FLINT-Flint Youth Theatre announces open auditions and technical interviews for The Great Gilly Hopkins. The play is based on the Newbery Honor novel written by Katherine Paterson and adapted by David Paterson and Steve Liebman with direction by FYT Artistic Director Designate, Jeremy Winchester. Auditions are open to all students in grades 5 and above and will be held Tuesday, December 21. Technical interviews are open to all students in grades 7 and above. Auditions and technical interviews are from 6:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. with check-in beginning after 6:00 P.M. All auditions and interviews will take place at FYT, 1220 East Kearsley Street in the Flint Cultural Center, using FYT’s Main Entrance.
Gilly Hopkins is determined to be an unpleasant foster kid. As she bounces from one home to the next she has a reputation for being brash, brilliant and completely unmanageable. And when forced to move once again, Gilly embarks on a no-holds-barred campaign to terrorize everyone in her new surroundings. The Great Gilly Hopkins is rich with humor and emotion hitting home with young people and adults, alike.
Those auditioning are asked to wear a loose shirt, sweat pants, tennis shoes and have hair pulled back. No skirts, jeans or head coverings. The student roles available for this production are as follows:
The central character, Gilly Hopkins, an 11 to 12-year-old girl
Agnes Stokes, an 11 to 12-year-old female classmate
William Ernest, an 8 to 10-year-old boy
Students interested in auditioning specifically for the role of Gilly Hopkins are advised to call FYT at 810.237.1530 to obtain a copy of a short speech which the student will need to prepare for auditions.
Actors who are older than the ages of the characters will be considered if they can believably play the ages of these characters. Height and physical maturity will be factors. FYT is committed to ethnically mixed companies.
Rehearsals for The Great Gilly Hopkins will begin Monday, January 3 with a company meeting on Monday, December 27. Performances of The Great Gilly Hopkins will run from February 11 through 26. For further information about auditions, interviews or performances call FYT at 810.237.1530. For more information about the play visit www.flintyouththeatre.org.
The Great Gilly Hopkins production design is by FYT Executive Artistic Director,
William P. Ward with stage management by FYT Junior Resident Artist, Bary Lehr. The cast and crew will include FYT Resident Artists and Guest Artists as well as three roles for student actors and no fewer than two student technicians on the stage crew.
