Youth Auditions - The Ohio Light Opera (original) (raw)
Ohio Light Opera 2025 Festival Season
Youth Auditions
The Ohio Light Opera is thrilled to announce local youth auditions for our 2025 Festival Season productions of Brigadoon and Carousel! We are seeking young performers aged 8-18 with a passion for singing and acting to bring these timeless classics to life.
Carousel is a poignant and powerful musical that tells the story of Billy Bigelow, a charismatic but troubled carousel barker, and Julie Jordan, a kindhearted millworker, whose whirlwind romance leads to both joy and heartbreak. Set in a small New England coastal town, the narrative explores themes of love, redemption, and the impact of choices across generations. When Billy’s reckless decisions result in tragedy, he is given a second chance to make amends from beyond the grave, particularly to help guide his daughter, Louise. With its soaring Rodgers and Hammerstein score featuring classics like “If I Loved You,” “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over,” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” Carousel is celebrated for its emotionally rich storytelling and timeless exploration of human resilience and forgiveness.
Brigadoon is a whimsical and romantic musical about two American tourists, Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas, who stumble upon a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years. Entranced by the town’s charm and its warm-hearted inhabitants, Tommy falls in love with Fiona MacLaren, a spirited young woman who embodies the magic of Brigadoon. However, Tommy must grapple with the impossible choice between returning to his modern life or staying in the enchanted village forever, where time stands still but love endures. Featuring a lush score by Lerner and Loewe with songs like “Almost Like Being in Love” and “The Heather on the Hill,” Brigadoon is a timeless tale of love, destiny, and the beauty of believing in miracles.
Auditions
Friday, February 7th – Afternoon and Evening by appointment
The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH
What to Prepare All will be asked to sing an excerpt from “Whistle a Happy Tune.” Feel free to prepare from the Broadway or motion-picture soundtrack of The King and I, another Rogers and Hammerstein musical from which this song is taken. An accompanist will be provided at the audition and youth will be asked to sing along with others, as well as solo.
“Whistle a Happy Tune” SHEET MUSIC
Rehearsal Dates
Carousel – May 29 – June 1 and June 10 – 13
Brigadoon – June 2 – June 5 and June 15-18
Performances
Carousel – June 14, 18, 21, 27, July 1, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, 26, 29, August 1
Brigadoon – June 19, 25, 28, 29, July 5, 11, 13, 17, 19, 22, 26, August 1
Youth will be able to indicate interest/availability for both productions or one or the other. There is the potential to be cast in a single production or both based on interest/availability and the needs of the company. This is a wonderful opportunity for young performers to work alongside seasoned professionals and be part of a vibrant theatrical experience!