ambercep

Bell Mar Plaza will be home to the youth theater’s 2025 productions 

SURPRISE, Ariz. – August 1, 2024 – Actors PLAYground Theater Company is proud to announce that it has signed a lease agreement for the Bell Mar Plaza theater space. The 80-seat theater is located at 11340 West Bell Road, Suite 105, Surprise, Ariz.

During its first year of operation, Actors PLAYground has rented various spaces in the area.

“We’ve appreciated all of our production homes this year, but it was always our intent to find a more permanent theater for our young artists to learn, grow, and play in,” says Amber Ryan, Actors PLAYground’s artistic director and president. “When this well-known space became available, we knew our performers, families, and audiences would be thrilled to experience the magic of the theater here.”

Actors PLAYground is a youth theater company based in Surprise that offers youth acting classes, including specialized opportunities for teens and home school families, and opportunities to audition for and perform in multiple productions a year. It’s known for being a judgment-free creative space where young people gain confidence, explore complex emotions and situations, and discover new levels of compassion, empathy, and understanding.

As the theater completes its 2024 calendar, shows will continue in their scheduled locations with plans to launch 2025’s productions at Bell Mar Plaza.

“A more permanent location will help add to our students’ overall experience,” Amber says. “We are looking forward to making this theater our home and seeing our performers thrive in such a professional environment.”

Community members, partners, and others with questions may contact Amber Ryan at [email protected]

Are you a young adult who has outgrown youth theater?  

Are you searching for auditions with roles that are right for you? 

Are you interested in directing or designing a show?

 

Actors PLAYground Theater Company’s 20-Something Series offers opportunities specifically for young adults and mature teens. 

This program provides opportunities to:

• Experience personal growth
• Collaborate with their peers
• Be challenged to create new and exciting projects of their choice 
• Learn advanced acting techniques from classic and contemporary coaches 
• Immediately apply what they learn through the rehearsal of a scripted play 
• Be a part of a challenging theatrical production

 

This year-long project comprises three 10-week modules. Each module starts after the open call. Actors accepted into the program will receive a copy of the script and their role assignment before the first week and are expected to begin learning their lines outside of class/rehearsals. 

Program objectives

The program’s three key objectives are: 

1. Participating actors will learn and apply advanced techniques to: character development, emotional believability, and physical control. These techniques will strengthen the connection between the body, the voice, and the imagination in relation to the text—allowing them to create well-rounded, multidimensional characters. (Assessed via performance review and acting journal)
2. Participating actors will execute a detailed analysis of a play that includes unearthing the given circumstances, understanding their impact on the creation of the dramatic action, and emotional points of view. (Assessed via self-evaluation and instructor feedback)
3. Participating actors will develop interpersonal skills and problem-solving capabilities. These skills will strengthen their ability to work with others via a disciplined, collaborative, professional, respectful, and productive approach throughout the rehearsal and performance processes. (Assessed via performance, acting journal, and peer evaluations)

Schedule overview

• Weeks 1-2: Script analysis emphasizing discovering the given circumstances and exploring the power of why.
• Weeks 2-3: Character development, including building relationships with self and other characters. 
• Weeks 4-5: Developing the physical embodiment of the character. Participants will become in tune with their own physicalities, identifying how they differ from their characters’, and how to use this information to create strong, dynamic characters. With the creative work done and the script memorized, the play’s staging becomes much easier. 
• Weeks 5-8: Put it all together in rehearsals!
• Week 9: Meet daily for tech rehearsals and conclude with two to four performances.
• Week 10: Post-production reflection and feedback.

Application and audition

Before each module begins, we will host an open call for applicants who will audition and interview with the leadership team. 

We are looking for young people who demonstrate a:

• Strong desire to learn
• Commitment to growth
• Willingness to accept constructive feedback 

Fees

The fee for each module in the program is $200. To ensure the program is accessible to everyone, the tuition requirement can be met in one of three ways:

• Monetary payment
• Completing volunteer hours with Actors PLAYground Theater Company
• Securing one program sponsor

The annual fee covers three modules. Each module will work with a different script, allowing participants to continue building and applying learned techniques to different source material. New participants can apply during the open call for each module. 

The role of feedback

This program has been developed based on the input of young actors we’ve worked with in the past. Our goal is to create a program “for youth by youth.” As such, we have assembled a Youth Theater Advisory (YTA)—a group of teens and young adults who have helped mold the program. They participate in regular play readings and committee meetings and provide input on the content and type of shows we select.

Participating actors will also provide feedback and program assessment following each module. 

Meet the project team

Our master instructors and directors Amber Ryan and Rachel Cummings facilitate and instruct the Actors PLAYground 20-Something Series, while guest instructors may provide specialized and diverse training, as needed.

