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The Velveteen Rabbit

Grades PreK-12

Get Tickets | Register Grades PreK-12

Students in Grades PreK through 12 this school year: Join us for our Youth Theatre Jr. Companies, Companies, and Jr. Troupe Fall 2025 Play: The Velveteen Rabbit!

A child receives a stuffed velveteen rabbit as a gift. From a wise old toy, the rabbit learns that when a child loves you for a long time, you become Real, and the rabbit yearns to be Real himself. Eventually, the rabbit gets its wish: The child plays with the rabbit all spring and summer, and the rabbit doesn’t mind that its coat has grown shabby and its stuffing is coming out, because it knows it is Real to the child. But when sickness enters the household, what will happen to his beloved rabbit?

There are three ways for students to participate onstage in The Velveteen Rabbit:

  • Jr. Companies – All students in grades PreK-K and 1-2, performing in a couple of scenes in the main play as Jr. Ensemble, as well as a pre-show storybook drama! No audition required. Monday rehearsals only until tech.
  • Companies – Students in grades 3-5 and 6-12, playing various Ensemble and Featured roles. Auditions are encouraged but not required; everyone is welcome! Monday rehearsals only until tech.
  • Jr. Troupe – Selected students in grades 3-12, playing Supporting and Lead roles (Character descriptions and the script will be provided in advance.) Auditions required; everyone will be cast in either the Companies or Jr. Troupe! Rehearsals throughout the week as called.

Register Here!

Important Dates & Times

How to Prepare for Auditions (Optional, Grades 3-12 only)

  • Fill out your student’s Registration Form.
  • Headshots and resumes are encouraged (but not required) and can be emailed to theatre@cfcarts.com at least 48 hours prior to your audition in PDF, JPG, or PNG 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 Velveteen Rabbit. The script will be made available before auditions. Students do not need to memorize any part of the script or prepare a monologue.
  • Please bring a water bottle. Food and gum is 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. (There will not be a formal dance audition for those only auditioning for The Velveteen Rabbit, but we do want our actors to be able to move safely.)
  • 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, August 13, 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. We offer a sibling discount for this workshop! Payment links will be made available closer to the auditions.
    • 1 student - $20
    • 2 siblings - $35
    • 3 siblings - $50

Aug 13 | Audition Prep Workshop (Optional, Grades 3-12 only)

Want to audition for the Jr. Troupe - Supporting and Lead roles? Students in grades 3-12 may choose to attend our Audition Prep Workshop, Wednesday, August 13 from 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. We offer a sibling discount for this workshop! Select the Workshop on your Registration Form to attend, or to register later, email theatre@cfcarts.com.

  • 1 student - $20
  • 2 siblings - $35
  • 3 siblings - $50

Aug 15 - 16 | Auditions (Optional, Grades 3-12 only)

Auditions will take place on August 15 and 16 (callbacks for selected students August 17) at First Congregational Church of Winter Park (225 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789) and are fully optional for Grades 3-12. (Students in Grades PreK-2 may not audition in advance.) These auditions will determine the lead and supporting roles for our Jr. Troupe as well as featured roles for our Companies. Auditions are for placement only - there’s a role for all actors in this production!

Students may audition for the Troupe Fall 2025 Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, at the same time if desired - and students may participate in both shows if selected and cast! Please click the link for more information!

If your young actor wishes to participate without auditioning, that is completely fine! You will be able to note that preference on your student’s registration. We are happy to find a place in this production for your young performer, even if they are audition-shy!

Audition blocks:

Audition blocks are listed below, and you can select which one your student will attend on your student’s registration form. Students must stay for the duration of their audition block.

  • Block A - Friday, August 15, 5:30-8 PM
  • Block B - Saturday, August 16, 9:30 AM-12 PM
  • Block C - Saturday, August 16, 1-3:30 PM
  • Block D - Saturday, August 16, 4-6:30 PM
  • Callbacks will be held for selected students on Sunday, August 17, 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, August 16.

Aug 17 | Callbacks (Audition Follow-Up)

Callbacks will be held for selected students on Sunday, August 17, 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, August 16.

Aug 18 - Sep 8 | Rehearsals (Required)

All students will rehearse on Mondays at First Congregational Church of Winter Park (225 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789) from August 18 through September 8. (We will have rehearsal on Labor Day, September 1.) Rehearsals will take place at the following times:

  • Jr. Company (Grades PreK-2): 6-7:15 PM (check-in from 5:45-6 PM, 1.25 hours of rehearsal)
  • Company and Jr. Troupe (Grades 3-12): 5:30-7:30 PM (check-in from 5:15-5:30 PM, 2 hours of rehearsal)
  • Jr. Troupe students may be asked to stay as late as 8 PM some Mondays.

Jr. Troupe students will also rehearse on an as-called basis on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and some Fridays at First Congregational Church of Winter Park (225 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789) from August 19 through September 12 anytime between 5:30-8 PM. Important things to note for Jr. Troupe rehearsals:

  • Not every Jr. Troupe student will be called to every rehearsal! A full rehearsal schedule will be released after auditions by Wednesday, August 20. The number of rehearsals required will depend on the size of your student’s role.
  • All Jr. Troupe students should plan to attend a read-through rehearsal on Tuesday, August 19.
  • All Jr. Troupe students should plan to attend every Monday rehearsal as listed above and of course, all tech and dress rehearsals as listed below.

Sep 15 - 18 | Tech & Dress Rehearsals (Required)

Tech and dress rehearsals will take place at the following days and times at Trinity Preparatory School Auditorium, 5700 Trinity Prep Lane Winter Park, FL 32792.

