An eclectic group of mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.

Ages

HMT’s Performance Intensive Academy class is for performers aged 13-22.

Important Dates

In order to help make this even more accessible, and maintain the quality of our DownStage Center productions, we are offering Academy students full scholarships if they audition and are cast in our school year DownStage Center shows or if they contribute to the productions as interns or PAs.

The musical centers on a baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse, and wind up changed forever.

AGES

Auditions are open to performers ages 7-18.

Audition Dates

Initial Auditions are Monday, September 14th. You will be assigned an audition time slot (one hour long) after we receive your audition registration. Time slots begin at 5:00.

Callbacks/dance auditions are Thursday, September 17th beginning at 5:00pm. Everyone will be asked to come to the dance audition. You do not need to prepare a dance in advance, you will learn the combination at the dance audition. Some will be asked to stay for singing callbacks.

Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York’s Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends — Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo — have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with regular meals provided for them. Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and makes his escape — with the help of some prodigious penguins — to explore the world.

Auditions will be held on May 18, 2027.

Singin’ in the Rain JR. has all the makings of a Tinseltown tabloid headline — the starlet, the leading man and a love affair that could change lives and make or break careers! In silent movies, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a hot item, but behind the scenes, things aren’t always as they appear on the big screen! Meanwhile, Lina’s squeaky voice might be the end of her career in “talking pictures” without the help of a talented young actress to do the talking and singing for her.

Auditions will be held on Jan 21, 2027.

Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea.

Auditions will be held on May 11, 2027.