Upcoming auditions at The Actors Theater

The Actors Theater of Orcas Island will hold auditions for their upcoming Christmas Radio Show at the Grange on Tuesday, November 8th and Thursday, November 10th at 6:30 pm. You will only need to attend one of the two auditions.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to be in a play, this is your chance to find out!!! A full production normally requires 35 to 40 three hour rehearsals over two or more months. This radio show will have six or seven rehearsals spread over a few weeks. Instead of having to memorize hundreds of lines, you will read from the script. The Actors Theater hopes to cast as many people as possible.

Auditions will consist of fun theater games and readings from the poem “T’was the Night Before Christmas” and other potential Christmas stories. Copies of the poem can be found below or in numerous other places on-line. There is a notebook with the poem, anticipated rehearsal and performance schedule and other documents at the Library counter. There may be minor changes to the rehearsal schedule to accommodate the needs of the actors.

There will be four performances of the Christmas Radio Show at the Grange between Thursday, December 8th and Sunday, December 11th. All performances will begin at 7:30 pm. Actors will need to arrive at the Grange by 6:30 pm each night.

For more information, or if you would like to audition but can not make either of the above dates, contact the Director, Doug Bechtel at (360) 317-5601 or at bechtel@rockisland.com.

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads,
And Mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

“Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen,
“On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Donner and Blitzen;
“To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
“Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes: How they twinkled! his dimples how merry,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight.
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.