CHANDLER Center for the ARTS

Chandler's Summer Youth Musical

Join scores of local teens and our indomitable kid chorus. Bye Bye Birdie, is a musical set in Sweet Apple, Ohio in 1958. The story was inspired by the phenomenon of Elvis’ draft notice for the Korean War in 1957. This Tony-award winning Broadway musical is filled with fantastic dance numbers and rock and roll crazed-star-struck teens, lots of small-town humor and big big laughs. Chandler is happy to announce that we will proceed with a filmed version of this year's summer youth musical! This year, so that we can keep everyone safe, and still create a great experience for all of us we will filming the entire production. Most numbers will be filmed outdoors on location, so that we can maximize social distancing while singing, dancing and acting. The completed film will be screened in a safe outdoor location sometime in the late summer.

Since the show will be a film, this year we have a new Director, Tess Holbrook.Tess graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Cinema Arts & Science, with a

focus on directing. She has worked on shows such as Cash Cab, Chicago Fire, and The Village from NBC. She's directed commercials, music videos, short films, and more. Currently, she runs the youth theater camp, The Chelsea Funnery. Tess is very excited to be directing the Conrad-crazed show Bye Bye Birdie.  

Also returning as star contributors are choreographer, Kim Nowlan Hathaway and Music Director, Molly Clark.

The schedule will differ from the SYM schedule of the past.  The performers will rehearse small groups in May on the weekends - mostly by zoom, and once school is out in June, will meet with the director and film crew (again in small groups) for filming/production. The beginning of July will be used for pickup shots and Voiceovers and the film will be edited over July. Final screenings will be held outdoors in early to mid August.  The schedule will be finalized taking into account the end of the school year and conflicts that performers may have.
 

AUDITION INFORMATION
We will be hosting auditions virtually for Bye Bye Birdie. 

Fill out the on-line registration and audition information will be emailed.
Virtual Audition Video Submission for Leads Due Date: Sunday April 18th
Virtual Callbacks for Leads will be conducted via zoom on at a later date.

Virtual Auditions are not required to perform in the ensemble, but they are encouraged if you would like a Featured Role in the Ensemble 
 

Teen Chorus (going into grade 7-12 or just graduated): Leads, Featured and Ensemble will need to submit audition videos. (If you only wish to be in the ensemble and creating solo recordings is overwhelming, please reach out to us and we are happy to waive this requirement.

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Elementary Chorus (Going into grade 2-6): At this point, there will be no auditions needed for the Elementary Chorus. 

Everyone who wants to be a part of the show  may participate.

Registration Fees: Teens $250 ~ Elementary chorus: $150.

If these fees are a financial hardship for your family, scholarship and volunteer options are available to help offset fees. 
 

CREW OPENINGS
There is also an opportunity for those who are interested in the technical side of filmmaking to help with the production and work on the film crew for the scenes you are not in. Karen Dillon, Chandler Executive Director, and award-winning filmmaker, will act as Producer and oversee the production crew.  Contact us for information about working on the film.