Amber Ryan has over 15 years of experience in youth theater. She has directed more than 40 productions and has launched multiple youth theater programs throughout the Valley, each achieving high levels of success. 

Amber’s work has received the ariZoni Theater Awards of Excellence for Overall Production for a youth play and Director of a youth play. Several youth actors have also received ariZoni Theater Awards for performances under Amber’s direction. 

Amber’s ability to connect with young people stems from her passion to make everyone feel seen and valued. She finds inspiration in the words of Oscar Wilde: “I regard theater as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” 

Rachel Cummings earned her Bachelor of Arts in theater from Grand Canyon University and her Master of Arts in strategic communication from Liberty University. A professional actor who has appeared in numerous theatrical, commercial, and film projects, Rachel’s true passion is directing and teaching youth theater. Her work has earned her two ariZoni Theater Awards of Excellence nominations for Director of a Youth Play. 

Her passion for the performing arts can be summarized by the words of Albert Einstein: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” 

 

For more information or to schedule an interview and audition  Contact Us 

 

 

“Love, Liz” by Lauren Grove 

20-Something Series-(teens and young adults)

Aug. 8-10

Join Queen Elizabeth I and her closest friends and confidants for a fabulous night of gossip and intrigue. Will Elizabeth’s gal pals convince her that an illustrious marriage and an heir will quell her unruly heart, or will the flutters of her feelings for her rumored Romeo prevail? Get ready to listen to music, sneak some drinks, paint your nails, and meet all of Elizabeth’s suitors… The good, the bad, and the handsome! Love, Liz is a hilarious romp through history as Queen Elizabeth I of England must decide who (or if) she will marry.

 

“Murder At The Art Show”

by Michael Druce

Youth Production

Oct. 4 – 5

Everyone’s an art critic…  but who’s serious enough to kill over it?!  Sloane Akers is doing her best to keep afloat the Harriet Anderson Gallery (aka HAG) she inherited from her late Aunt Harriet.  Standing in her way is Harriet’s conniving boyfriend, Jacob Smote, who wants to tear down the gallery and replace it with a sports complex.

Desperate to save the gallery, Sloane plans to unveil a previously unseen masterpiece along with works of some other well-known artists.  By the end of the evening, Murder at the Art Show paints the perfect picture of greed, jealousy, and deception as a priceless Monet goes missing, art is hysterically destroyed, and a murder mystery is unveiled.

 

“Dorothy In Wonderland” by Brian D Taylor

Homeschool Production

Nov. 7-9

The worlds of Oz and Wonderland collide in this fantastically fun romp, cleverly and carefully adapted from the works of L. Frank Baum and Lewis Carroll.  Dorothy Gale has made her way to the end of the Yellow Brick Road, and the wonderful Wizard of Oz is just about to help her get back home to Kansas.  But before she can hop into the wizard’s balloon, another whirlwind appears over the Emerald City, sweeping Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion away to Wonderland.  

Meeting many other interesting characters along the way, including Alice, the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, March Hare, the Cheshire Cat and many more,  Dorothy and Alice team up to defeat the queen at croquet, but will that be enough to return Wonderland to normal?  And how will they ever get back home to Kansas and to London? 

 

“Life As Joby” by Jim Gradillas & Michelle Marie

Youth & Touring Production

Dec 7 & 8

A journey into the mind of a young alcoholic. The audience experiences how the actors playing Joby’s consciences work in his mind and ask the question “to drink or not to drink?”. Joby, as do most of us, have several influences in their mind.  These influences are our consciousness.  This story has all of them; from whatever to evil and they all play a part in every single decision.  Joby’s sister, Sentry, and her friends tell their stories, and they become interwoven into his uncontrollable life. This is a cautionary tale of such destruction that if we don’t help ourselves then perhaps there will be no one around us left to help. 

 

“The Christmas Bus” by Robert Inman

Family Production

Dec 13-22

It’s Christmas Eve, and Mrs. Frump, the director of the Peaceful Valley Orphanage, is planning what she believes will be the most special Christmas ever for her kids. She’s borrowed an old bus and arranged for each child to spend Christmas with a family in the area. The only problem is, she hasn’t told the Busybodies on the orphanage board of trustees, who believe Frump has gotten too old and soft to handle the rowdy kids at Peaceful Valley. With the help of teenage Thomas, the oldest of the orphans and her trusty right-hand man, Frump sets off to deliver the kids—pursued by the suspicious Sheriff Snodgrass and the Busybodies. Along the way, they pick up a passenger: a traveling troubadour who’s been on the road trying his luck as a folksinger and is now returning home to his girlfriend (who may or may not be glad to see him). It’s an adventuresome ride, culminating in a Christmas even more special than Frump could have ever imagined.

