In the Audience: Continue Your Interest in Theater with First Year Players

In the Audience

Continue Your Interest in Theater with First Year Players

by Andrew Barat

If you are an incoming or current first year or if you are an upperclassman who loves to see musicals,the performing arts group on grounds for you is First Year Players.  This organization puts on a show every semester and, despite its name, you can get involved no matter what year you are at UVa. I have been lucky enough to be a part of the cast for the two shows my first year, but my favorite experience so far has been watching the musical this past fall, Legally Blonde.  I served on the production staff for this show and got to watch all the aspects of the performance come together, from the great dances and songs to the movable set the tech teams had to construct.  When the first performance began, it was amazing to see how every aspect of FYP's community came together to create a successful show.

Here's how you can get involved:

• Cast: At the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters auditions are held, but only first years or first year transfer students are allowed to audition. All you need to prepare is a short song, but be ready to dance and read a monologue as well.
• Pit orchestra: Anyone can audition to be a member of the orchestra for a show and auditions are held around the same time as cast auditions.  Each show will have its own requirements for instruments so contact the pit director of each show to see what they need.
• Technical Crews: You do not have to be a first year to join a technical crew.  Anyone can be a part of one of the various tech teams that are needed to put on each show.  These allow new students or upperclassmen to join as new members and meet once a week until about two weeks prior to the show.

If you want to know more about First Year Players, check out their website by clicking here. They will be putting on The Producers in the Fall semester of 2014, so be sure to come see it or join to help out with the show!