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How to Join at Scarbie

Started by NelleMoorley, June 16, 2009, 04:56:51 PM

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NelleMoorley

Hello!  I visited Scarborough for the first time closing weekend, and I ADORED it!  Coming from Colorado (which is my home faire and will therefore always have my love despite everything) your faire was a breath of fresh air.  I would love to join the cast, which I've heard is a next-to-impossible task - or is it?

So my questions are: How does one start out at Scarbie? I'm particularly interested in singing, preferably with a group (I'm part of a madrigale group at home).   
Nelle Moorley

eloquentXI

Its not that its next-to-impossible, its just that they haven't had auditions for cast in a couple years and I don't know if they're planning on it for the 2010 season. I'll have to ask a friend of mine on cast if they're even considering opening up auditions.

As for singing? Well...you'd probably have to get in contact with some of the performers, maybe? I don't know much about that end of things.
Still Meggers, just a little more grown up now. :)

Brittney

As a member of cast let me see if I can help answer your question...

~ Cast and stage acts are general handled separately at our festival. The cast does run several shows, and cast members run several stage acts: Highland games, Chess Match, Maypole, Country Dance, Court Dance and Children's Knighting are cast shows. Queen Anne's Lace, Pub Sing, The Wine Tasting and History Customs and Manners  are stage shows run by cast members that are not audtionable shows at present.

~ Cast workshops are mandatory for all cast members and run from 4-8 weeks on weekends. The length of workshops depends on our audition cycle and management decisions. These are full day workshops from 9AM-2PM we have core classes (HCM, Dialect, Guerilla Theatre, Character and Improv), from 2PM-6Pm we have event rehersals and additional labs for core classes.

~ The contact page of the Scarborough web site may be a resource if you are not able to get all your questions answered here.

Merlin

I think they may have some openings... I know a few acts that aren't returning...sad to say.
Has nothing to do with Scarby....just they are not going to travel next season as much so we are losing them.
Scarby is wonderful! Glad you came.... next time...look us up and have a cold beverage with the gang.
Anál nathrach- Breath of serpent
Orth' bháis 's bethad- Spell of death and of life
Do chél dénmha- Thy omen of making

lys1022

Quote from: eloquentXI on June 16, 2009, 07:35:06 PM
Its not that its next-to-impossible, its just that they haven't had auditions for cast in a couple years and I don't know if they're planning on it for the 2010 season. I'll have to ask a friend of mine on cast if they're even considering opening up auditions.

As for singing? Well...you'd probably have to get in contact with some of the performers, maybe? I don't know much about that end of things.

Actually, this season was the first one where SAPA did not have auditions.  There has been no official decision regarding whether there will be auditions for next season or not yet.  There probably won't be any additional information available on that until after September 1st at the very earliest, as Southwest Festivals is currently in the middle of preparations for Screams Haunted Theme Park.  The office won't be thinking about Scarby again til November 1st, and the Performing Company Director is on hiatus until September 1st.

However, should there be auditions, please come and give it a try!  Generally a pretty large percentage of auditionees actually get invited to join SAPA. :)
Lys
I am not an employee of Scarborough Faire and to not represent them in any way.

NelleMoorley

Thank you!  Once you've auditioned and (hopefully) been invited on cast, what is the first year like?  I've heard that you volunteer for the first year or so.  I love the sound of all the training and rehearsals and workshops!
Nelle Moorley

captmarga

Quote from: NelleMoorley on June 19, 2009, 02:41:33 PM
Thank you!  Once you've auditioned and (hopefully) been invited on cast, what is the first year like?  I've heard that you volunteer for the first year or so.  I love the sound of all the training and rehearsals and workshops!

Volunteer, as in cast is unpaid?  You'll find that's true of most faires...

Capt Marga
Corp Capt Marga, Dame Den Mother, Scarborough Royal Guard.  Keeper of the Costume Closet.  Artist, Rennie, Etc, etc, etc

lys1022

The majority of performing company members at Scarborough are unpaid.  Heck, if you think about it, we PAY to do faire as we provide our own costuming, props, food, and transportation. :)  But we don't do it for the paycheck, we do it because we love entertaining and creating moments of happiness in people's day.

Workshops are a pretty intense experience, and one of my favorite parts of the year, to be honest.  The classes are:

Improv - learning the techniques of improvisational theatre done in the round, and learning to apply those techniques in our unique setting

Character - developing a fully-rounded character that uses the actor's strengths and becomes a memorable and visible part of the festival

Dialect - building the tripod of a successful dialect:  accent, period vocabulary, and period grammar to support and further develop your character and to help maintain the fragile illusion that we all work together to create, that of a 16th century English village.

HCM - learning the theory and practical application of 16th century history, customs, and manners.  You'll learn everything from how your character views the world to the proper way to eat at table. 

Guerilla Theatre - training in how to blend the above classes and use them effectively in the lanes.  This includes more theatre in the round techniques on how to gather and hold an audience, create a stage wherever you are, and balancing your performance with those you are sharing the stage with.

There are also classes on everything from maintaining your photo-ready looks for the entire day in heat / cold / rain /shine to the history of Scarborough Faire's village (and it's a VERY rich history with characters that are icons in the village and everyone who plays a villager should know).  There are also advanced workshops on the subjects that get taught in the morning classes.

Afternoons are also the time for rehearsals for the various shows that the performing company puts on, including fight practice for Chess Match and lane fights, Highland Games practice, Court Dance lessons, and Maypole rehearsals.

So, again, if there are auditions, I hope that you give it a try.  It's a wonderful and unique experience that you have to really have shared to fully understand.  Bonds get developed that are rarely broken. :)
Lys
I am not an employee of Scarborough Faire and to not represent them in any way.

captmarga

If their are not auditions, don't be discouraged.  There are plenty of ways to get involved.  Join the Royal Guard and escort a noble for the day.  Help with Knighting Ceremony.  Learn country or court dance, participate regularly at Pub Sing.  Go Scots and march with the Highlanders.

If you make yourself known as a serious playtron, you will have more chance of being incorporated into one or more areas/groups of faire.  And it's SOOOO much more fun that way!

Capt Marga
SRG, QOH
Corp Capt Marga, Dame Den Mother, Scarborough Royal Guard.  Keeper of the Costume Closet.  Artist, Rennie, Etc, etc, etc

NelleMoorley

I won't be discouraged, I love your faire too much!  But living in Colorado, it's difficult to make it down all the time just to play.  I will certainly visit as much as I can, and I'll keep my ears perked for any whisper of auditions!

Nelle Moorley

DonaCatalina

Apparently there will be auditions soon for the 2010 season if you're still interested.
Aurum peccamenes multifariam texit
Marquesa de Trives
Portrait Goddess

holierthanthou

Nell,

I heard that there will be auditions sometime in December.  They are currently working on Screams and a we bit preoccupied.  The person that I was given contact information no longer is in charge of cast.  My hubby and our "daughter" already have jobs for 2010.  I'm hoping to get a foot in on cast as well.
There is not enough darkness in the world to extinguish a small candle.