CHICAGO – Anyone can be a star – for a price! The annual CASTING PARTY is a unique opportunity for amateur theatre lovers to experience the thrill of being on stage in a professionally produced Chicago stage production – no experience or training required! The Casting Auction, in association with Kokandy Productions, will be auctioning off more than 30 roles for this season’s musical production, The ADDAMS FAMILY, on Friday, November 3, 2017 at Michelle’s Ballroom, 2800 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.
The evening of theatrical fun features all-you-can-eat buffet, an open bar, live entertainment from Kokandy Productions’ performers and a front-row seat to the most interesting auditions you’ve ever seen! Doors open at 6:30 pm and the Live Auction begins at 7:30 pm. Advance tickets for the CASTING PARTY, priced at $55, are currently available at castingauction.com ($75 at the door).
The Live & Silent Auctions
After food, drinks and mingling, a professional auctioneer starts the bidding for leading and major supporting roles in THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Throughout the evening, friends, family and supporters bid to win the role for who they want to play the part, and anyone can walk away with a role — no experience necessary! Supporting and ensemble roles are bid on in a silent auction throughout the night, and attendees may purchase a chorus or walk-on role at any time (or simply enjoy the party).
The Production
Once casting is complete, there are no worries for the winners — The Casting Auction provides professional directors, choreographers, and musicians to help guide them through rehearsals to star in their role! THE ADDAMS FAMILY will enjoy four public performances in April of 2018 at a popular Chicago theatre venue (to be announced).
The weird and wonderful family comes to devilishly delightful life in THE ADDAMS FAMILY, the magnificently macabre musical comedy created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and Drama Desk Award winner Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party).
THE ADDAMS FAMILY features an original story, and it’s every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. And if that weren’t upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before — keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.
A portion of proceeds from the CASTING PARTY and public performances of THE ADDAMS FAMILY will benefit Kokandy Productions, supporting not-for-profit theatre programming in Chicago.
The Partner Theater: Kokandy Productions
Kokandy Productions seeks to leverage the heightened reality of musical theater to tell complex and challenging stories with a focus on contributing to the development of Chicago-based musical theater works while raising the profile of Chicago’s storefront musical theater community. In its relatively brief history, Kokandy has received high critical acclaim and has been nominated for 36 Joseph Jefferson Awards, winning one for Sweet Smell of Success in 2014 and two for Heathers in 2016.
Allison Hendrix – Producing Artistic Director
John D. Glover – Artistic Producer
Scot T. Kokandy – Executive Producer
The Casting Auction
The Casting Auction is a not-for-profit organization that produces professional theatrical productions starring amateur theater lovers, and uses the profits from the production to benefit deserving theaters. Each year, the company chooses one local theater to partner with to create the experience known as the THE CASTING AUCTION. Over the past six years, The Casting Auction has raised over $300,000 for Chicago theatrical programming.
Kate Garassino O’Driscoll – Co-Artistic Director
Eric Martin – Co-Artistic Director
Heather Larkin – Company Manager
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