that it was absolutely FREEZING, I made it to the second day of auditions before getting cut, and you are going to see some AMAZING dancers this season.

Check out the SYTYCD web site at http://www.fox.com/dance/ for audition cities and dates.

The Drowsy Chaperone - Broadway Audition

Equity auditions for the Drowsy Chaperone were held on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at Stepping Out Studios (37 W. 26th street, 9th fl., btwen Broadway & Sixth Ave.)

The Backstage Magazine Casting Ad was as follows:

Bernard Telsey Casting is casting future replacements for the Broadway production of The Drowsy Chaperone, a new musical. Casey Nicholaw, dir.-choreo. (at auditions); Bob Martin & Don McKellar, book; Greg Morrison, music; Lisa Lambert, lyrics. Rehearsals begin early to mid-March; previews in April; ongoing run begins in May.

Seeking -- Ensemble Dancers Who Sing: mid-20s to late 40s, male and female, unique dancers to play various charactgers and possibly understudy principal roles, seeking an ethnically diverse ensemble, all are encouraged to attend.

Auditions will be held March 1 at 10 a.m. (males) & 2 p.m. (females) at Stepping Out Studios, 37 W. 26th St., 9th fl. (btwn. Broadway & Sixth Ave.), NYC. Be ready to dance wit sneakers for men and heels for women. After dancing, you ma ybe asked to sing 16 bars of a 1920s style song. Bring sheet music for your song, a piano accompanist will be provided. Bring pix & resumes, stapled to gether. Equity chorus procedures are in effect. $1,422 min./wk. Equity Production Contract. (First posted 2/16/06).

I arrived at Stepping Out Studios a little after 2 PM. As usual, I had to show I.D. at the door to enter the building. I liked Stepping Out Studios because the facilities appeared to be clean. Its amazing what a coat of paint and some mardi gras decorations can do for atmosphere. There were two studios on the 9th fl. (I'm not sure if there are more floors), a large hall where the auditions were taking place, and a smaller but still large hall. Dressing facilities were adequate. As a note, it WAS necessary to walk through the audition studio to get to the second studio for registration and also to the dressing rooms. If you ever experience this, make sure that you avoid unnecessary trips in and out of the audition hall. Always be quiet, courteous, and stay out of the way of the dancers!

Since I am non-equity, I was not given the opportunity to audition (See "Chicago Audition and Equity v. Non Equity" for reasoning) but I was able to leave a headshot and resume.

Out of interest, though, I still observed the audition through an open door.

Wardrobe: First of all, let me mention that all the equity ladies were in VERY good shape. There were multicolored leotards, half tops, fishnets, tights, and tiny skirts. Flattering makeup and hair half back were a norm. EVERYONE was wearing Laduca character shoes.

Laduca character shoes nearly deserve an entry of their own. They are the most flexible, comfortable and professional character shoe in the biz. In addition to their in-store line, they custom make shoes for Broadway shows. Anyone who goes to a Broadway audition and is wearing a brand other than Laduca shows that they're a newbie, in my opinion. Of course dancing always counts the most, but its also important to appear professional and experienced. Visit http://www.laducashoes.com/ to get your own pair.

Dancing/Choreography:

Casey Nicholaw was the choreographer and director at auditions (I am not sure whether he is choreographing the entire show or was simply responsible for auditions.) For those of you unfamiliar with Casey's work, he was the choreographer for Broadway's Spamalot.

The word that best describes the choreography at the audition is ADORABLE. The ladies were performing 1920s style moves that seemed to be inspired by the style of the Charleston and the Lindy Hop. There were a lot of free swinging leg movements, where one had to use momentum to make the leg swing freely in the hip (creating an almost paper-doll like effect.) I'd say that the most important thing in the Drowsy Chaperone audition was performance, followed by choreography retention. In the first cut, I didn't see any technically challenging steps.

That about sums up my observance of the Drowsy Chaperone Audition!

-L-