The Arnold Community Theatre Troupe is holding auditions this weekend for a production of Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Hamlet,” scheduled for this summer in Arnold City Park.
Auditions will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 18, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 19, at the Arnold City Park bandstand, where the play is slated to be performed in June.
Those who want to audition are asked to send an email to arnoldtheatre@gmail.com and ask for an appointment, said Mike Singer of Arnold, who will direct the play.
He suggests that auditioners prepare a one-minute-long dramatic monologue to perform.
Singer said he is looking to cast about 25 people for the show.
The Arnold Community Theatre Troupe was formed in 2011 and has been putting on plays, one-act festivals and other shows since then.
However, this is the first time the troupe will produce one of Shakespeare’s works, Singer said.
“We attempted one (‘Twelfth Night’) once, but there was not much interest to audition, but we hope by bringing this to Arnold City Park and mirroring the Shakespeare in the park (festival) in St. Louis, it will draw more interest,” he said. “And we’re doing ‘Hamlet’ this time, so we’re hoping it will draw a crowd.”
The shows are scheduled for June 19-21 and June 26-28.
Admission will be free, but donations will be accepted.
“We are in discussion right now about possibly renting seats (for the shows),” Singer said.
He said the city of Arnold and Arnold Parks and Recreation Department have helped a lot with the plans.
In addition, the Arnold Tourism Commission has donated $7,500 to help fund the production, Singer said.
“We want to say how grateful we are to (Arnold parks director) Susie Boone, the parks department, the city of Arnold and the Arnold Tourism Commission,” he said.
“They’re supporting the arts and showing a lot of faith in us, and we want this to be a big event.”
If the play is successful, the troupe may try to produce other Shakespeare plays at Arnold City Park.
“We’ll see how this goes, but as a dream, that (Shakespeare in Arnold Park) would be a wonderful thing,” Singer said.
“When this started, it was just a group that wanted to put on a play, and once it was successful, we decided we wanted to keep it going. So, hopefully this (the Shakespeare in the park) is another step in our evolution.”
Singer, a 2010 Fox High School graduate, helped establish the group with other Fox alumni.
“I’ve acted in most of the (troupe’s) productions and I’ve directed some of the one acts and the ‘Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon’ in 2012,” he said.
He also was the former president of the troupe’s five-member board.
The troupe has about 40 members who pay dues, elect officers and attend board meetings where they are allowed to vote and help the officers make decisions, Singer said.
Members also help with productions. Singer said the troupe has worked with more than 100 actors, directors, writers and crew members.
The troupe’s first show was in January, 2011, when the “Christmas Carol” was performed in honor of the late Michael W. Nash, who had been a Fox High teacher and mentor to many of the charter members.
Last November and December, the troupe partnered with the Chesterfield Children’s Illustrated Art Museum to retell the Christmas story, “The Polar Express.”
Last July, the troupe performed the Agatha Christie mystery, “And Then There Were None,” and in August held its fourth annual One-Act Festival, with community members writing and performing eight one-act plays.
To join the troupe, make a donation or for more information, go to the website at www.arnoldcommunitytheatretroupe.weebly.com.