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The Giver

Grades 3-12

Get Tickets | Register (Grades 3-12, auditions required)

Students in Grades 3 through 12 this school year: Audition for our advanced Youth Theatre Troupe Play: The Giver!

This adaptation of Lois Lowry’s Newbery Award-winning book brings this emotional tale to life. Winner of the AATE Distinguished Play Award, The Giver asks both children and adults compelling questions about how we want our world to be

Jonas’ world is perfect. Everything is under control and safe. There is no war or fear or pain. There are also no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. But when Jonas turns 12, he is chosen for special training from The Giver—to receive and keep the memories of the community. The Giver is the only person who holds the memories of real pain and real joy. Now Jonas will learn the truth about life—and the hypocrisy of his utopian world. Through this astonishing and moving adaptation, discover what it means to grow up, to grow wise, and to take control of your own destiny.

Students must audition for this pre-professional advanced theatre group.

Register Here: Grades 3-12

Important Dates & Times

How to Prepare for Auditions (Required Grades 3-12)

  • Fill out your student’s Registration Form: Grades 3-12. Headshots and resumes are encouraged as well, and can be emailed to theatre@cfcarts.com at least 24 hours prior to your audition in PDF format. If emailed late or in a different format, we may not be able to access your resume. Please do not bring hard copies to your audition.
  • All auditioners will participate in cold readings from The Giver as well as possibly Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella Youth Edition even if not auditioning for that play. There is no need to prepare a monologue or memorize any lines in advance.
  • Please bring a water bottle. Food and gum are not permitted.
  • Dance or athletic shoes required. No restrictive attire, open-toed shoes, flip-flops/sandals, heels, or skirts/dresses without leggings or shorts beneath.
  • Auditions, as well as rehearsals, are closed to parents and other visitors. For safety reasons, only students and approved staff/volunteers are permitted.
  • Students may choose to attend our Audition Prep Workshop on Wednesday, January 10, 5:30-7:30 PM at our audition and rehearsal location of First Congregational Church of Winter Park (225 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park FL 32789.). Students will gain familiarity with the shows and characters, have the opportunity to participate in a mock acting audition and receive feedback, and participate in a Q&A session with casting staff. You can register your student for the Audition Prep Workshop on their Registration Form: Grades 3-12 and use the links below to pay. We offer a sibling discount for this workshop!

Jan 10 | Audition Prep Workshop (Optional Grades 3-12)

Students auditioning for The Giver may choose to attend our Audition Prep Workshop on Wednesday, January 10, 5:30-7:30 PM at our audition and rehearsal location of First Congregational Church of Winter Park (225 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park FL 32789.) Students will gain familiarity with the shows and characters, have the opportunity to participate in a mock acting audition and receive feedback, and participate in a Q&A session with casting staff. You can register your student for the Audition Prep Workshop on their Registration Form: Grades 3-12 and use the links below to pay. We offer a sibling discount for this workshop!

1 student - $20, click to pay
2 siblings - $35, click to pay
3 siblings - $50, click to pay

Jan 12 - 13 | Auditions (Required Grades 3-12)

Auditions will take place on Friday, January 12 and Saturday, January 13 (callbacks for selected students on Sunday, January 14) at First Congregational Church of Winter Park (225 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789) and are mandatory. Please note that not all students will be selected to join the cast of The Giver.

Students may audition for the Jr. Company, Company, and Jr. Troupe Spring 2024 Musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella Youth Edition, at the same time if desired. Please click the link for more information if desired. Please note that students can only do either The Wind in the Willows or The Giver, but will not be able to do both.

Auditions for our Companies/Jr. Troupe Spring 2024 Play, The Wind in the Willows, as well as our Troupe Spring 2024 Musical, Into the Woods, will take place March 1-2. Please click the links for more information about those upcoming productions!

Audition Blocks:

Audition blocks are listed below, and you can select which one your student will attend on your student’s Registration Form: Grades 3-12. Students must stay for the duration of their audition block.

  • Block A - Friday, January 12, 5:30-8 PM
  • Block B - Saturday, January 13, 9:30 AM-12 PM
  • Block C - Saturday, January 13, 1-3:30 PM
  • Block D - Saturday, January 13, 4-6:30 PM

Callbacks may be held for selected students on Sunday, January 14, sometime between 2-6 PM. Students will be informed of their callback status and exact call time by email no later than 10 PM on Saturday, January 13.

Jan 14 | Callbacks (Audition Follow-Up)

Callbacks may be held for selected students on Sunday, January 14, sometime between 2-6 PM. Students will be informed of their callback status and exact call time by email no later than 10 PM on Saturday, January 13.

