Shannon KeoughIt’s that time of year again when the Cabrini College Theatre chooses a musical to perform in the spring semester. This year’s selection is the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and auditions were held recently on Nov. 17 and 18.
Before the auditions started, nervous students filled the lobby outside of the theater waiting for his or her turn. Each student had to prepare an audition piece to sing as well as perform a dialogue from a provided text directly from the show. “It’s exciting to see some returning faces from last year’s musical and also to see some brand new faces and first year students in particular trying to get involved with the theater,” Dr. Michelle Filling, assistant professor of English and choreographer/casting judge, said.
One of the waiting students, junior English and secondary education major, Stephanie Iaccarino, chose to audition with the song “Astonishing” from “Little Women.” This would be Iaccarino’s third performance at Cabrini.
“I am a little nervous but excited because this is a different show,” Iaccarino said. “I never heard of it before so I am anticipating a really cool show,” Iaccarino said.
Another auditioning student was Joe Kimpflen, senior history and political science major. Kimpflen chose to sing “If I Can’t Love Her” from “Beauty and the Beast.” “I am feeling a little nervous, but the nervousness is always there before an audition,” Kimpflen said. “Auditions are the worst part of the whole process.”
Among the waiting students, one could be seen pacing around the Grace Hall Atrium listening to his iPod and practicing his audition piece over and over. Senior business and administration major, Matt Rowe, chose to sing “A Whole New World” from “Aladdin.”
“I hate singing in front of a small audience, but if it’s a full audience and there’s lights blinding my face where I can’t see the audience, I’m perfectly fine,” Rowe said.
After the auditions were over the casting judges were pleased with the talent available for the show.
“What I think we saw were some nice young people who were very serious about presenting themselves in the best light they could,” Dr. Thomas Stretton, theater director and assistant professor of education, said.
“I think it was very varied,” Dr. Adeline Bethany, casting judge and fine arts professor, said. “We had a variety of different types of talent.”
After the auditions were over, a total of 18 students shared their talents with the judges. The show is flexible when it comes to parts. Stretton explained that the show was performed in New York with a cast of nine, but he hopes to expand the cast to include more students.
The students started to breathe a sigh of relief after their audition.
“I think I did okay,” Kimpflen said. “I am a bass and jumping up to tenor range is a good thing. I have a chance. I think I have a good a chance as anyone.”
“It went alright and I was really nervous as usual,” Iaccarino said. “I’m happy and whatever happens happens. My goal is to sing, dance and have a great time; so I’m hoping to get into it and be a part of it because it is a great program.”
“I think it went well and I’m really nervous and I want to see the cast list now even though we just finished,” Rowe said. “I did better than I thought I was going to do.”
The show is going to take place in the spring semester during the last two weekends of March. The cast starts rehearsing immediately after winter break. “I’m looking for people who have ability but also indicate that they are flexible to build the experience,” Stretton said.
