Category: News
In the early months of each new year, Singers and Dancers from all across the country attend a non-union open call audition in New York City. Each of these auditionees is hoping to be cast in one or more of our upcoming Original Shows that year.
We chatted with Matthew V. Gotwalt, AMT’s Company Show Manager, to find out just what’s involved in the New York audition process.
Long before heading to The Big Apple, the first order of business is to select audition dates. Once finalized, Matthew reserves studio space and audition rooms, schedules piano players, and places audition announcements in numerous theatrical publications and websites. The audition announcements will give the Dancers and Singers all the info they’ll need to come prepared for their audition.
The first few hours of Audition Day 1 is a Dancer call, and both Dancers and Dancer/Singers attend. During these open auditions, no appointments are made — the Dancers are seen in the order they arrive. They’re placed in a holding room where they can stretch and warm up while they wait their turn to audition. Once their names are called, the Dancers are assembled in a group of 15-20. The group is then taught two different dance style combinations and they’re given some time to practice the moves. They audition for Andrea McCormick, AMT’s Artistic Director/Choreographer, Missy Clayton, our Show Captain, and Matthew, the Show Manager in pairs or groups of four until everyone has had a chance to be seen. Once everyone in the group has auditioned, they are given the opportunity to demonstrate any tumbling or specialty dances they may do. The process begins again with the next group of 20.
Later in the day, it’s time to see the Singers and Singer/Dancers. They begin the same way as the Dancers, waiting their turn in a holding room. Once it’s time for them to be seen, they’re lined up outside the auditioning room in groups of 12. In contrast to the Dancers, the Singers audition by themselves, after having a chance to go over their song selections with the piano player. Prior to arriving, the Singers are asked to prepare 16 bars of two contrasting style songs, whatever they feel would best show off their voice. Once finished singing, they may be asked to come back the next day for a Call Back.
During a Call Back, the Singers are asked to sing a song from a music book which is separated into specific AMT Show sections. If a Singer is being considered for a certain show, they will be asked to sing one or two of the songs from that show. The wait then begins for the Singers after Call Backs, to see if they are selected for any or all of the Original Shows that season.
It’s now Audition Day 2, and the process begins again with a whole new group of hopefuls!
Here at American Music Theatre, we’re quickly approaching a milestone of 15 years of bringing top-notch entertainment to Central Pennsylvania. Over that short-time we’ve had Grammy, Tony, CMA and even Oscar winners, grace our stage in Lancaster. With that kind of pool of talent, it’s fun and rewarding to see acts that either have performed, or are slated to perform, make headlines in the news.
Recently, New Jersey native and rock legend Bruce Springsteen announced his 
upcoming Spring tour that takes him and the E Street Band to large venues throughout the US. The one question on everybody’s mind — apart from how do I get tickets — is who will be filling saxophonist Clarence Clemons’ legendary shoes on this tour? Upcoming AMT performer and one of Springsteen’s longtime friends, Southside Johnny, knows the answer:
“He’s stealing my saxophone players to replace Clarence, so we steal from each others’ bands occasionally,” he told Ontario’s Kitchener-Waterloo Record in an interview (read it here).
Soundspike.com points out that Bruce toured with The Asbury Jukes’ sax section two other times. So it looks highly likely that the sax players won’t get much down-time for quite a while.
Excited to see Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes? Don’t miss out on their show on February 24. Click here for tickets and more info. Until then, here’s a clip of the band performing one of their hits, “I don’t want to go home.”
In the theatre, we live by the old saying that “the show must go on.” However, with the winter months upon us, there is always the threat of inclement weather, and occasionally we’ll have to make a decision as to whether a show will go on as planned or not. Below are AMT’s snow policies regarding both Original Shows and Celebrity Concerts:
Regarding AMT Original Shows — On the slight chance we do cancel a show due to bad weather, ticket holders will be notified and a message will be posted on our website. Ticket holders will have the option of exchanging their tickets for another date during the run of that same show.
Regarding Celebrity Concerts — If the artist/band arrives at AMT, the show will go on as scheduled and tickets will remain non-refundable and non-exchangeable. If the artist/band is unable to make it, and we cancel or reschedule the show, ticket holders will be notified and a message will be posted on our website.
In case you haven’t had a chance to check out all the cool stuff that happens on our Facebook page, now’s a great time to visit.
You can find out what folks are saying about our 2013 Schedule, get 
up-to-the-minute news, sign up for contests and ticket give-aways, view videos from our shows, and more. Feel free to even add a few comments of your own if you’d like.
We want to keep you informed of all the great shows and concerts that we have to offer, so stay in touch with us. In addition to Facebook, check out our Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and AMT Blog sites, with links found on the lower right corner of our website pages.
AMT’s Facebook page — we know you’ll “like” it a lot!!
