Set sail with ‘Moana Jr.’ at the Center Theatre
DOVER-FOXCROFT – The Center Theater has announced that auditions for the musical version of “Disney’s Moana Jr.” will take place on Friday, March 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, the 5th from 3 to 5 p.m. at Central Hall, 152 East Main Street. Vaccinated kids between the ages of 6 and 18 are encouraged to audition. No advance preparation or experience is required.
The 60-minute musical adventure, designed for school-aged performers, is based on the 2016 Disney film “Moana.” The production is being directed by Nathan Roach with vocal direction by Olga Maselli. Opening night will be Friday, May 27 at 7 p.m. with a total of seven performances over two weekends.
“We haven’t been able to do a spring kids production in a couple years because of COVID,” said Patrick Myers, executive director of the Center Theater, “So the fact that we’re able to plan for ‘Moana Jr.’ this spring is a hopeful sign that things are beginning to get back towards normal. Even so, given the high case counts in our community, we are still taking some common-sense precautions.”
Myers said these precautions include requiring all cast members to be vaccinated against COVID 19. “It’s a practical decision,” he said, “we required vaccinations for our previous show in December and took a risk on an exception to that rule. Because of that exception we almost had to cancel the entire show. Given the amount of time, money, and energy that goes into these performances, we must do all we can to ensure the physical health of the performers and financial health of the Theatre. Hopefully as case counts continue to drop, we’ll be able to drop this requirement for future productions. But in the meantime, we’re looking forward to escaping to Oceania with ‘Moana Jr.’”
“Moana Jr.” is a thrilling and heartwarming stage adaptation of the coming-of-age tale of Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. She and the demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as she learns to harness the power that lies within. Adapted for young performers, this musical includes favorite songs by Tony, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina, such as “How Far I’ll Go,” “Shiny,” and “You’re Welcome.”
For information on the upcoming auditions visit www.CenterTheatre.org or call the Center Theater at 207-564-8943. “Disney’s Moana Jr.” is presented through special arrangement with and all materials are provided by Music Theater International. The Center Theatre for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to make arts, education, and entertainment accessible to our rural communities to engage and inspire.
Music Theater International is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theaters from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theater as a vibrant and engaging art form. MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theater and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.