Venice Theatre Accepting Video Submissions for SummerStock Auditions

March 31, 2021 – Sarasota

Venice Theatre is pleased to announce it is accepting video submissions for its SummerStock program. This year’s show is Young Frankenstein.  Director Brad Wages and Music Director Peter Madpak are accepting video submissions up to April 20, 2021. High school and college-aged students that are interested in auditioning must send Wages a YouTube video link (instructions follow) of a one-minute monologue and 16-32 bars of a song that is in the Broadway or contemporary musical theatre genre. Callbacks, at present, are planned to be in person the week of April 26, 2021. If a student cannot attend callbacks, they will be sent a cutting from the script and/or a song. They will need to record the piece and return it to Wages.

Young Frankenstein will be performed July 8-11 and 14-17, 2021 on the theatre’s MainStage in the Jervey Theatre. With a book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan and Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks, the hilarious comedy is based on the 1974 film. The electrifying stage adaptation is sure to leave audiences in stitches and will expose a new generation to Brooks’ brand of comedy if they are not already familiar with it.  The plot follows Dr. Frankenstein (that’s Fronkensteen) to a castle in Transylvania as he seeks to fulfill his grandfather’s legacy by bringing a corpse back to life. With help and hindrance from servant Igor, buxom assistant Inga, and needy fiancée Elizabeth, his experiment yields success and unexpected consequences.

SummerStock is a tuition-based high-energy musical theatre “boot camp” for high school and college-aged students planning to move into the world of professional theatre. Tuition is $445 and scholarships are available for qualified applicants. Those who participate in callbacks and those who are cast in the show will be required to follow all Covid-19 protocols in place at Venice Theatre. Keeping the health and safety of its students and community foremost in its decision making, the theatre could make changes to the program if the pandemic worsens.

Acceptance to this program is by video audition only and students must be going into high school by fall 2021. Students are invited to send video submissions to Brad Wages at Bradwages@venicetheatre.net no later than April 20, 2021. Those with questions about the video submission process are asked to call him at 941-484-4033, ext. 224.

SummerStock is the perfect program for students who want training by professionals to professional standards. Rehearsals will run from 7 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays from May 17 through June 12.  Starting June 14 through opening night, rehearsals will run 2 to 9 p.m. Again, performance dates are July 8, 2021 through July 17, 2021.  There will be some double performance days.  

Students who are unable to submit an audition video or who would like more information are invited to contact Brad Wages at 941-484-4033, ext. 224 or Bradwages@venicetheatre.net.

Again, SummerStock is a tuition-based program open to rising high school freshmen through college-aged students. Tuition is $445. Scholarships are available to qualified applicants. Additional information can be found at www.venicetheatre.org or by contacting Sandy Davisson in the Education & Outreach Department at 941-484-4033, ext. 224 or SandyDavisson@venicetheatre.net.