Keiki invited to audition for a musical as part of a free theatre training program in Hilo

Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre has announced its next youth production, “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” and is hosting auditions tonight and tomorrow evening.

“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” is a musical based on Disney’s animated film and the classic Hans Christian Andersen’s story, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a book by Doug Wright. 

It will be the fifth youth production from Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre, which has put on “Aladdin Jr,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Lion King Jr,” and Grease Jr.”

“This is an audition for a musical, but it is also an incredible opportunity for our young people of Hilo to get involved in a free youth theatre training program,” said producer Larry Reitzer. “Our hope is to have about 100 kids join us for this production.”

The “I Heart Youth Theatre” program is a ten-week, tuition-free musical theater arts program gives youth, ages 8 to 18, the opportunity to engage in classes, workshops and rehearsal that lead up to a full-scale production of Disney’s classic musical, “The Little Mermaid.”

For the audition process, youth will be asked to sing one minute of their favorite song that can be played from a link to a karaoke track and to prepare one joke for the production team. All the performers auditioning will then be taught a simple dance routine and asked to do it in a group.

According to the Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre website, youth are asked to not stress about the audition process. If they prefer to only dance and not sing, or only sing and not dance, they should still audition.

“Our hope is to include as many performers of all levels as possible. If a young person wants to sing, act or dance… encourage them to attend… no experience or training needed. Just a love of theatre and a desire to perform,” the website states.

All performers must be 18-years old and under to audition for lead roles, however, older singers and dancers may be used to supplement the cast in certain vocal or dance roles. The characters of Ursula and King Triton roles may be cast with older actors depending on the turnout at auditions.

Auditions will be from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. for youth ages 8 to 12-years old on Tuesday, Jan. 14, and form 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for youth ages 13 to 18 on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

For callbacks, youth will be asked to sing something from the show and read from the script, which will be posted alongside the callback list five days prior here. Callbacks will be for all ages from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20.

All auditions and callbacks will be at the Hilo Palace Theater at 38 Haili Street in downtown Hilo. Rehearsals will begin on or around Wednesday, Jan. 22.

The production is set to open at the historic Palace Theatre on Friday, March 21 and run until Sunday, March 30, with the possibility of an extended week of performances.

I Heart Youth Theatre’s production of “The Little Mermaid” is made possible through the support of the Hawaiʻi County Waiwai Grant Program, First Hawaiian Bank, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Biennium Program and the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation Pahiki Nui Fund.

“If your child sings, dances, acts, or has ever dreamed of performing on stage, this is the opportunity to get involved,” Reitzer said. “Whether your child has extensive experience or is trying theatre for the first time, The Little Mermaid promises to be an exciting, enriching, and educational experience.”

For more information, please visit hearthilo.org.