RARE Productions - Open autition query

[Chouli]

Hi

This is my first post, so hello all and thanks for reading.

My daughter recently attended an open audition for a part in a show organised by RARE PRODUCTIONS, which is a youth theatre company. From the information I have read on the internet, they seem like a well-organised, reputable company.

My daughter has not attended any kind of auditions before, outside of her regular dancing school, so we really went just to get a bit of an insight into how things go, with a view that if she was chosen, then fantastic, but if not, then at least she had a fun and interesting experience. It was a busy audition process with just a touch short of 300 attendees (I know this to be true as my daughter was one of the last groups in).

So today we received a letter to say that she had been offered a place in one of the groups. I am gobsmacked and delighted and I know my daughter will be over the moon to have been picked. However, I do wonder just how many children actually *do* make it through the auditions as there is a fee involved (and I should add that I think it is a reasonable fee for all it includes), and I wondered just how much prestige there is to something like this? Does anyone know if the end result is a good-quality production? DD is not really *shy*, but does lack confidence and I am hoping this would be a good boost to her self-esteem, (and of course, being her mum, I think she's great, LOL) but I wondered if it actually meant that she *does* stand out (though I won't be dragging her off to the West End just yet, haha).

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm a bit afraid to be shouting from the rooftops, just in case every child gets picked in these sorts of schemes. Does anyone have any experience of them? I read through one thread on here, but it didn't give out much information.

Many thanks

Chouli.

[jasmine2]

Hi

Well done to your daughter....which production is it?
My daughter has done 4 shows with them and has loved every minute of it.
They do not take on everybody, they do have reserves in case anyone drops out. We have found the end shows to be very proffesional and well worth the money.

Good luck with what you decide..xx

[Livy2]

Hi,

My DD has also done many shows with RARE. Can I ask how old your DD is and if she is in Red or Green and which show/area it is? The first show my DD did with them was Les Mis and although she was very young at the time, we were blown away when we saw the shows. You can offer to help out backstage at the shows (or dress rehearsal) if you like as they are always keen to have parents helping out in the dressing rooms especailly withthe little ones. They all get a script and have to learn lines/songs and dance routines. At the last audition my DD attended there were over 300 kids and they usually take about 45 kids per team.

Good luck

[bcnups]

First of all, congratulations to your dd! Our experience was similar to the other writers on here. Dgd announced she wanted to act, and applied to an open audition with Rare productions Youth Theatre a few months later. Yes, there were over 300 children applying. Dgd aged eight years at the time, (somewhat to our amazement,because she had no formal training) was eventually offered a speaking role in Annie. I think they like to encourage first timers. She learned her lines, attended every rehearsal and enjoyed the experience immensely. The whole family were blown away by the final show. She went as far as to apply for the next show, Oliver!, and was offered a part in the chorus, which she intended to accept. But her life took another turn. She was taken up by an agent, and now a veteran of eleven years, has since appeared fleetingly in films and on television.

[Georgeoliver]

fantastic! where do you hear about open auditions like this?

[Livy2]

They have a website - RARE Productions and list their auditions on there. They also advertise in the local papers and you can join them on facebook.

[bcnups]

To be honest, when dgd said she wanted to act I was thinking vaguely of it as being in the future (like joining RADA or something - almost the only establishment I'd heard of). There was no drama input from Primary school, and we'd no idea what acting classes were available locally, or what they cost, or what standard they might be. And having little professional experience, no idea if that was appropriate. Certainly, we had little understanding of what musical theatre might involve. My experience of the theatre is from the audience point of view.
I saw a Rare Productions "open audition" advertisment in the local paper, and brought it to her attention. She immediately said she wanted to try out. Although she is a lovely child, we didn't expect her to be successful first time out. Especially as she had no acting/singing/dancing input at all. We certainly had a lot to learn. We've all come a long way in the last three years! Dgd has learned on film sets and on location; and worked hard, but also had lots of fun. Certainly, NAPM has been really informative, and the shared expertise on here has been really helpful.

[Chouli]

Hi

Well done to your daughter....which production is it?
My daughter has done 4 shows with them and has loved every minute of it.
They do not take on everybody, they do have reserves in case anyone drops out. We have found the end shows to be very proffesional and well worth the money.

