Thank you for your interest in Puffs (or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic), our fall production! Whether you’re interested in performing onstage or working behind the scenes, we’re excited you’re considering being part of this production and competition team — it promises to be an entertaining, fast-paced, and rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Please attend our informational meeting the first week of school on Wednesday, August 5th in the theatre arts classroom from 3:45-4:30pm.
Production Information &
Audition Instructions
Informational Meeting
Wednesday, August 5 • After School • 3:45-4:30pm
This optional meeting is open to anyone interested in being involved in the production. We’ll discuss the show, explain the audition process, review the rehearsal schedule, go over production positions, and answer any questions. Students interested in acting or technical theatre are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Planning to Audition?
Review the Rehearsal Calendar
Before submitting your audition contract, please review the rehearsal calendar (LINKED HERE )
You will be asked to list any scheduling conflicts on your Audition Contract. Please note that the date of the Regional One Act Competition has not yet been finalized by our region. While we may not use all of these rehearsal times, and not everyone will be called for every rehearsal, knowing your availability helps us create the final rehearsal calendar, so please look over your conflicts carefully. Students missing rehearsals NOT disclosed in their Audition Contract may be dismissed from the production.
Only conflicts listed on your Audition Contract will be considered excused. Any rehearsal missed for a conflict that was not listed will be considered unexcused. Frequent unexcused absences may result in reassignment of a role or removal from the production.
This conflict list will be used during casting. Please be as accurate and complete as possible.
Mandatory (“Red”) Dates
Dates marked in red on the rehearsal calendar are mandatory rehearsals and performances. If you have an unavoidable conflict with a red date, please contact Mrs. Arthur before submitting your audition contract to determine whether participation in this production is possible.
Audition Timeline
Once your Audition Contract is submitted, you may sign up for an Audition Time: Choose ONE 5-minute audition slot after school on:
Tuesday, August 11th
Wednesday, August 12th
You can sign up using the Sign-Up Genius (linked at the top of this page). Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your audition time, and be prepared to stay up to 20-30 minutes afterwards. We will do our absolute best to keep auditions running on time, but we will post updates on GroupMe as needed.
Open Callbacks: Monday, August 17th • After School • 3:45pm-6pm
Everyone auditioning should plan to attend. This session allows us to see different actor pairings and explore casting possibilities.
Parent Meeting: Monday, August 17th • 6pm in the Auditorium
All students who plan to participate in the production (cast or crew) should attend this mandatory meeting with a parent or guardian.
Role-Specific Callbacks (if Needed): Tuesday, August 18th • After School • 3:45-no later than 7pm.
Please keep this time available in case additional callbacks are needed for specific roles.
Cast List Posted: By the evening of Thursday, August 20th
Our goal is to create the strongest possible production while providing meaningful opportunities for as many students as we can. However, we may not be able to cast every student who auditions.
Casting decisions are based on many factors, including performance, chemistry between actors, vocal and physical characterization, and the overall needs of the production. Not being cast or receiving a particular role is not a reflection of your talent or potential.
To help prepare for illness, emergencies, and competition, some cast members may also be assigned to understudy another role. No student will be cast solely as an understudy. Every understudy will also have an onstage role in the production.
Role Acceptance Form: Students who are offered a role will need to complete a Role Acceptance Form by the posted deadline. There will also be a traditional cast list posted outside the drama classroom. Students are asked to initial next to their names on Friday, August 21st.
Production Fees: Students who accept a role in Puffs will be assessed a $200 production fee. This fee helps offset expenses including production materials, costumes, scripts, rehearsal supplies, competition expenses, and other costs associated with mounting a high-quality production.
The production fee is due after the cast list is posted and a student has officially accepted their role. Additional payment information and deadlines will be provided at that time.
We never want finances to prevent a student from participating in theatre. If paying the production fee would create a financial hardship for your family, please contact the director confidentially. Scholarships and payment arrangements are available, and all requests will be handled with discretion.
First Read-Through and Rehearsal: Saturday, August 22nd 9am-3:30pm:
All cast and production team members from 9am-12:30pm
Called Cast Members and Understudies from 1pm-3:30pm
One Act Competition Information
This year, we will perform a full-length, two-act production of Puffs before creating a shortened version for the GHSA One Act Competition.
Because the competition version has a significantly shorter running time, not every role will appear in the competition cut. Everyone cast in the production is considered a member of our competition team, regardless of whether their character appears in the competition version.
We’ll explain this process in much greater detail once rehearsals begin.
What to Prepare for Your Audition
From the Audition Materials, please prepare:
ONE character monologue from Section A: Character Monologues
THREE character versatility lines from Section B: Character Lines
Audition Materials and Character Breakdowns can be found in Microsoft Teams and on our JCHS Website.
If time permits, you are also welcome to perform a monologue of your own choosing.
Each audition time slot is five minutes, so please prepare an overall performance that is around THREE minutes so we can stay on time. 🙂
About Auditioning for Puffs
Puffs is a fast-paced ensemble comedy featuring almost 60 different characters in the original production.
The original production was performed by only 11 actors, meaning that most of the actors played multiple roles. While we hope to cast as many students as possible, many characters will still be doubled in our production.
As you prepare your audition, challenge yourself to create a clear difference between each character you perform. Think about how you can vary your voice, physicality, and energy to show your versatility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime.
Mrs. Kate Arthur: arthurk@fultonschools.org
-
No. Students of all experience levels are encouraged to audition. We are looking for students who are willing to learn, work hard, and contribute to the production.
-
Yes, but please be realistic about your availability. We understand that students have other commitments, and we do our best to build the rehearsal schedule around the conflicts submitted at auditions. However, theatre is a team activity that requires consistent attendance. Students with extensive conflicts may not be able to be cast, regardless of talent, simply because we need to know that rehearsals can move forward. If you're unsure whether your schedule is compatible with the production, please reach out before auditions—we're happy to talk it through.
-
Not necessarily. The competition version has different time and cast requirements than the full production. Participation in the GHSA One Act cast is a separate artistic decision made by the director. However, everyone cast in the show should plan on attending the competition to support the production.
-
Casting is based on the needs of a particular production, not a student's talent or potential. Every show requires a different combination of personalities, physical characteristics, schedules, and acting styles. Many talented actors are not cast in every production. We encourage students to seek feedback, continue building their skills, and audition again.
-
No. Memorization is encouraged but not required. You may hold your script during your audition. That said, students who are familiar with their material are often able to make stronger acting choices and connect more naturally with scene partners. We are not looking for perfection—we're looking for preparation and potential.
-
We are looking for students who come prepared, take direction well, make strong choices, and are willing to work hard throughout the rehearsal process. While acting ability is certainly important, we also consider factors such as chemistry between actors, vocal quality, movement, scheduling, versatility, and the specific needs of the production. Most importantly, we are looking for students who are collaborative, positive, and excited to tell a story as part of an ensemble.
-
Callbacks give the directors an opportunity to see different combinations of actors, explore chemistry between performers, and try students in a variety of roles before making final casting decisions. You may be asked to read additional scenes, take direction, or read with different partners.
Being invited to callbacks does not guarantee that you will be cast, just as not being invited does not mean you won't be cast. Some students may receive a callback for one role and ultimately be cast in another, while others may be cast without attending callbacks at all. Callbacks are simply one tool directors use to gather more information before making casting decisions.