| Youth Auditions 2023

UPDATED: March 3

Union Avenue Opera is seeking youth artists for the roles of Flora and Miles in The Turn of the Screw and the roles of Little Boy/Edgar, Little Girl, and Young Coalhouse Walker III in Ragtime.

Roles available:
Turn of the Screw
Flora: female, 7-10 years old, any ethnicity, voice range: soprano
Miles: male, 9-12 years old, any ethnicity, voice range: voice not yet changed

Ragtime
Little Boy/Edgar: male, 8-12 years old, Caucasian, voice range: voice not yet changed
Little Girl: female, 7-10 years old, Caucasian, voice range: mezzo/soprano
Young Coalhouse Walker III: male, 4-6 years old, African American, silent role

Age allowances may be made for exceptional musicians/singers and ability to appear younger on stage.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS: All auditioning artist should bring a current photo (need not be a headshot, but the child should be the only one pictured). Parents/guardians will be asked to provide any date conflicts for May/June at auditions. Due to the tight rehearsal schedule, UAO cannot accommodate conflicts that occur on or after the start of staging rehearsals.

FLORA and MILES should prepare (in English) SCENE II. THE WELCOME
[Download music HERE]

LITTLE BOY / EDGAR should prepare marked selection from NOTHING LIKE THE CITY
[Download music HERE].
Artist should also prepare and memorize lines from Act I: Prologue
[Download lines HERE].

LITTLE GIRL should prepare marked selection from A SHTETL IZ AMEREKE
[Download music HERE].
Artist should sing on a “LA” for the audition, UAO will work with the artist to learn the Hebrew if cast in the show. When the part splits on the second page, artist should learn the lower notes.

YOUNG COALHOUSE WALKER III does not need to prepare anything in advance. Artist will be asked to stand on stage and follow simple staging instructions.

FOR ALL SINGING ROLES: Artist should prepare the music to the best of their ability in advance, but it does not need to be memorized. UAO staff will rehearse the music at the top of auditions with all artists before hearing individuals. Those auditioning for Flora and Miles will be paired up and asked to sing together following the individual auditions. UAO will provide an accompanist.

Thursday, March 30 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Union Avenue Opera
733 N. Union Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63108

Questions or to schedule an audition email emily[at]unionaveneuopera.org. Please include child’s name, role(s) auditioning for, age, and photo, along with parent/guardian’s name, email, and phone number in email. (If available please include child’s resume.)

All children must be registered with UAO prior to the audition date and accompanied by a parent/guardian who will stay on-site for the duration of the auditions (children will be released on a rolling basis).

REAHEARSAL AND PRODUCTION INFORMATION:

All performances and rehearsals will take place at Union Avenue Opera.

All artists will be expected to learn their role before the start of staging rehearsals and need to be memorized/off-book at that time.

Britten’s TURN OF THE SCREW
Conducted by Scott Schoonover
Directed by Nancy Bell
With Christine Brewer as Mrs. Grose

All dates should be considered mandatory.

Music Rehearsals: UAO will schedule approx. 4 music rehearsals in May and June. Exact dates TBA.
Staging Rehearsals: June 19 to July 1 daytime and evening calls. Youth artists will not be called for every rehearsal and a schedule will be published no later than 2 weeks in advance.
Orchestra Rehearsal: July 2 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Dress Rehearsals: July 3, 4, 5 (runs start at 8:00pm, call time TBA). There will be a dress rehearsal the evening of Tuesday, July 4. No artist will be released over the holiday or holiday weekend.
Performances: July 7, 8, 14, 15 (all performances start at 8:00pm, call time TBA)

Flaherty & Ahrens’ RAGTIME
Conducted by Scott Schoonover
Directed by Shaun Patrick Tubbs

All dates should be considered mandatory.

Music Rehearsals: UAO will schedule approx. 4 music rehearsals in May and June. Exact dates TBA.
Final sing-through: July 30 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Staging Rehearsals: July 31 to August 12 evening and weekend calls. Youth artists will not be called for every rehearsal and a schedule will be published no later than 2 weeks in advance.
Orchestra Rehearsal: August 13 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Dress Rehearsals: August 14, 15, 16 (runs start at 8:00pm, call time TBA).
Performances: August 18, 19, 25, 26 (all performances start at 8:00pm, call time TBA)

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Parent/guardian is responsible for getting child to/from rehearsals on time.
  • Costumes are provided.
  • All singing artists will receive a small cash stipend.
  • All artists will receive two complementary tickets to their production.
  • A single parent/guardian ticket will be available each night for the parent/guardian who brings artist to the performance if they wish to stay and watch.
Youth Audition Announcement 2023Download