  Mosaic Member Username: Mosaic Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2007 |
On Monday, June 18, 2007, Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit is hosting open auditions for the revival of the award-winning play, Now That I Can Dance—Motown 1962, sponsored by Target. Auditions will start at 5pm in the legendary space where some of Motown’s biggest hits were recorded —“Studio A” inside the Motown Historical Museum , formerly known as Hitsville USA . ( 2648 West Grand Boulevard , Detroit , Mich. ) Youth ages 11 and up, and adults of all ages are encouraged to audition for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to portray the teenage Marvelettes, 32-year-old Berry Gordy, 18-year-old Diana Ross, 12-year-old Stevie Wonder and other Motown legends in their early years. “After the success of Mosaic’s production of Purlie last year, we were eager to once again open our summer musical auditions to the entire Metro Detroit community,” said Rick Sperling , Mosaic’s Founder & CEO. “Much like Berry Gordy tapped into the incredible talent that existed in Detroit back in the 60’s, Mosaic is doing the same today.” Cast members of past Mosaic productions have gone on to sign major recording contracts and to perform on Broadway, in national touring companies, on television, and in feature films. Motown Records alumni including, Katherine Anderson Schaffner -- an original Marvelette, whose character is the narrator of Now That I Can Dance -- Annette Helton and Rosalind Holmes of The Vandellas, as well as famed Motown arranger Paul Riser, will be on hand to assist in judging the auditions. For more information on the auditions, including preparation and registration details, please visit www.mosaicdetroit.org/audition s-motown.htm or to speak to someone in person, call 313-872-6910. Originally produced by Mosaic in 2005, Now That I Can Dance chronicles the life-changing, roller coaster journey of five girls from Inkster , Michigan , who were destined to make musical history. Signed by Motown while still students at Inkster High School, these young women, now known to the world as The Marvelettes, went on to record the first Motown song ever to reach number one on the pop charts -- “Please, Mr. Postman.” Produced in cooperation with the Motown Historical Museum , Now That I Can Dance will be performed at the Detroit Film Theatre in the Detroit Institute of Arts, August 3-12. As part of “Target Half-price Weekend” generously donated by Target , August 3, 4 & 5 only, all tickets for the first weekend of Now That I Can Dance are available at a reduced rate. To purchase tickets, call the DIA box office at (313) 833-4005 or visit www.mosaicdetroit.org. Additional sponsors of Now That I Can Dance—Motown 1962, include MotorCity Casino, Comerica, Rock Financial, LaSalle Bank, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Named the 2006 best-managed nonprofit by Crain’s Detroit Business, Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit is a national model for youth development through the arts. Mosaic’s mission is to empower young people to maximize their potential through professional performing arts training and the creation of first-rate theatrical and musical art. Mosaic’s all-teen performances have toured Africa, Asia, Europe and the U.S., and have been featured on NBC’s Today Show, NPR’s All Things Considered, and was the subject of the Michigan Emmy Award®-winning PBS documentary, And They Flew: The Story of Mosaic Youth Theatre. For more information about Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit visit www.mosaicdetroit.org. |
