This Saturday, West Seattle’s own Twelfth Night Productions has three rounds of auditions for 8-16 year-olds to be part of its summer production of “Oliver!” There’s one session of “general auditions” and two of “optional prepared auditions” – read on for full details in Twelfth Night’s announcement:

Twelfth Night Productions is looking for children to join the cast of their upcoming production, Oliver! Based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel Oliver Twist, Oliver! Is the musical version of the story of a young orphan boy who leaves the harsh conditions of a 19th century London workhouse and eventually falls into the hands of a crafty criminal named Fagan. Fagan matches Oliver up with a young scallywag called the Artful Dodger who teaches him the art of picking pockets. With music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! features beloved classics including “Food, Glorious Food,” “Where Is Love?” “Pick a Pocket or Two,” “I’d Do Anything,” “As Long as He Needs Me,” and “Consider Yourself.” Auditions for younger actors will take place May 14th with auditions for adults to be announced later.

Children’s Audition Information
General auditions for students:
• Students (ages 8-16): May 14th 2011 from 12:30-4:00pm.
• Bring a photograph if you have one available and please come prepared to learn a song, and some choreography.
Optional prepared auditions:
• Students (ages 8-16): May 14th 2011 from 10:00am-12:00pm or 4:15-6:00pm
• Those who wish to present a prepared monologue and song may sign up for a time listed above.

Lots more details after the jump, including rehearsal and performance dates:

The audition announcement continues:

• For individual auditions, please prepare a monologue, and 32 bars of a standard Broadway song. Please bring sheet music in the key you will sing it in (the accompanist will not transpose on the spot, and we do not do auditions with CD accompaniment or a cappella singing). The song and the monologue together should not last more than three minutes. Also, please bring a headshot or recent photograph and resume if you have one, listing prior theater experience.

Rehearsal and Performance Dates:
• Rehearsals begin June 15th, 2011 and will take place Sunday through Thursday, from 7:00 – 10:00pm.
• Performances run August 5th – 21st 2011

To sign up for an audition:
• If you would like to attend the general auditions, please email tnpauditions@gmail.com with “GENERAL AUDTION” in the subject line.
• To schedule a prepared audition, please contact: tnpauditions@gmail.com with “PREPARED AUDTION” in the subject line.
Callbacks will be May 22nd from 12:30 – 3:00pm.
Twelfth Night Productions will be casting the following parts:
• Oliver Twist, a sweet and innocent workhouse boy Soprano, age 9 – 13
• Artful Dodger, a troubled youth, age 9 – 16
• Charlotte, Mr. Sowerberry’s daughter, age 13 – 20
• Members of Fagin’s gang (boys, girls playing the role of boys)
• Work house boys (boys, girls playing the role of boys)
• Townspeople

Additional Part Information:

Oliver plays 8-13. An orphan with an unusually resilient spirit and positive attitude. He endures many hardships and abuses but somehow never loses a sense of the beauty of life. Innocent and wide-eyed. Strong singer.

Artful Dodger plays 12-16. Confident and wise beyond his years. The Dodger is a professional pickpocket with a welcoming, positive spirit. Strong singer, strong mover. May also appear as workhouse boy.

Workhouse Boys/Fagin’s Gang. Several boys and/or girls playing boys who play 8-15 who will double as both workhouse boys and members of Fagin’s gang. Mostly ensemble singing, with some brief solo lines.

Workhouse Boys Several boys and/or girls playing boys who play 8-12 who will appear in the workhouse and some brief walk-on roles/crowd scenes later in the show. Ensemble singing.

Twelfth Night also is part of the ACT Young Playwrights Program, with a staged reading Tuesday night of two original, high-school-student-written plays at Kenyon Hall, 7 pm.