More than 100 different students have landed roles in the five Department of Theatre and Dance productions planned during the 2015-16 season at Fredonia.
Casting for the department鈥檚 Walter Gloor Mainstage Series wrapped up on Aug. 29. According to Tom Loughlin, chairman of Fredonia鈥檚 Department of Theatre and Dance, 102 different students have been cast across the five shows.
鈥淲e are fortunate to be able to have a department strong enough to cast this many individual students across a dance and theatre season such as we produce,鈥 Loughlin said. 鈥淭his is a grueling process for us all, and while it is inherently imperfect, I believe we have done all that is humanly possible to make it open, fair and fun. I look forward to a year full of hard work and successful shows.鈥
The chairman noted there are also additional opportunities pending for student performers. The Performing Arts Company, a student-run theater organization, and Orchesis, the student dance company, will be announcing auditions for their productions soon.
In addition, students will have the opportunity to audition for Rockefeller Arts Center鈥檚 Commencement Eve Pops production, which will be a concert version of Meredith Willson鈥檚 鈥淭he Music Man鈥 on May 13, 2016.
鈥淲e continue to look for and explore more opportunities for our growing department to the best of our ability and resources,鈥 Loughlin said.
To that end, Loughlin said discussions are also under way concerning another opportunity for a concert-style musical in the coming season.
The 2015-16 Walter Gloor Mainstage season includes:
鈥 鈥淐abaret,鈥 the hit Broadway musical, from Oct. 14 to 18 in Marvel Theatre at Rockefeller Arts Center. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 14, 15, 16 and 17 and 2 p.m. on Oct. 17 and 18.
鈥 鈥淪ix Characters in Search of an Author鈥 on Nov. 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. in Bartlett Theatre at Rockefeller Arts Center.
鈥 鈥淭he Laramie Project鈥 (Feb. 25 and March 3 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 27 and March 5 at 2 p.m.) and 鈥淭he Laramie Project Ten Years Later鈥 (Feb. 26 and 27, March 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m.) in Bartlett Theatre. This is a special event intertwining two staged documentaries.
鈥 Fredonia Dance Ensemble on April 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. and April 3 at 2 p.m. in the new dance studio at Rockefeller Arts Center.
鈥 鈥淛ames and the Giant Peach鈥 on April 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. and April 24 at 2 p.m. in Bartlett Theatre.
Tickets to all productions are available through the Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center, by phone at 716-673-3501 and online at .
