What exactly is a Pantomime?

Don't worry, we're not ignoring you! All forms submitted will be allocated a slot to audition. As per the timings shared in recent announcements/posts, the auditions schedule will be shared on, or before Thursday 18 January, with the auditions taking place on Sat/Sun 20-21 Jan. Both the dance workshop on Sat 20 Jan (9-11am) and the auditions on Sun 21 Jan will take place at Sunmarke School, JVT (entrance location https://maps.app.goo.gl/MZjbk9VQPTQ4pcKSA with parking available at https://maps.app.goo.gl/Sk29uUXKXn5cjwYS6)

As per the timings shared in recent announcements/posts, the auditions schedule will be shared on, or before Thursday 18 January, with the auditions taking place on Sat/Sun 20-21 Jan. Both the dance workshop on Sat 20 Jan (9-11am) and the auditions on Sunday 21 Jan will take place at Sunmarke School, JVT (entrance location https://maps.app.goo.gl/MZjbk9VQPTQ4pcKSA with parking available at https://maps.app.goo.gl/Sk29uUXKXn5cjwYS6)

As per the timings shared in recent announcements/posts, the auditions schedule will be shared on, or before Thursday 18 January, with the auditions taking place on Sat/Sun 20-21 Jan. Both the dance workshop on Sat 20 Jan (9-11am) and the auditions on Sunday 21 Jan will take place at Sunmarke School, JVT (entrance location https://maps.app.goo.gl/MZjbk9VQPTQ4pcKSA with parking available at https://maps.app.goo.gl/Sk29uUXKXn5cjwYS6)

Audition sign-up is now closed, as of Thursday 11 January. We'll publish a list of audition slots on or before Thurs 18 January online and via our social channels, incl. our Whatsapp community. If you're not already signed up, you can join our 'Unofficial Social Chat' group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LC64Vx7tRUp2I9U4Bqm4Su

Yes you can, but to a maximum of 2 roles. Those of you that have already signed up for more than 2 roles will be asked which ones you want to read/sing for. Of course, you can also express an interest in additional roles and the panel may consider you for those roles, should you not be successful in the ones you audition for, at their discretion

Yes, the audition panel might consider you for a different role to the ones you have signed up to try for, at their discretion

There is a brief character bio for all roles available in the resources folders, but we're keen to see you 'make it your own' at your audition!

Yes, absolutely! We'd love to meet you, but please note that as a non-profit community theatre group, MTDXB does not pay any of our performers and taking part in one of our productions is on a voluntary basis

Unfortunately, MTDXB is currently an adults-only community group and as such we can't allow those under 18 years of age to audition or perform

Not at all! MTDXB is an equal hair-colour/style opportunity group! :)

While we can't stop you from doing so, we would strongly encourage you to commit fully to GREASE. We've found from experience that when cast members are involved in multiple productions at the same time, it can have an impact on the flow of our rehearsals - especially if we need to add in a last-minute slot. If you do want to take part in other productions and attendance becomes an issue, MTDXB reserves the right to re-cast any role as is required.

Almost anything is possible in musical theatre, but this would simply depend on the specific character in question. Characters like Patty and Cha-Cha could feasibly be a featured dancer in some scenes, and the specfifc character in others but the final decision would be made by the show choreographers and casting panel once all auditionees have been seen.

We'll probably see you there! The 2-hour dance workshop will be held on the morning of Saturday 20 Jan and will consist of a 1hr full-group session where you'll be taught a dance routine, and a 1hr session for smaller groups to present the routine to the panel. We'll aim to be finished well-before lunchtime. On Sunday 21 Jan, we'll allocate 5 minute slots (maximum of 2 per auditionee) and try to accomodate any specifc requests shared with us in advance, as best we can.