  • Jr. Company (Grades PreK-2):
    • Monday, September 15, 5:30-8 PM
    • Thursday, September 18, 5:30-8:30 PM
  • Companies and Jr. Troupe (Grades 3-12):
    • Monday, September 15, 5:30-8:30 PM
    • Tuesday, September 16, 5:30-8:30 PM
    • Wednesday, September 17, 5:30-9 PM
    • Thursday, September 18, 5:30-9 PM

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

Sep 19 - 20 | Performances (Required)

Performances will take place on Friday, September 19 at 7 PM, and Saturday, September 20 at 2 PM and 7 PM at Trinity Preparatory School Auditorium, 5700 Trinity Prep Lane Winter Park, FL 32792. See below for show day schedules:

  • Friday, September 19, 5:30 PM call time, 7 PM performance, estimated end time around 9 PM (Jr. Companies students released to parents/guardians at intermission unless staying to watch Act 2 with their teachers)
  • Saturday, September 20, 12:30 PM call time, 2 PM performance, estimated end time and dinner break start around 4 PM
    • Students in grades 3-12 may stay through the break or leave with parents/guardians and return by 5:30 PM
    • Students in grades PreK-2 are released to parents/guardians at intermission as usual (unless staying to watch Act 2 with their teachers, in which case they are released to their parents/guardians directly after the show) and may not stay through the break
  • Saturday, September 20, 5:30 PM call time, 7 PM performance, estimated end time around 9 PM
    • All Jr. Troupe and Companies students in grades 6-12 must stay for strike until latest 10 PM
    • All Companies and Jr. Troupe students in grades 3-5 are released following the performance end time as soon as their personal costumes are neatly hung and dressing rooms are clean
    • All Jr. Companies students in grades PreK-2 are released to their parents/guardians at intermission as usual unless staying to watch Act 2 with their teachers

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

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

Info

Tuition

There is a seasonal $35 registration fee per student, which covers all enrollments in Youth Theatre Programs from August through December 2025. Registration Fees are now a part of the overall tuition cost! If your student participates in more than one production with us in a season, you will be sent a special coupon code that will subtract the $35 registration fee from your student’s tuition payment - it’s a “thank you” from us!

Payment can be made on the Registration Form.

Tuition for all performers is as follows: (scholarships and payment plans available; see below.)

  • Jr. Companies (All Grades PreK-2): $185
  • Companies (Grades 3-12, Featured and Ensemble Roles): $210
  • Jr. Troupe (Grades 3-12, Lead and Supporting Roles): $235

There are four ways to cover tuition:

  • Complete the tuition payment in full via the Registration Form (Jr. Troupe will receive an email with instructions following auditions for those selected) or by bringing cash or a check (made out to CFCArts) to your student’s rehearsal (please email theatre@cfcarts.com to confirm that you will be bringing payment in person.) Payment is due no later than Monday, August 18, the first day of rehearsals.

  • Reach out to theatre@cfcarts.com to set up a tuition payment plan of two installments. Once a payment plan has been established, a payment link will be sent to you via email. The first installment will be due no later than Monday, August 18, the first day of rehearsals, and the second and final installment no later than Monday, September 1, two weeks prior to the start of tech rehearsals. Students must have tuition paid in full to perform in the production. Installment payments may be made via our payment form or by bringing cash or a check (made out to CFCArts) to your student’s rehearsal (please email theatre@cfcarts.com to confirm that you will be bringing payment in person.)

  • Complete the Financial Assistance Application as a part of your student’s Registration Form to be considered for a need-based scholarship for this program. Once a scholarship has been awarded, a payment link will be sent to you via email. Any remaining balance for your student’s tuition will be due no later than Monday, September 1, two weeks prior to the start of tech rehearsals. Students must have their remaining tuition balance paid in full to perform in the production. Payment of the remaining balance may be made via the payment form or by bringing cash or a check (made out to CFCArts) to your student’s rehearsal (please email theatre@cfcarts.com to confirm that you will be bringing payment in person.)

  • 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 include your student’s FES ID number on their Registration Form and we will begin the process.

      Financial Assistance

      There are two options for financial assistance:

      • Complete the Financial Assistance Application as a part of your student’s Registration Form to be considered for a need-based scholarship for this program. Once a scholarship has been awarded, a payment link will be sent to you via email. Any remaining balance for your student’s tuition will be due no later than Monday, September 1, two weeks prior to the start of tech rehearsals. Students must have their remaining tuition balance paid in full to perform in the production. Payment of the remaining balance may be made via the payment form or by bringing cash or a check (made out to CFCArts) to your student’s rehearsal (please email theatre@cfcarts.com to confirm that you will be bringing payment in person.)
      • 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 include your student’s FES ID number on their Registration Form and we will begin the process.

      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.

      For this production, we are proud to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida. Just like the child in The Velveteen Rabbit, many children in our community become critically ill and RMHC helps to keep their family close to them during treatment. Some representatives from our cast will be contributing to their Baking Buddies initiative, creating tasty treats for families at the Ronald McDonald House on the Campus of AdventHealth, 2201 Alden Rd, Orlando, FL 32803 on Saturday, September 13, 1-3 PM, and at the Ronald McDonald House on the Campus of Orlando Health, 1630 Kuhl Ave, Orlando, FL 32806 on Thursday, September 11, 1-3 PM!

      Casting Policies

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

      Staff

      Click here to meet the Velveteen Rabbit staff! (coming soon)

      Registration

      Please follow these steps to register your student.

      • Please register for an audition, or to participate without auditioning, by filling out the Registration Form.
      • Make the $35 seasonal registration fee payment, and if applicable, payment for the Audition Prep Workshop via the Registration Form.

      Questions?

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