News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 3/16/05   SOUTHEASTERN SCHEDULES AUDITIONS APRIL 9-10 FOR SUMMER PRODUCTION OF “THE MUSIC MAN”         HAMMOND – Auditions have been scheduled for the Southeastern Louisiana University Opera/Music Theatre Workshop’s June 24-25 production of the award-winning, critically acclaimed Broadway classic, “The Music Man.”         Workshop director Charles Effler said auditions will be held in the Pottle Music Building Auditorium on Saturday, April 9, and Sunday, April 10.          He said the show offers a supporting role for a young boy and young girl plus a large number of leading roles, supporting roles and chorus parts for children and adults.          On both dates, children entering grades 3-8 in fall 2005 will audition from 2-5 p.m.; auditions for adults, high school students and university students will be held from 6-8 p.m.         “Southeastern’s production will offer the north shore community an opportunity to participate in a fully staged production with orchestra, professionally designed sets, lights and costumes – and with professional leadership at every level,” Effler said.         New York City director/choreographer Wendy Taucher, who staged recent Southeastern summer productions of “Annie” and “Oliver!,” will again join Southeastern faculty and staff to create “The Music Man.” Effler said Southeastern’s production will cast an extended chorus of up to 30 children to give as many young people as possible the opportunity to participate.         Three performances of “The Music Man” are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. June 24 and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., June 25 at Southeastern’s historic Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, 220 East Thomas St. in downtown Hammond.         Effler called “The Music Man” “family entertainment at its best.”          “’The Music Man,’” he said, “is an all-American institution, thanks to its quirky characters, charmingly predictable dramatic situations, and one-of-a-kind, nostalgic score. It is by turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, and it is full of rousing marches, barbershop quartets and sentimental ballads which have become popular standards.”         The Department of Music and Dramatic Arts’ Opera/Music Theatre Workshop will produce “The Music Man” with the support from area businesses including North Oaks Health System, Microtel Inn in Ponchatoula, Community Motors in Hammond, and with funds from the Louisiana State Arts Council and the Louisiana Division of the Arts and by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge through the Decentralized Arts Funding Program.          For more information about auditions or to make a tax deductible contribution to the production, contact Effler at 985-549-2249, ceffler@selu.edu or SLU 10815, Hammond, LA 70402.