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On Campus- Auditions
AMERICUS — AUDITIIONS HELD FOR THE MISSOULA CHILDREN’S PRESENTATON ON SEPTEMBER 19 AT SUMTER COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL Selected students at both Sumter County Elementary Math, Science, & Technology Academy and Sumter County Fine Arts Academy will experience a week of association and training by some top dramatic and vocal artists in the coming weeks. Sharing the costs of the week, Principals, Dr. Valerie Roberts and Mrs. Valerie Duff, have jointly arranged to provide 60 students from each school with a unique experience of leadership and training for those students who are selected after auditions. Meal provisions and lodging for the team of professionals who will visit Americus have been arranged by both school administrators. The Missula production has become a highlight for young students and their parents in Sumter County. There will be only one public show this season on Friday, September 19, at 6:00 in the gymnasium of the Sumter Primary Fine Arts Academy. The show will be presented for students of Sumter Primary at 12:00 noon on this same day and at 1:00 p.m. at Sumter County Elementary Math, Science and Technology Academy. Ticket s prices for the 6:00 p.m. show will be $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children and can be purchased in advance at both sponsoring schools. They will be available at the door of Sumter Primary beginning at 5:00 p.m. on the public performance day. To begin the selection process, auditions are conducted at both schools. At Sumter Primary Fine Arts Academy, 183 students signed up for two auditions and 100 auditioned at Sumter Elementary School. Each student had to secure parental permission with understanding of the time involvement for the rehearsals for the show; each was recommended by their teachers after review of the student’s grades and attendance. From almost 300 students who auditioned at both schools, a total of 60 students would be selected for the shows. At the Fine Arts Academy, the audition program was arranged by members of the fine arts faculty. At Sumter County Elementary, Choral Music Director, Ms. Andrea Nichols, will select 30 top performers from the judge’s scores. At Sumter Elementary, the audition teams were divided into groups of 8-12 students. Each had to read from a prepared script and sing, “Happy Birthday.” Judges scored each student on a range of 1-3 points in reading diction and word delivery, voice projection, and vocal ability. Judges for the audition were Mrs. Donna Minich, former President and long-time member of the Board of Directors of Sumter Players. Mrs. Minnich also has experience in elementary vocal music and has offered private vocal lessons as well as being an adjudicator for vocal competitions. Ms. Sharon Haugabook is Choir Director and Drama Coach of Union Tabernacle Baptist Church in Americus and is active in many religious stage and musical productions. Mulkey McMIchael, has been a church choir director for 37 years, at two Marion County Methodist Churches. He is currently Choir Director at his family’s home church, Buena Vista United Methodist Church and Director of Public Relations for Sumter County Schools. Here, a group of students audition for possible selection for the upcoming Missoula Theatre.