Good luck with what you decide..xx

Thank you so much for replying, jasmine2. She's going to be performing in 'Annie'. She already has performed in the chorus of a shortened version of it in her dancing school , so she really wanted to do the whole thing as she enjoyed it so much. I appreciate your input; it really helped us make our decision! (I've just paid the fees, so that's that decided, then!).

Hi,

My DD has also done many shows with RARE. Can I ask how old your DD is and if she is in Red or Green and which show/area it is? The first show my DD did with them was Les Mis and although she was very young at the time, we were blown away when we saw the shows. You can offer to help out backstage at the shows (or dress rehearsal) if you like as they are always keen to have parents helping out in the dressing rooms especailly withthe little ones. They all get a script and have to learn lines/songs and dance routines. At the last audition my DD attended there were over 300 kids and they usually take about 45 kids per team.

Good luck

Hi Livy2. Thanks for replying. My daughter is 10 and the show is 'Annie'. Yeah, I'm very impressed with everything so far. I called the office to pay the fee today, and spoke to a really nice chap who said he would be at the children's first rehearsal, so that's made me very happy. Glad to hear that your DD has been happy to do the shows. I am just gobsmacked that DD trotted into the audition on her own and was happy to do all that in front of strangers. I have a sneaking suspicion that she might actually *not* be my daughter at all, LOL.

First of all, congratulations to your dd! Our experience was similar to the other writers on here. Dgd announced she wanted to act, and applied to an open audition with Rare productions Youth Theatre a few months later. Yes, there were over 300 children applying. Dgd aged eight years at the time, (somewhat to our amazement,because she had no formal training) was eventually offered a speaking role in Annie. I think they like to encourage first timers. She learned her lines, attended every rehearsal and enjoyed the experience immensely. The whole family were blown away by the final show. She went as far as to apply for the next show, Oliver!, and was offered a part in the chorus, which she intended to accept. But her life took another turn. She was taken up by an agent, and now a veteran of eleven years, has since appeared fleetingly in films and on television.

Thanks bcnups! Wow! Great to hear about your DGD; she must be very talented!! I did wonder if the speaking parts were already decided upon? DD was the only solo singer in her last dancing school show, and she has a good clear, expressive speaking voice (she will happily volunteer for reading durng school assemblies) so I would love her to have a small speaking part (nothing too demanding, though, as I am really too nervous to be a 'showbiz mum', LOL)

fantastic! where do you hear about open auditions like this?

Hi Georgeoliver. We picked up a flyer after attending a pantomime at a local theatre. I had heard that the company had advertised the audition in lots of local places and some relevant publications, though.

To be honest, when dgd said she wanted to act I was thinking vaguely of it as being in the future (like joining RADA or something - almost the only establishment I'd heard of). There was no drama input from Primary school, and we'd no idea what acting classes were available locally, or what they cost, or what standard they might be. And having little professional experience, no idea if that was appropriate. Certainly, we had little understanding of what musical theatre might involve. My experience of the theatre is from the audience point of view.
I saw a Rare Productions "open audition" advertisment in the local paper, and brought it to her attention. She immediately said she wanted to try out. Although she is a lovely child, we didn't expect her to be successful first time out. Especially as she had no acting/singing/dancing input at all. We certainly had a lot to learn. We've all come a long way in the last three years! Dgd has learned on film sets and on location; and worked hard, but also had lots of fun. Certainly, NAPM has been really informative, and the shared expertise on here has been really helpful.

Wow, that does sound like an amazing journey! When we went to the audition and saw many other girls slinging themselves about in the theatre foyer and dancing and being very loud and excitable, I just told her to get in there, enjoy herself, and sing the other lot under the table, as I hoped her singing would be trump card, as it was clear that lots of the other girls there were very light on their feet and bendy! DD is a great performer, and a good "groover" but doesn't have as much natural "grace" as her peers! So, what I'm trying to say is that I didn't think she'd have much chance, if what they were looking for was a bunch of little Tinkerbelles. Fortunately, it appears they were not .

And thanks again for taking time to reply, everyone! Your thoughts certainly helped us decide to give it a go, so...paperwork done...fees paid.... "Life is a cabaret old chum" and all that!!