(Roselle Park, 2016) – This coming summer, New Jersey Youth Theatre (NJYT) will be presenting the Broadway masterpiece, Into the Woods, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. Performances will be presented July 21-August 7 at the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.

Open singing auditions for Into the Woods will be held at the Wharton Institute, 60 Locust Avenue in Berkeley Heights, on Saturday, April 2, 2016, from 1PM–5PM, and at the NJYT/Audio Inc. Studios, 172 W. Westfield Avenue in Roselle Park, on Saturday, April 9th from 10PM-5PM. Final Callbacks will be Saturday, April 16th by appointment. Open orchestra auditions will be held on Friday, April 8 from 6PM-8PM at the Wharton Institute’s second venue at 570 Central Avenue in New Providence. Seeking a diverse cast and orchestra, performers and musicians ages fifteen to twenty-five+ with classical and nonclassical vocal, acting, music, and instrumental training are encouraged to audition. Cast auditionees should bring a headshot, resume, and sheet music in the correct key. Actors are welcomed and encouraged to sing a selection from the show. The orchestra will be similar to a chamber ensemble, consisting of piano, violin, flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet/flute, cello, and viola. Musicians will be asked to play a piece of their choice, but it should be in a similar genre to the show.

NJYT Artistic Director, Cynthia Meryl stated: “We are especially delighted to be collaborating with the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts. The school is a state leader in training musicians and vocalist and we are proud to be invited into their venue, and one that is quite a bit different than our past performing spaces. In this intimate setting, we will have the opportunity to present Into the Woods environmentally, so that the audience feels they are actually in the woods. This will be a creative challenge, and a totally different theatrical experience for the participants and audience members.”

Into the Woods brings everyone's favorite storybook characters together for a timeless yet relevant piece and rare modern classic. The story follows 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. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results. Into the Woods debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986 and premiered on Broadway on November 5, 1987, where it won several Tony Awards, including Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason).

For further information regarding auditions including cast breakdown, technical apprenticeships, or general NJYT information, go to www.njyouththeatre.org or call 908-233-3200. For tickets, go to https://whartonarts.myboxoffice.us/program/into-the-woods-960 or call 908-790-0700, ext. 20.

This program is made possible in part by the generous support of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, the Lillian Pitkin Schenck Fund, the Edelman Foundation and the Westfield Foundation.

CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION SCHEDULE