Theatre North West is looking for children.
The city's professional theatre company is staging a unique version of the classic Dickens tale A Christmas Carol this coming season, and for it they need some aspiring young actors to take on some key roles.
The most notable is beloved character Tiny Tim.
"It's someone everybody loves, someone who represents that poor, malnourished side of London life in those days, so we need someone who can evoke that for the audience. And we will need two," said TNW's producing artistic director Jack Grinhaus.
Each role filled by a child will be double-cast so all the pressure of the late-November, early-December run will not be on one sole kid.
Grinhaus has already communicated these needs to different arts groups in town used to dealing with child actors, like the Speech Arts & Drama Festival and Bel Canto Children's Choir, but he is open to hearing about any child who desires a stage opportunity.
He just stresses that this is a professional production, and the more experience already gained on school stages or festival recitals, the more likely those children will be able to handle this level of acting.
"We want to find kids who really feel this is their calling," he said.
"This is a classic story, it's magical but it is based on real life realities, so the audience has to fall in love with them. They are a big part of transferring that emotional story of greed and misuse of power and desperation, giving way to realization and hope."
Each applicant will need to provide a strong photograph of the face/head and another of the full body.
Also, provide a resume listing their past experiences on-stage or if they can play an instrument, sing, dance, etc. Grinhaus said the lack of these past experiences is not a deal-breaker, but interested children and their parents should keep their expectations realistic, which is also one of the important lessons needed when considering the performing arts professions. It shouldn't stop anyone from trying.
"I totally understand where people are coming from on this, and I've had my interesting moments, too," he said.
"I remember, my first day working for the Grand Theatre (London, Ont.), my job was to audition dogs for a production of Miracle On 34th Street."
Application packages can be emailed ([email protected]) or dropped off (mail slot or rear entrance at #36-556 North Nechako Road) but must be delivered by end of the business day on July 31. In-person auditions will be held Aug. 8 and possibly additional days as well.
Casting call details
Boys: role of Tiny Tim, Boy with Turkey, Ensemble.
Height, preferably less than four-foot-10. Under the age of 12. It would be great if he looked as though he were about eight or nine years old. All cultural backgrounds considered. Needs to be able to sing well, speak with volume (i.e. project) and confidence, and be able to 'move.' Good with adults, comfortable on stage.
Girls: Height, preferably less than five feet. Aged between 11 and 13. All cultural backgrounds considered. Needs to be able to sing well, speak with volume (i.e. project) and confidence, and be able to 'move.' Good with adults, comfortable on stage. May play both a boy and a girl.
Actors must be available during the rehearsal period, Oct. 30 to Nov. 18, and for the entire production, Nov. 19 to Dec. 9 (with a potential extension to Dec. 12).
