Characters come alive at “Secret Garden” open auditions
Thespians and new actors alike transformed into different people during the open auditions for “The Secret Garden.”
The two hours of flipping through scripts, going over lines and interacting with other characters were well spent for the group of actors and actresses who gathered in the lecture theater. They'll all be part of the 2014 spring play “The Secret Garden,” directed by Judy Gonzales and Beth Heyart.
“The Secret Garden” is about a young girl named Mary who is sent to live with her uncle after her parents die of cholera. She soon finds a hidden garden behind a gate on her uncle's property. With her cousin Colin and friend Dickon, they transform the garden into a paradise through their love of nature and friendship and find a way to happiness and acceptance. The story was written by Frances Burnett and the play being featured is adapted by Tim Kelly.
The audition process was set in a rotating system where the people auditioning read over a section of a scene and were put randomly into groups. They are given a part and go up on stage to read the scene in the character they've been given. Once everyone has been given the chance to try out every character in a scene, the group leaves the room while Gonzales and Heyart discuss the parts and who best suited the role. Participants then chatted and ate cupcakes while waiting for the results to be read aloud, accompanied by a makeshift drum-roll over scripts and notepads.
“Acting is a blast,” said Shawn Smith, who was cast as the parts of John, Phil and the bellboy. “Even with the nerves and getting up there without being assured that you'll get the part of not, they're fair.”
Jennifer Lothian, who was cast as the cook, was pleased with the audition process.
“I like this form of auditions. We can get the feel of the character,” Lothian said.
However, Gonzales said she believes the auditions are the hardest part of the drama process and putting the right person to the right role is complicated. Heyart was also pleased with the auditions and was happy that each actor that auditioned was cast.
“It's exciting to see (the actors) grow as individuals. It starts with a script and creating whole worlds,” Gonzales said.
The play will take about six weeks to be completed. The schedule may seem tight, but Gonzales believes that it's the best path of action for the actors due to their varying schedules. Unlike high school where practices are after classes in the afternoon for four or five days a week, these practices are more scattered and more pressure is put onto the actors to memorize their lines and practice outside of rehearsal.
“We work hard and we play hard,” Gonzales said. “We do it because we love it."
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
More Collegian News Articles
- Water park hopes to flood with more visitors
- Rock the record store
- Tennessee singers wow Delta community
- Frankenmuth bringin’ back the 80’s
Recent Collegian News Articles
Discuss This Article
MOST POPULAR COLLEGIAN
Family fun awaits at Dow Diamond By Nicole Black and Lindsi Hebert
Water park hopes to flood with more visitors By Jeffrey Alcorta
Delta opens learning center in Uganda By Kaitlyn Skrzypczak
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST COLLEGIAN NEWS
- Family fun awaits at Dow Diamond
- Minor League, major fun!
- Too little too late
- Delta commencement ceremony honors hundreds of students
- Monsters, zombies and blood help students learn in English class
- Delta opens Veterans’ Lounge
- Delta pushes to give students information on graduates’ career success and e...
RECENT COLLEGIAN CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- New Writers and Illustrators Win Decades-Old Science...
- Moving Resources For Military Families
- Historic Agreement Signed By Red Cross and Armed Forces
- Salonpas® Brand Stands the Test of Time
- Tips to “Yard Your Way” This Spring
- Upgraded Upstate Power Grid Will Deliver a Smarter,...
- A Story To Sing About
- The Gap in Gum Care: Why Caring For Your Teeth’s F...
- Top Tips for Signature Scents and Better-Smelling Laundry
- A Dog Trainer’s Top Tips to Support Pets Through Life S...
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- BookTrib's Bites: Four Captivating Spring Reads
- Moms Kick Back with Mamaritas
- Generac Urges Americans to Prepare for Power Outages Early
- Youth Apprenticeship Week Spotlights Opportunities
- New Expo Showcases AI Innovation
- Self-Care and Mental Health Tips for Caregivers
- Adventure Awaits: Discover the Playset that Brings...
- Need Auto Glass Repair? Don’t Despair
- Pioneering Fast and Affordable Broadband for the Underserved
- 7 Reasons Renting an RV Should Be On Every Family’s S...
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Guidenar Launches New Career Test for Gen Z
- GotIt! Education Offers MathGPT Free to All State & Community Colleges
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- Semiconductor Research Corp unveils 2024 Research Call, $13.8M Funding
- Charles River Associates Opens Second Scholarship Cycle, Expands to the UK