Bronxville performers ages 8 and up can audition Sunday, Sept. 20, for a tuition-free holiday musical at Concordia Conservatory.
Open auditions for "The Time They Canceled Christmas," the Conservatory's 27th Annual Holiday Community Musical, run from 3 to 5 p.m. at 171 White Plains Road in Bronxville. No experience is required.
The original musical, written by Greg Suss and Charles duChateau, is set in the present-day North Pole and the Massachusetts Bay Colony of 1659. The story imagines the events that saved Christmas and how Santa Claus found Mrs. Claus.
Executive Director Kathleen Suss said the production has become a tradition that brings performers of all ages together on stage, according to the Conservatory's audition announcement. She called the show "an uplifting story" about standing up for what is right and preserving hope.
The tuition-free musical has run every year since 1999, drawing children, teens and adults from across the region.
Through 26 productions, the program has featured more than 1,600 performers and attracted over 18,000 audience members, according to ArtsWestchester.
Donors have contributed more than $950,000 to keep the tradition going.
Last year's 26th production, "The Spirit Society," was performed at the Bronxville School Auditorium. Performance dates for this year's show have not been announced.
The Conservatory draws students from Westchester County and Fairfield County, Connecticut. More than 400 of its 1,500-plus students receive financial aid or full scholarships, so families should not assume cost is a barrier to participation.
Residents interested in auditioning should contact Director Marilou Yacoub at the Conservatory. The phone number is 914-395-4507.
Coming up in the community:
- Sunday, Sept. 20 — Concordia Conservatory holiday musical auditions, 3–5 p.m., 171 White Plains Road, Bronxville
