Play in a Day
<p>Kids ages eight to 18 perform a short dance during a group audition for the sixth annual “Play in a Day” which this year will be “Jack and the Beanstalk.” The event is presented by the Theater-North Idaho and Chill Bucket Production</p>
<p>Jeff Rucco, Producer and Director of this years “Play in a Day,” listens to kids singing during the auditions for Jack in the Beanstalk.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Christian Youth Theater of North Idaho started a "Play in Day" Monday afternoon, with 150 teenagers auditioning for a part in this evening's production.
CYT and Chill Bucket Productions have selected the musical version of "Jack and the Beanstalk" for the sixth-annual Play in a Day event.
It will be the third Play in a Day for Abigail Steiner, 17. She came to the audition with her sister, Sophie, 15, and brother Alexander, 13, for tonight's play.
All three have acting experience with the CYT program.
"Everyone gets in even if they do a bad job during the audition," Alexander said. "It's just a fun little thing."
Abigail said she really enjoys performing and looks forward to tonight's show.
The Steiners also talked Grace Johnson, 15, into auditioning for a role in the play. She said it is her first time acting in the CYT program.
"We told her about it and got her to come do it with us," Sophie said.
Jeff Rocco, founder of Chill Bucket Productions, said curtains rise at 7:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene.
"This started back when CYT wanted to give something back to the community, so we put our heads together and came up with a play in a day," Rocco said.
He said 115 actors and actresses - ranging in age from 8 years old to 18 - auditioned for a part in the play and another 35 teens are working on the production side of the event.
"Honestly we really only need 50 people to do it," he said. "But we will cast everyone and have a good time. It's a good opportunity for kids to experience CYT."
The crew spent the past 24 hours learning and rehearsing parts. After a two-hour audition process on Monday, the cast was given scripts and directions before the members were sent home for the evening.
"We literally have every minute of the day scheduled, but somehow we always seem to have time," Rocco said. "It's really just organized chaos."
An overnight crew of teens worked into the morning creating the sets, props and costumes for the play.
A day crew arrived at 6 a.m. today to move it all into the theater, and at 7 a.m. the cast arrived to rehearse and put on the show.
Discounted advanced tickets are still available online until 5 p.m. at www.chillbucketproductions.com, and tickets will also be available for sale at the door.
Advance tickets are $11 and door tickets are $15.