FRANKLIN- The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) is seeking young local actors ages 8-18 to
complete their casts for their October production of Annie and November production of Peter and the
Starcatcher at THE BLACK BOX.
Children’s Auditions for both shows will be held on September 6th from 10:00am-1:00-pm at THE BLACK
BOX located at 15 W. Central Street in Franklin, MA. Those auditioning for Annie are asked to prepare
16-32 bars of a musical theater song and those auditioning for Peter and the Starcatcher are given the
option of preparing a brief monologue or reading one provided at the audition. Sign-ups for audition
time slots are open now at FPAConline.com/auditions. Those auditioning for both shows are asked to
sign up for two slots in the same “group” when possible. For full character descriptions and instrument
information, visit FPAConline.com/auditions. All questions regarding the audition/casting process can
be emailed to FPACcasting@gmail.com.
Annie 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 17-26 at THE BLACK BOX. Peter and the
Starcatcher will be directed by NYC’s Ali Funkhouser and run November 21-23 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 popular comic strip by Harold Gray, Annie has become a worldwide phenomenon and was
the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The beloved book and score by Tony Award
winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, features some of the greatest musical
theatre hits ever written, including “Tomorrow.”
Peter and the Starcatcher is a play with music that upends the century-old story of how a miserable
orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). From marauding pirates and
jungle tyrants, to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores
the depths of greed and despair… and the bonds of friendship, duty, and love.
Tickets for FPAC’s entire 2025-26 Season will be available soon at FPAConline.com or by calling the box
office at 508-528-3370.
