WESTFIELD-While the Christmas season is still more than five months away, more than 40 area residents were auditioning Monday and Tuesday night for coveted roles for the Westfield Theatre Group’s production of “Holiday Spirit.”
The original play, written and directed by Kathleen Palmer, with music and musical direction by Marion Dunk, debuted on the Westfield Woman’s Club stage in 2002, and has since been staged in 2012. The Westfield Theatre Group (WTG) is a department of the Westfield Woman’s Club.
Marion Dunk, composer and music director, Kathleen Palmer, director, and co-producers Shelley Haber and Virginia Schwarzenbach, chat before auditions started on Tuesday night for the Westfield Theatre Group’s production of “Holiday Spirit.”
“We are bringing back a family favorite,” said Palmer, noting that the play remains timely due to issues including bullying in school, post traumatic stress, and homelessness.
“All issues will have to resolve itself during the play,” said Palmer.
Performances are slated Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 8 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Prior to starting auditions, Palmer and Dunk spent a few minutes with those in attendance to discuss the premise of the play, as well as the importance of attending all rehearsal dates that will be scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“If I don’t have a spot for you, I don’t want your feelings to be hurt,” said Palmer. “We’ve all been turned down if we don’t fit the part.”
Palmer and Dunk are joined by co-producers Shelley Haber and Virginia Schwarzenbach who will meet later this week to cast the play.
Aaron Kielbasa and Vivian Szostek rehearse a scene during an audition for the Westfield Theatre Group’s production of “Holiday Spirit.”
While Haber is entering her 27th year working on WTG productions in a variety of roles, this is the second time that Schwarzenbach is co-producing a WTG play.
“Producing a play is a lot of work so I am training new people and sharing my knowledge,” said Haber.
Schwarzenbach welcomes the training that Haber is providing.
“This is my second time co-producing and the first time I am working on a musical with children,” said Schwarzenbach.
Among the young people auditioning on Tuesday night was Aaron Kielbasa, 16, who will be a junior in the fall at St. Mary’s High School.
“I love these shows,” said Kielbasa, adding he has appeared in five WTG productions. “It’s like a tradition at this point for me and I always make new friends.”
Creating friendships is also important to Tyler Whalen, 10, who will enter fifth grade in the fall at the Westfield Intermediate School.
“This is my first audition with the Westfield Theatre Group,” said Whalen, adding he is hoping to land a “big role.”
Whalen, who participates in the Acting Out Club at the Westfield Woman’s Club, said he was encouraged to audition by Hillary Wildman who oversees the group.
“It’s fun to act and you get to meet new people and make new friends,” said Whalen.
Tyler Whalen reads a line during an audition for the Westfield Theatre Group’s production of “Holiday Spirit.”
For some young people there were audition jitters but for Vivian Szostek, 14, she was ready to do the cold reading.
“I love being on the stage and meeting new people,” said Szostek, who will enter Westfield High School as a freshman in the fall. She has performed in three WTG holiday shows.
At press time, Carol Palmer has been cast as the ‘Holiday Spirit,’ reprising the role she did so “wonderfully” when the WTG performed the show several years ago, noted Palmer.
With more than 30 roles to be decided in the coming days, the directors and producers will have a lot of notes to review from the audition nights.
“My message to all of you who are new – there are some heavy situations in the show,” said Palmer. “We love you dearly but if you’re not the right size, age, or the right fit for the part, I have to say no.”
Palmer added that more auditions will be scheduled in the coming months when she starts casting for the musical she is writing for the city’s 350th celebration in 2019.
“We will need a lot of children for the musical,” said Palmer.
