MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP AUDITIONS

MEAN GIRLS JR advanced summer camp
at Imago Theatre
August 2- 14, 2027
Monday through Friday 8:30 - 3:30pm
performances
Friday August 13 at 6pm
Saturday August 14 at 11am

These auditions are for placement in the camp ONLY.
There will be additional auditions on day one of camp that will consist of learning and singing a song from the show, learning a dance combination and possibly call backs.

This is a tuition based camp for highly motivated and talented musical theater-lovin’ middle schoolers. Students accepted into camp will be asked to pay the camp fee of $900. We offer 25 - 50% tuition assistance to those in need. A tuition assistance form may be filled out an submitted upon acceptance.

All kids auditioning should have previous musical theater experience and be entering grades 6th - 9th in the Fall of 2027. Priority goes to students with extensive musical theater performance experience. We move quickly in this camp and expectations are high.

Regardless of experience, everyone must audition in person on one of the available days. Timeslots may be added as spots fill.

New-to-PDC musical theater students will be asked to provide a letter of recommendation and an email address from a school instructor, program director or teacher who they have worked with previously.
Current advanced PDC students or PDC kids who have been in at least 2 productions will not need to provide additional information at audition time.

Are you a leader?
PDC Advanced Middle School Summer Camp is a leadership program - being talented in musical theater is one thing, but being a team player who is supportive of everyone is another. We want kids who not only have great theater chops but who believe they are only as good as everyone else around them. This is why we ask for a recommendation from instructors for students we don’t know. We will ask these instructors about your child’s attitude toward team work and hard work, timeliness, dedication to rehearsal and kindness toward their fellow castmates.

AUDITION GUIDELINES

Auditioning can be very nerve wracking! You got this!

PLEASE PREPARE THE SONGS LISTED BELOW -coming soon!- we will post asap

AUDITIONS MUST BE MEMORIZED.

You will sing with a backing track (track coming soon!)

PLEASE DO NOT THE SONG A CAPELLA

WITH THESE SHORT AUDITIONS, WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR PERFECTION, but we will take note of your:
Preparation
Acting
Vocal ability
Energy/Essence- Did you put in the work to create a character? CAN I SEE THAT CHARACTER IN YOU?

“Messing up” on your audition is not a catastrophe and will not necessarily keep you from being accepted. It is how you recover from a mistake that we notice.

REMEMBER:

THE PERSON OR PEOPLE IN THE ROOM ARE ROOTING FOR YOU. Everyone wants you to be great. We’ve all been in your shoes and we will be cheerleaders in that room so things stay as light and fun as possible.

*A NOTE ABOUT WHAT TO SING: Please prepare approx 60 seconds of a song to showcase yourself. Try not to choose the easiest part, but a part that shows your range or an emotional moment. Tell the story of the character and the song. Work to understand what you as the character are saying. If you believe it we believe it.

Please memorize your portion of the song you plan to sing. Do not choose a song with mostly talking or rap - please sing. Many new songs from modern musical theater are simply pop songs that I hope you will avoid. Don’t shout a song. Steer clear of songs with swear words - it is totally unnecessary in a short audition. We need to hear you sing.

It’s usually a good idea to choose a song you can personally relate to in some way- you will perform it more naturally and not be attempting to copy an actor you have seen play it.
You can find your own backing tracks by searching your song title and “karaoke” or “backing track” usually it comes up with a Youtube or iTunes link. If you need help or recommendations on what to sing please let Caroline know.

*ALWAYS TREAT YOUR SOLO LIKE A MONOLOGUE. It is never only about singing in musical theater. I am looking at your acting ability as well. Be sure the portion of your song is memorized and you have made clear character choices. You must always know who you (the character) are speaking or singing to in the song! It is not enough to say “I’m alone in my room”- we are always speaking to someone when we wish for or need something on stage. I don’t mean “I’m singing to the audience”or “the director”. I mean who does the character wish could hear these words? Usually there is conflict in the story or song- maybe you have been hurt by someone, you are trying to convince someone of something, you want someone to cheer you up, you love someone and you want them to know, etc. etc etc so many possibilities… so who is it? This is the essence and energy of the character.

DO NOT LOOK AT THE PANEL of people WHILE YOU SING. Your character is not talking to us. But who are they talking to?