Bad Auditions...on Camera on February 20, 21, and 27, 2021

Fauquier Community Theatre’s Virtual Performing Arts Series presents the play Bad Auditions...on Camera, a comedy by Ian McWethy from Arlington and Carrie McWethy (McRossen), which will stream online on Saturday, February 20, 21, and 27, 2021.

Director Sonia Bronder (third photo from top) brilliantly brings this comedy to life that will have the audience laughing throughout! The character portrayals by the 19 talented actors are hilarious.

The show follows an overwhelmed casting director played by Haymarket resident Stub Estey, (top photo) as he auditions actors that go from strange to stranger for a role in his crime drama, Crime Court.

BAD AUDITIONS...ON CAMERA - A hilarious comedy!

Bad Auditions..On Camera is a comedic play about a casting director who has one day to find an actor to fill the role of a lawyer in a crime procedural. But what seems like a simple task proves impossible when the pool of actors includes stage thespians who can't tone it down for the screen, performers completely unable to keep themselves in frame, and an actor who seems to believe this is a toothpaste commercial. The audience will vote for who they think should get the role as they step behind the doors of a casting session in this hilarious comedy.

The comedy focuses on a frantic, casting session for a television show, run by the harried casting director, played by Stub Estey. Throughout the process, a ragtag collection of wannabe actors try out for a pivotal role on the fictional show “Crime Court.” 

Bad Auditions…on Camera features several veteran FCT actors including Stub Estey as the frustrated casting director and Betsy Hanson, who plays the energetic and wacky assistant.

Fresh from FCT’s successful 2020 online production of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play are Jeff Walker as Kellin, an over-the-top thespian, Greg Leggott as Greg, who can’t stay in frame, and

Award-winning FCT costumer Mickalei Lindquist is aptly cast as Rory, whose wardrobe choices are quite elaborate. Sarah Hoy returns to FCT after a previous role in a youth production almost a decade ago, now in the role of Phyllis.

The running time of the show is about one hour and 15 minutes. The Saturday evening performances will be followed by an online meet and greet talkback with the cast at 9 p.m. Guests will be able to vote for their favorite character, ask questions, and chat with the actors. The Sunday matinee will also be followed by a meet and greet with the actors at 3:30 pm.

Tickets are $10 for an individual ticket, $15 for couples, and $20 for an entire family all on one streaming device. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.fctstage.org. (Note that after purchase, tickets may be easily exchanged to different dates if needed.)

All ticket purchasers will be emailed detailed instructions for access to the show and the meet and greet. Any questions may be emailed to info@fctstage.org or left on the FCT message line which will be monitored closely: 540-349-8760.

Fauquier Community Theatre invites youth ages 14 - 20 to audition for Emma: A Pop Musical Stay-at-Home Edition. The production will be rehearsed, produced, and presented online. For more information and to submit audition materials, click on Emma Auditions.

Synopsis: Emma, a senior at Highbury Prep, is certain she knows what’s best for her classmates’ love lives, and is determined to find the perfect boyfriend for shy sophomore Harriet by the end of the school year. But will Emma’s relentless matchmaking get in the way of finding her own happiness? Based on Jane Austen’s classic novel, this sparkling new musical features the hit songs of legendary girl groups and iconic female singers from The Supremes to Katy Perry. Girl power has never sounded so good!

NEW! FCT PACE TEENS - ACTING PORTFOLIO CLASS

For Teens (ages 12 - 18) Classes run for five weeks on Thursdays at 3:30 to 4:30 pm beginning February 25, 2021 - March 25, 2021

FCT's Acting Portfolio for Teens is for those who have acting experience already as they build an acting portfolio. Topics include:

1. Time to Create/Edit an Acting Resume.

2. Is it Me? - Evaluating Photos and Headshots.

3. Mastering the Monologue.

4. Slating and Auditioning for Success.

5. Prepping the Portfolio.

The lead instructor for this class is FCT Executive Director Debra Smyers. She is a SAG-AFTRA actress with years of experience on Emmy award winning film sets, assisting in casting, and performing in plays.

Fauquier Community Theatre invites college-bound high school seniors with demonstrated abilities in the performing arts to apply for scholarships. The scholarship application is due no later than April 1, 2021, however submitting

prior to the deadline is recommended.

FCT is offering two $1,000 scholarships for local high school seniors who desire to pursue further education in the theatre arts. With the help of these scholarships young aspiring actors, actresses, musicians, and theatre technicians seek to acquire further training in the performing arts. One of the scholarships is named in memory of Richard and Natalie Thompson. The couple were very involved at FCT. Natalie was an actress, producer, choreographer, and board president. Admiral Thompson was successful in moving FCT to its current location.

All scholarship applications are reviewed by a committee and will be scored using a rubric system. Scholarships are awarded from the designated scholarship fund only. For additional information including to access the online scholarship application, click on FCT SCHOLARSHIPS.

Business sponsors and partnerships help us all build a better and more resourceful community. Fauquier Community Theatre's sponsors are on a rotating basis and can be started at any time. Renewals are easy also. Whether as a new sponsor, or a returning one, it is easy to add your sponsorship. For more information and to see the list of sponsors, click on COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. Please frequent the businesses of these generous sponsors, many have online services. Have your business front and center stage in the community with FCT. Questions? Email info@FCTstage.org or call FCT's executive director Debra Smyers at 540-349-8760.

FCT is thankful for the grants that support the mission and vision of the community theatre. Founded in 1978, Fauquier Community Theater is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization, supported in part through local grants from the PATH Foundation, The Jesse and Rose Loeb Foundation, Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.