The 2-hour dance workshop will be held on the morning of Saturday 20 Jan and will consist of a 1hr full-group session where you'll be taught a dance routine, and a 1hr session for smaller groups to present the routine to the panel. We'll aim to be finished well-before lunchtime. On Sunday 21 Jan, we'll allocate 5 minute slots (maximum of 2 per auditionee) and try to accomodate any specifc requests shared with us in advance, as best we can. You'll be auditioning to a panel of 7 - the full production team. Don't worry, we don't bite and want you to be as relaxed as possible and to give it your best shot! It'll be up to you to choose whether to read your lib first, or to sing first. If your character has more than 1 song shared as audition pieces, please prepare both pieces but be aware you might not be asked to sing both. You'll have the backing track, as shared in the resources folders, and you won't have to sing the full song, but please be prepared to do so as we might ask you to sing a different section so that we can get a feel for your range/vocals, and how you might evoke different emotions! If your character lib is a piece with multiple roles in the scene, members of the panel will read in those lines, and you can tell us if you want us to be blocked in any way, or if you're happy for the lines to be read from the panel's desk. We're often asked if we expect auditionees to learn the lines/song off by heart or if sheet music is allowed during the audition. It's really up to you - ideally, we'd like to see your full array of talent, and that's sometimes difficult to do if you're holding and reading from pieces of paper, but at the same time if it helps your confidence and you would feel better to have the sheets with you it's not a problem! Note that we might have to arrange limited callbacks in the event that we would like to see an auditionee for a different role, or if we want to see 1 or more auditionees together, and that auditions will be recorded so that we can review as required as we make our casting decisions. As mentioned in the information on the announcement page, everyone, auditioning to perform in Grease will be expected to attend both the dance workshop and an audition slot - regardless of whether you would like to be considered as a featured dancer, or if you're auditioning for a specific role, or to be part of the ensemble.

Note that we might have to arrange limited callbacks in the event that we would like to see an auditionee for a different role, or if we want to see 1 or more auditionees together, and that auditions will be recorded so that we can review as required as we make our casting decisions.

Once we've seen everyone we'll probably have some difficult decisions to make, but we're aiming to have our cast decided before the stroke of midnight. If all goes according to plan, a cast list will be published online and shared via our Whatsapp Community (details below), and social media pages on the evening of Monday 22 Jan, with the first read-through for principal performers on the evening of Weds 24 Jan. If you're not already signed-up you can join our 'Unofficial Social Chat' group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LC64Vx7tRUp2I9U4Bqm4Su Due to the sheer volume of auditionees, we won't be able to contact everyone individually - regardless of whether you've been successful, or not - so please do keep an eye on the above channels and if there's going to be any reasonable delay in making our announcement we'll let you know via the same channels.

Please do keep in mind that if you're successful in joining the GREASE cast we'll be planning rehearsals as follows: Weds evenings (typically 7-9pm) for principals/featured roles to begin with, though ensemble will be asked to attend as we progress towards the show itself Sun afternoons (typically 3-6pm) for ALL cast members. It's also likely that additional weekday evening rehearsals will be called as the show approaches. Our first read-through for principals will be Weds 24 Jan, and ALL cast will be required to attend the first Sun rehearsal on 28 Jan. We do understand that you support MTDXB voluntarily and family/work commitments do sometimes get in the way of rehearsals, but we also expect that cast members do not miss too many rehearsals as this does inevitably have an impact on the quality of our finished product. If you're auditioning to join the cast of GREASE, please plan to be available to attend rehearsals as required. We'll share a 'black-out' date form early in the rehearsal process so you can notify us in advance if you know you won't be available for any given rehearsal. Doing so will help us to plan our schedule effectively, so please make sure you keep us up to date if your plans change. At the same time, if you're already planning a 3 week all-inclusive cruise in May, then that's probably not going to be very helpful as we plan in additional rehearsals and preparation for show-week ... if that's you, please consider if you're able to commit to the show and the demands of a busy rehearsal period. If in any doubt, please chat to one of the production team.

Don't worry ... we've all got day jobs! Call-time on weekdays during the performance period will be around 5:30pm/6pm. Weekends will involve earlier call-times and as a cast member you'll also be expected to support the team during get-in and get-out activities as planned (typically weekend days). Please do keep in mind that if you're successful in joining the GREASE cast we'll be planning rehearsals as follows: Weds evenings (typically 7-9pm) for principals/featured roles to begin with, though ensemble will be asked to attend as we progress towards the show itself Sun afternoons (typically 3-6pm) for ALL cast members We do understand that you support MTDXB voluntarily and family/work commitments do sometimes get in the way of rehearsals, but we also expect that cast members do not miss too many rehearsals as this does inevitably have an impact on the quality of our finished product. If you're auditioning to join the cast of GREASE, please plan to be available to attend rehearsals as required. We'll share a 'black-out' date form early in the rehearsal process so you can notify us in advance if you know you won't be available for any given rehearsal. Doing so will help us to plan our schedule effectively, so please make sure you keep us up to date if your plans change. At the same time, if you're already planning a 3 week all-inclusive cruise in May, then that's probably not going to be very helpful as we plan in additional rehearsals and preparation for show-week ... if that's you, please consider if you're able to commit to the show and the demands of a busy rehearsal period. If in any doubt, please chat to one of the production team.

You're probably not the only one - please reach out to any of the production team directly, or send us an email to musicalsdxb@gmail.com