Blackhawk Children’s Theater auditions for Beetlejuice Jr. open Oct. 30, Nov. 1

Standing center stage, audience roaring, spotlights shine in the performers’ eyes after they finish a song they spent almost nine weeks working to perfect. After the show, their castmates congratulate them and celebrate new lasting friendships and memories over a table of homemade food.

This isn’t just one show at the Waterloo Community Playhouse- it’s all of them, and it could be yours too. 

Blackhawk Children’s Theater (BHCT) in Waterloo is holding auditions for Beetlejuice Jr. on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 in the Walker Building on Commercial Street. The show follows Lydia Deetz, a teen girl struggling with the passing of her mother, as she and her father move into a house haunted by inhabitants past and a chaotic spirit—Beetlejuice. 

When auditioning, actors are to prepare 16-32 bars of a song to audition with, and they will be asked to read scenes from the script and learn a short dance at the actual audition. Directors will watch their performances and make the final casting decisions, eventually offering actors parts in the show and sending out schedules for rehearsals.

Beetlejuice Jr. will be directed by Alan Malone, who directs five-six shows a year between WCP and BHCT (the children’s side of Waterloo Community Playhouse) and also runs camps and workshops in the summers. His favorite part about directing for the theater is working with the people.

“It’s being able to help people find their voice and their place, whether that’s onstage or backstage,” Malone said. “You end up having people come back and seeing them grow.”

He said that one of the best parts of his job is watching young actors go from their very first show to their fifth or even tenth, and seeing how far they’ve come.

Malone also encourages people to get involved in community theatre—specifically by auditioning for Beetlejuice Jr.

“It’s really a great musical. It does justice to the movie, but it is its own story,” he said.

He said that while some people have preconceptions about community theatre or doubts about their abilities to get into shows, they shouldn’t be afraid to take the chance. Malone said WCP/BHCT accepts “a huge spectrum of talent,” and actors of any and all experience levels are encouraged to join.

“We hope to be as welcoming and as inclusive as possible to anyone who wants to get involved somehow,” Malone said. “We have a lot of opportunities.”

Malone said that he hopes to see many new faces at auditions and on stage this year, and to all aspiring actors he offered this piece of advice: “Don’t lose hope, keep trying.”