 

“Alibis” by Peter Kennedy

20-Something Series-(teens and young adults)

January 2025

Whodunit, howdunit. When famous actress Primavera Donna throws a party and winds up dead, it’s up to the guests to figure out who and how, and why the hired help is so annoying. Shades of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, and Clue. As the storm outside rages and the body count mounts, the guests must contend with interruptions, shocking revelations, tacky special effects, and the arrival of a mysterious visitor. Both the action and dialogue are fast-paced and the surprising conclusion leaves only one question: Who gets the movie rights? The cast includes a stuffy butler, a social butterfly, a playboy, a dotty chemist, an aristocrat of dubious origin, a nun who has taken a vow of silence, a part-time detective, a very French maid, and a mysterious stranger. 

 

“Snow White”

by Jim Gradillas & Michelle Marie

Youth Production

Jan 31-Feb 8

 

 

 

 

“Charlotte’s Web” by Joseph Robinett

Youth Production

Feb 21-Mar 2

“The Neverending Story” by David S. Craig

Youth and Homeschool Production

April 2025

Told with all the thrills of a classic adventure, the story begins with Bastian, a lonely boy, who stumbles into a curious bookshop where he discovers a curious book—The Neverending Story. Bastian hides in the attic of his school and begins to read, and a huge adventure surges into life. Fantastica, a land of stories, is being destroyed by the Nothing. The Childlike Empress has chosen Atreyu, a young hunter, to be the Hero of the Great Quest. Atreyu, an orphan, is an unlikely choice, but he accepts and, with his horse and companion, Artax, rides to face the menace.

First, he experiences the Nothing and discovers its thoughtless destruction. Then he is guided by a dream to the Swamps of Sadness where he meets Morla, the Ancient One, who reveals another solution. He must find the Childlike Empress a new name. With this new direction, Atreyu faces Ygramul the Many, befriends Falkor the Luck Dragon, and solves the riddles of the three magic gates to meet Uyulala. From her he learns that only a human child can give the Empress a new name. In despair he faces his final test—the werewolf Gmork—and returns to the Childlike Empress without a new name. However, his quest has attracted a human child. It is Bastian himself who calls out a new name for the Empress, and the story rushes to its triumphant and moving conclusion.

 

“May the Farce Be With You” by David Rogers

Youth Production

May 9-17

Acrobatman. Albatross, H20 Girl, Astarte, Tapeman, Miss Invisowrap, Electroman, Gadzooks. And that’s only part of the cast of this comedy farce. They are members of the Elite Idealistic Earth Individuals Organization, commonly called the E.I.E.I.O. Their annual conference at a health spa called O. MacDonald’s Farm (what else?) is attacked by invaders from the evil planet Inferna. Star Raider, the intergalactic villain, has discovered the secret of the E.I.E.I.O.’s strength: they all seem to be some insignificant Earth Person, then they change their clothes and become superheroes. So he has prepared a serum that will rob them of the ability to change clothes! Can the E.I.E.I.O. and the entire Earth be saved from enslavement by nonmembers Superbrain and Wizard Woman? Learn the answer in this takeoff on all the superheroes you’ve ever heard of.

 

“Anne of Green Gables” based on the story by L.M. Montgomery

Family Production

May 2025

This dramatization captures the charm and excitement of L.M. Montgomery’s enduring classic about an orphan girl, Anne Shirley, from her first encounter with her austere guardian to her thrilling graduation from Queen’s Academy. The play faithfully recreates the memorable events and characters from the brilliant novel. All the tragedies and triumphs that mark Anne’s growth from adolescence to early adulthood are here: her friendship with Diana, her feuds with Gilbert, her adoration of Matthew, the mistaken wine bottle, the cake disaster, the broken leg, the scholastic achievements, and the saving of Green Gables. Whether the playgoer is an “old friend” of Anne’s or meeting her for the first time, this play will solidify a lasting friendship between the audience and one of literature’s most unforgettable characters.

 

You have done the work and prepared for your audition, now what? Here are 7 ways to stand out at your audition.

1. Bring a headshot and resume.

The main purpose of a headshot is to help the director remember you. Even if you have auditioned or worked with them in the past, providing a headshot and resume will make you stand out. And it keeps you in front of the casting team longer.

If you don’t have professional headshots, grab a friend and take a snapshot. Your headshot should look like you. It should be a close-up shot of your face from the shoulders up. Use a plain background, and avoid anything else that will draw attention away from you. Make sure you have good lighting on your face—remember, we want to see you!

Your resume helps the director learn about your past work. When you are just starting out, list anything you have done in front of an audience. Music and dance recitals, talent shows, and school plays are great additions to your resume. As you gain more experience you can replace these items with theater credits. Whatever you do, don’t lie.

Tell us a little about you. What hobbies do you have? Do you play an instrument? What classes have you taken?

