NICEVILLE, Fla. — The Niceville High School Theatre Department is holding open auditions for child actors on Saturday, January 6, 2024, for the role of “Les” in Disney’s Newsies, the school’s spring musical.
NHS Theatre Director Ritchie Jackson said he is excited about the opportunity to have a young person in the cast.
“We haven’t worked with non-high school-aged actors in our cast since we did Disney’s The Little Mermaid back in 2018,” he said.
“We will be excited to have a young person back on our stage and in our midst again.”
According to Jackson, Newsies is being produced “on a massive scale, the largest NHS Theatre has ever done.”
Last year’s production of Chicago was huge, but Jackson says that “this production will be even bigger. We like to go BIG here at NHS Theatre.”
With his vocal director, Michael Walker, and choreographer, Nicci Fahle, Jackson is looking for a young male actor aged eight–12 with an unchanged youth voice capable of singing in the Bb3–Db3 range and learning choreography.
The actor should be available for rehearsals most Tuesdays through Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Niceville High School from January 8 through early April.
“Ideally, we would like a child actor who is no taller than four feet five inches and who is not in danger of any sudden growth spurts or a voice change before April, when the show opens,” said Jackson.
“The child actor would not be called for all rehearsals, but it is a large role, so they will be involved in many of the rehearsals.”
Auditions are Saturday, January 6 at 12:30 p.m. in the Niceville High School auditorium at 800 E. John Sims Parkway in Niceville.
Parents of young actors who wish to audition should email Jackson at richard.jackson@okaloosaschools.com for audition materials and more details.
“We know the perfect Les is out there, and we are on the hunt for him.”