Jan 16 - Feb 16 | Rehearsals (Required)

All students will rehearse on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays as called, anytime between 5:30-8 PM, primarily at First Congregational Church of Winter Park (225 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from January 16 to February 16. The full rehearsal schedule will be released on Wednesday, January 17. Occasionally, rehearsals may be called at the Central Florida Community Arts Black Box Theatre (250 SW Ivanhoe Blvd, Orlando, FL 32804.)

  • Not every Troupe performer will be called to every rehearsal! A full rehearsal schedule will be released after auditions by Wednesday, January 17. The number of rehearsals required will depend on the size of your student’s role.
  • All Troupe performers should plan to attend rehearsal on Tuesday, January 16 for a read-through and cast meeting and of course, all tech and dress rehearsals as listed below.

February 19 - 22 | Tech & Dress Rehearsals (Required)

Tech and dress rehearsals will take place from Monday, February 19 (President's Day) to Thursday, February 22, at the CFCArts Black Box Theatre (250 SW Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando, FL 32804). A specific tech week rehearsal will be sent out later in the rehearsal process, but all cast members must be available, and will be called, for all days from 5 PM on.

All cast must attend all tech and dress rehearsals and performances or they will not be able to perform.

Feb 23 - 25 | Performances (Required)

Performances will take place on Friday, February 23 at 7 PM, Saturday, February 24 at 2 PM and 7 PM, and Sunday, February 25 at 2 PM and 7 PM at the CFCArts Black Box Theatre (250 SW Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando, FL 32804).

All cast must attend all scheduled tech and dress rehearsals and performances or they will not be able to perform.

Audience members may purchase in-person tickets on the event page.

Info

Tuition

There is a seasonal $25 registration fee per student, which covers all enrollments in Youth Theatre Programs from January to May 2024. Click to pay.

Tuition for all performers is $225.

There are four ways to cover tuition:

  • Complete the tuition payment in full via PayPal (a link will be sent out), or by mailing a check (made out to CFCArts) to PO Box 720517 Orlando, FL 32872 (please email theatre@cfcarts.com once check is posted.) Payment is due no later than Tuesday, January 16.
  • Reach out to theatre@cfcarts.com to set up a tuition payment plan of three installments of $75 each. The first installment will be due no later than Tuesday, January 16, the second installment no later than Tuesday, February 5, and the third installment no later than Tuesday, February 19. Students must have tuition paid in full to perform in the production. Installment payments may be made online via PayPal (a link will be provided) or by mailing a check (made out to CFCArts) to PO Box 720517 Orlando, FL 32872 (please email theatre@cfcarts.com once check is posted, and be sure to set up your payment plan with us first; checks cannot be accepted at rehearsal.)
  • Complete the Financial Assistance Application no later than Tuesday, January 16 to be considered for a need-based scholarship for this program. Any remaining balance for your student’s tuition will be due no later than Tuesday, February 19. Students must have their remaining tuition balance paid in full to perform in the production. Payment of the remaining balance may be made online via PayPal (a link will be provided) or by mailing a check (made out to CFCArts) to PO Box 720517 Orlando, FL 32872 (please email theatre@cfcarts.com once check is posted.)
  • CFCArts is a Florida Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES, formerly Gardiner Scholarship) direct pay provider, and the FES can be used to cover program tuition. Simply email your student’s FES ID number to us at theatre@cfcarts.com no later than Tuesday, January 16 and we will invoice FES for the amount of the program tuition.

Financial Assistance

CFCArts is a Florida Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES, formerly Gardiner Scholarship) provider, and the FES can be used to cover program tuition! CFCArts scholarships are also available.

Music Therapy

CFCArts Youth Theatre Programs are proud to have a fully licensed, board-certified Music Therapist involved in our programs! Our Music Therapist consults on curriculum development, trains our staff members with arts-based classroom management and intervention skills, and is available as a resource for students and staff alike throughout the rehearsal and show process as needed.

Service Project

Central Florida Community Arts exists to serve and build community through the arts. With our mission in mind, our Youth Theatre Program students for each production have the opportunity to participate in a service project to benefit another non-profit organization in Central Florida - and to build friendships and bond with their castmates! These service projects are carefully selected to align with the message of the story that our students are telling on stage.

The Giver shares the important message that we must learn from the past and take care of the seniors in our community, as their memories, experiences, and wisdom are vital for us to learn from and grow. For this show’s service project, CFCArts Youth Theatre Programs are proud to partner with Seniors First for their Neighborhood Lunch Program, coming together on Presidents’ Day to help serve meals to the seniors in our community and bring them laughter and companionship!

Casting Policies

Please click here for a thorough review of our casting policies.

Please email Director of Education – Youth Programs, Leah Porrata, at Leah.Porrata@cfcarts.com with any questions.

Safety Procedures

Please click here for an extensive outline of our safety procedures.

Staff

Click here to meet the The Giver staff!

Registration

Please follow these steps to register your student.

Questions?

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