Put your contact information on your resume. List your phone number and email. Do not put your address. This is especially true for children and teens under 18. There is no reason anyone needs to know where you live.

Make sure your name is on your headshot and resume. Staple them together before you arrive.

2. Dress comfortably and in the essence of the character.

Think about the shoes the character would wear. The shoes you are wearing will make you stand and walk differently. I personally always audition and rehearse in the style of shoes the character would wear. For example, for Charlie in Always a Bridesmaid, I wore birkenstocks; for CeCe in Red Velvet Cake War I wore cowboy boots; for Nora in A Doll’s House Part Two, I wore character shoes with a small heel.

3. Arrive early.

Give yourself plenty of time to get to your audition. You want to allow for traffic or getting lost. When you arrive, give yourself a few minutes to get in the right mindset. Review your material if you have it in advance. Review the notes you took during your research.

4. Warm up.

On your way, do some vocal warmups in the car. Tongue twisters are great for this. Listen to music that helps you relax, get in character, or get your energy up. Stretch a little before you go in.

5. Audition form.

There is a reason we ask for this information. Plus, the director can learn a lot about you by how you fill out this form. Do you pay attention to details and follow directions? If the form asks for information that you have on your resume, you can answer: “See resume attached.”

Know your sizes and measurements. This may be information requested on the audition form. 

Often you will be asked this question: “Will you accept any role?” Please be honest here. It is acceptable to say “no.” It is even acceptable to say “maybe.” Please do not say “yes” if you do not mean it.

Casting a play is like putting together a big puzzle. It takes a lot of time and energy for the director. When you remove one piece of that puzzle it changes the entire picture. If you answer that question with a “no” or “maybe” it lets the director know to discuss offers with you privately before finalizing the cast list and announcing it. Being selective of the roles you will consider does not reflect poorly on you. Turning down a role after answering yes on your audition form, thought will reflect poorly on you and could affect future opportunities.

6. Take direction.

Once you are in front of the director, be prepared to take direction. If you are asked to do your audition piece again, this is usually a good sign. Most likely the director liked what you did and is looking to see if you can take direction.

A good exercise to practice “doing it differently” is one-liners. For example, use the line: “I did it.” Can you say it 10 different ways? Take a video of yourself saying this one line 10 different ways. Change your volume, emotion, energy, intention, and speed. If you have your audition material in advance, rehearse it saying the lines differently.

7. Be kind.

Be kind to everyone you come in contact with at the audition. Smile, be polite, and be professional. You never know who is watching. The person checking you in could be the director at your next audition.

Now that you are ready, check out our upcoming auditions at ActorsPLAYground!

Want to stand out at your next audition?  Here are five ways to be prepared.  

1. Read the post.

Read the post carefully and follow directions. You can learn a lot from the audition posting. The post should tell you when and where the audition is, when rehearsals will start, the performance dates, and what you need to prepare. There may be additional information like the rehearsal schedule, list of characters, and even material to prepare. Read everything that is provided. 

2. Research the script.

Even if it is a story you are familiar with, try to find the specific version of the script that will be performed. The easiest way to do this is to find out who the author is. 

For example, the audition may be for “Wizard of Oz.” If you do a Google search for “Wizard of Oz script” you will find MANY versions. When you add the author and search “Wizard of OZ script by Jon Jory” you will find the specific script which also happens to be available to read online for free. Now that you have found it, READ it. You can usually find at least a sample of the script. At the very least you should be able to find a summary and list of characters. 

3. Know the audition material.

Each director will audition differently. However, the most common ways are:

Cold readings: You will be provided a scene at the audition. If this is the case, plan to arrive early to give yourself time to become familiar with the scene. With this type of audition it is even more important to do the research you did in Tip 2.

Prepared scene: You will be provided scenes based on the role you are interested in auditioning for. As we mentioned above, read all the scenes that are provided, not just the characters you are interested in. Memorize the scene even when it is not required. You will set yourself apart from everyone else if you know the scene by heart.

Prepared monologue: You will be asked to perform a monologue of your choice. Sometimes additional parameters are given. Please follow the directions! If they ask for a one-minute monologue, make sure it is only one minute. With a prepared monologue you are expected to be performance-ready. That means memorized/no script and with strong character choices.  

4. Prepare your mindset.

On average you will be cast in one of every 20 roles you audition for. That is a lot of rejection. Treat every audition as an opportunity to perform, and it won’t feel like a rejection. Do the work, research, and prepare. Then walk into that room with confidence, and have fun giving the best performance you can. You will leave the audition with that rush of excitement you get after every performance. 

5. Know your conflicts.

Please, please, please list ANY and ALL conflicts. Directors put a lot of time and energy into creating a detailed rehearsal schedule based on conflicts provided by the cast members. 

Now, you’re ready for that next audition! 

Want more tips like this?  Sign up for our email list.