Fall 2018 Programs and Auditions at NBYT Announced

No Boundaries Youth Theater has announced Fall 2018 programs and auditions as it launches its ninth season.

On September 10th and 12th, No Boundaries Youth Theater, formerly called the New Britain Youth Theater (NBYT) will hold auditions for its original musical adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit. The auditions will be held at the Holmes School at 2150 Stanley Street, beginning at 6:00pm each day.

The NBYT say that The Velveteen Rabbit production is based on the book by Margery Williams. The NBYT says that the play,

tells the story of a toy rabbit who longs for nothing more than to be real. With a script, music, and lyrics written specifically for young performers, this magical story explores themes of friendship, love, and overcoming insecurity—all coming to life in a world with plenty of talking toys, a magical nursery fairy, real rabbits, one very real boy, and many others!

NBYT says that,

Actors auditioning should prepare any musical theater song and should bring sheet music if possible, or they will be given a song to sing. Actors should also wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to learn a few dance steps. Rehearsals will also be on Monday and Wednesday evenings.

Auditions may be scheduled by contacting NBYT by calling 860-515-8115 or e-mailing to [email protected].

The NBYT production of the The Velveteen Rabbit will be performed at the Holmes School on December 7th, 8th and 9th.

On October 19th, 20th and 21st, NBYT will perform its production of The Laramie Project.

Darren Farrington, NBYT Executive and Artistic Director, said that,  “The Laramie Project is the most serious drama that NBYT will produce to date.”

“It’s the story of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard,” said Farrington, “the two young men who targeted, viciously beat, and left him to die in a field in Laramie, Wyoming in October 1998, and the community that became suddenly synonymous with this hate crime.”

Farrington said that, “it’s not a story about Matthew Shepard being gay. It’s about whether we let fear, hatred, and anger define us as a community. And it’s a story that needs to be told now more than ever.”

NBYT says that the play will be performed by actors who are in their older teens or twenties.

NBYT’s website shows that, in 2019, it is planning several plays, including a production of Charlotte’s Web in April, William Shakespeare’s The Tempest in June and Mary Poppins Jr. in July.

NBYT also offers theater classes and homeschool enrichment at New Britain-Berlin YMCA Program Center at 362 Main Street in Kensington.

On September 18th, NBYT’s homeschool enrichment program begins. It includes a “young actor” program for children, ages five to eight, a performance program for children aged eight to fourteen and music and improv programs for young people aged eight to sixteen. NBYT says that,

This term, the performance class will produce an original murder mystery, and they’ll discuss and learn about some classic mysteries written for the stage. The term ends with a daytime and evening performance for family and friends.

All-abilities classes are available for children, aged nine to fourteen, including children of any physical, mental, sensory, or emotional ability. NBYT says the class, held Thursday evenings, starting on September 20th,

begins with drama games and warm-ups, development of voice and movement skills to each student’s abilities, ensemble building, and instruction of stage performance skills. The group then develops and rehearses an original play or short scenes for performance.

NBYT also offers different theater classes for children in various age groups.

For children ages five to nine, there are classes in stage play. Acting classes are available for children ages nine to fourteen and improv class is available for young people, aged ten to sixteen.

Those classes are available on Saturday mornings, starting September 22nd. NBYT says that,

Younger children will stage Central American Stories. Drama games and scenes based on Mexican and Central American folktales will be used to teach the basics of theatrical storytelling, character development, voice, and movement. Older students will focus their study on comic timing in a class title Make ‘em Laugh. The theater’s popular Improv class welcomes new students and challenges returning students to build new skills. Each eight-week class term ends with a short performance open to family and friends.

NBYT says that it can be contacted by phone at 860-515-8115 or by e-mail at [email protected] for questions or to register, and that additional information is available at its website at www.nbyt.org. Fees for different programs are also available at the NBYT website.