Maltz Jupiter's FIRST STEP TO STARDOM Brings In 300 Kids 5/1

More than 300 children and teens answered the call to attend workshops for the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's "First Step to Stardom" auditions. At the free workshops, kids ages 4-18 learned a dance routine, received acting lessons and practiced singing in an ensemble in preparation for auditions for the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's upcoming productions of Academy and The Sound of Music.

"It was so gratifying to see literally hundreds of children come to us to learn what is needed to take that ‘First Step to Stardom,' " said Andrew Kato, Maltz Jupiter Theatre artistic director. "And it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for kids to work with theatre professionals and to be a part of the audition process."

"First Step to Stardom" will be held from 12-8 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at the Theatre. The free event, sponsored by WPEC-Channel 12 and PBG Lifestyle Magazine, also will have fun activities for children, with booths by such local businesses and organizations as Kilwin's ice cream, My Gym, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, the River Center, Hibel Museum of Art and Roger Dean Stadium.
Many families may be visiting the Theatre for the first time.

"This is a wonderful way to build future audiences by exposing kids to professional Theatre right here in their own backyard," said Jennifer Sardone-Shiner, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's director of marketing.

Girls ages 4-14 and boys ages 8-18 are invited to audition for the two musicals.
Children will be given a two-hour time frame in which to be at the Theatre. Kids who have headshots are encouraged to bring them; otherwise, Maltz Jupiter Theatre staff will be on hand to take pictures.

Here is a look at the shows for which children will audition:
Academy
At St. Edward's Academy, two seniors make a harmless bet on whether they can influence an unsuspecting freshman to break a few rules to succeed. But when the transaction goes recklessly out of control, the boys become entangled in a fight for their own academic and personal survival. Inspired by Goethe's Faust, Academy is a pop chamber musical about boys learning to become men - and remaining true to themselves. PG-Rated

The Sound of Music
Seven rambunctious children and the most irreverent nun ever to kick a habit, welcome your family into theirs with The Sound of Music. The final musical written by Rodgers and Hammerstein follows the von Trapp family as they leave Austria to escape Nazi persecution. Featuring such musical favorites as My Favorite Things, Do, Re, Mi, Edelweiss, Climb Ev'ry Mountain and Sixteen Going on Seventeen, this heartwarming story is great for the entire family! G-Rated

Scripts will be available at auditions.
For additional audition information and registration forms, log on to www.jupitertheatre.org and click on the First Step to Stardom logo.
The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is an award-winning professional not-for-profit regional theatre dedicated to the performing arts whose mission is to entertain, educate and inspire our community. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and is located east of U.S. Highway 1 at 1001 East Indiantown Road and State Road A1A in Jupiter.