Community invited to audition for two college plays

Moorpark College Theatre Arts Department will hold auditions for its summer and fall theater arts productions from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Mon. and Tues., April 23 and 24 in the Studio Theatre, Room 100, in the Performing Arts Center, Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road.

Auditions are open to anyone in the community, and no experience or special preparation is needed for the audition. All cast members will be required to enroll in the threecredit hour course "Theatre Arts M10, Production and Performance" for the semester(s) of their participation.

The summer play will be the contemporary farce "Scapino," written by Frank Dunlap and Jim Dale, and directed by Moorpark College faculty member John Loprieno. Showtimes will be Thursday through Sunday July 19 to Aug 5.

"Scapino" is based on a Moliere play where two lovers are kept apart by a miserly old man, only to be reunited through the ingenuity and comedic antics of a servant, Scapino. The show includes singing waiters who will perform for the audience during the pre-show and intermission.

According to Loprieno, "It is our goal to turn our Summer Theatre Arts program into an outreach opportunity to allow local high school students to interact with Moorpark College students and faculty. We are hoping to attract students in technical and performance areas. The summer program is designed to give students a full range of experiences in the theater arts."

The fall play is "The Sandstorm- Stories from the Front," written by Sean Huze, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and directed and produced by Moorpark College faculty member Katherine Lewis. Production dates will be in October.

Lewis said, "It is an incredibly powerful play that is obviously very timely. The play is not explicitly political, but focuses on conveying the psychological impact of war."

Lewis will also be auditioning people for an untitled compilation piece on the Native American vision of the natural world that will be part of Moorpark College's Year of the Environment program. This multicultural ensemble cast will include men and women of various ages.

For more information about other summer theater arts classes, call Loprieno at (805) 378-1469 or e-mail JLoprieno@vcccd.edu.

For information on the fall play, call Lewis at (805) 378-1568 or e-mail KLewis@vcccd.edu.