The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) is seeking young local musicians ages 10-16 to complete their cast for their October production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock – The Musical at THE BLACK BOX. FPAC is holding auditions for singers, guitarists, bassists, pianists, and drummers ages 10-16 to play the students of Horace Green. 

Auditions will be held on September 4th at 4:30 p.m. at THE BLACK BOX located at 15 W. Central Street in Franklin, MA. Those auditioning are asked to prepare a brief cut of a song in the style of the show. If auditioning for a role that plays an instrument, prepare one brief cut of a song in the style of the show to sing with the pianist as well as one brief demonstration of playing ability on one’s instrument. FPAC will have amps, a drum set, and piano available. For full character descriptions and instrument information, visit FPAConline.com. All questions regarding the audition/casting process can be emailed to [email protected]. 

The production will be directed by FPAC Artistic Director Raye Lynn Mercer, choreographed by Broadway’s Clay Rice-Thomson (Moulin Rouge, Matilda, Newsies, King Kong), with music direction by FPAC’s Resident Music Director Hallie Wetzell. The production runs October 18-27 at THE BLACK BOX. 

FPAC is a professional regional theater (Actors’ Equity SPT Tier 1). The casts and creative teams are made up of Broadway stars, professionals from NYC and Boston, local talent, and student apprentices. All performers 18 (high school) and under cast in FPAC productions appear as “Student Apprentices.” The FPAC Student Apprentice program gives students of the arts a chance to share the stage with and be directed/choreographed by Broadway stars and New York, Boston, and local professional artists. A learning experience in the world of professional regional theater, Student Apprentices are sometimes called upon to assist FPAC’s Stage Management team and crew with things like technical rehearsals, upkeep of THE BLACK BOX space, and more. 

Based on the hit movie, School of Rock follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn an extra bit of cash by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight–A pupils into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. But can he get them to the Battle of the Bands without their parents and the school’s headmistress finding out? With its sensational live kids’ rock band, School of Rock - The Musical is a loving testimony to the transforming power of music. 

Tickets for School of Rock and FPAC’s entire 2024-25 Season are available now at FPAConline.com or by calling the box office at (508) 528-3370.