Even though we’re in the midst of an extremely successful run of The 2011 Christmas Show, we’re also super busy planning an exciting year of Celebrity Concerts and Original Shows for 2012. We think we’ve put together a line-up of shows and concerts that’s hard to beat.
We’re excited to have some AMT favorites returning to our stage like Bill Engvall, STOMP, Michael W. Smith, Chicago and Johnny Mathis. We’re also thrilled to welcome some new artists including Howie Mandel, Wynonna & The Big Noise, Riverdance, the Happy Together Tour and Yanni.
Not only will we have terrific concerts all year long, but we’ll also be debuting three all-new Original Shows — Country Classics in May, American Icons in July and The 2012 Christmas Show in November.
To get all the latest info on our upcoming shows, click here. 2012 is going to be an exceptional year at AMT. Make sure you’re part of the action!
With one week of performances under their belt, our cast is presenting a terrific, high-quality Christmas Show that guests are raving about. We’re thrilled to know that they’re thoroughly enjoying the music, singing, dancing, costumes and staging. Here is a sampling of the types of comments we’re hearing from guests who’ve seen the show:
— “The singers and dancers were top notch. We would not be able to find a higher standard of entertainment at any other establishment!”
— “It was delightful. We loved it.”
— “Everything was wonderful — not a dull moment at all. Beats NY shows any time!”
— “Can’t wait to see it again!”
In addition to enjoying an exceptional show, guests are being treated to gorgeous decorations as they enter our lobby. Three magnificent Christmas trees in shades of blue, lavender, silver and white are true highlights on the lobby balconies, while giant snowflakes and fluffy white snow can be seen everywhere.
If you’re ready for a true Christmas experience, make sure you attend The 2011 Christmas Show. As one guest put it — “Just a really great show that puts you in the Christmas spirit!” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
If you’d like to check on show times, ticket prices, and seating availability, click here.
With less than a week before the curtain rises, we decided to take a balcony seat and check out the sights and sounds going on inside the Theatre.
We found out that today is a very important day — it’s the first “Technical Rehearsal” for The 2011 Christmas Show. Up to now, all the elements of the show have been worked on individually, and today is the first time that “all the pieces of the puzzle” will be put together. So, at this rehearsal, the lights, costumes, sound, sets, music and performers will all be incorporated to create the full show.
In addition to putting all these elements together, this is also considered a “Stop and Go” rehearsal, where the show will start from the beginning, but each time something needs to be moved, tweaked, or adjusted, everyone stops and holds their position until the adjustment is made. Once corrected, the rehearsal continues on.
Just before the rehearsal formally begins, we find that the orchestra is on stage warming up, the singers and dancers are in costume and in their positions waiting for their cues, and the crews are busy securing sets, checking sound levels, testing lights and making sure props and stairways are sturdy and safe.
Overseeing this entire production is Artistic Director, Andrea McCormick, making sure that every aspect of her vision for the show is carried out. From what we’ve seen, we’re sure that Andrea and her cast and crew are creating a show that guests of all ages will love.
We may not have a show on stage at the moment, but there is a lot of activity in the house and you can feel the excitement in the air!
The singers, dancers, and orchestra all arrived this week and rehearsals have begun for the all-new 2011 Christmas Show — “Winter Wonderland!”
The design, lighting and construction teams are also here, working on the stage to create a brand new snow-inspired set, while the gift shop staff is busy stocking shelves with wonderful, new merchandise.
Andrea McCormick, AMT’s Artistic Director, said that “our cast is ready to present some of the very best holiday music and dancing. My hope is that audiences will relive some of their favorite Christmas memories and also create a few new ones.” Andrea shared that “O Holy Night,” “Carol of the Bells,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “Mary, Did You Know,” and of course, “Winter Wonderland,” are just a few of the favorite seasonal songs included in the show.
Purchasing tickets to The 2011 Christmas Show is super easy — just call our friendly Box Office staff at 800-648-4102 between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., or click here to purchase online any time of the day or night.
It’s hard to believe, but in just a few short weeks the curtain will rise on The 2011 Christmas Show — “Winter Wonderland.”
Andrea McCormick (AMT’s Artistic Director) and her staff have been working hard all summer to create an all-new Christmas show that’s both fresh and traditional. Andrea has been busy for months conceiving, writing and choreographing the show, and recently shared with us her visions for this amazing new production which opens on Tuesday, November 1.
From the moment guests walk through the doors, they’ll realize that Andrea and company have created a holiday experience sure to please both the young and young-at-heart.
Andrea shared that this snowy, outdoor-themed Original Show will feature big, lush musical arrangements of classic and contemporary holiday songs, sung by many returning AMT cast favorites. In addition to the elegant scenery and beautiful costumes, Andrea teased that there will also be plenty of fun included. Keep an eye out for dancing toys, some mischievous elves, and a few North Pole penguins thrown in for good measure!
We don’t want to give away too many of Andrea’s show surprises … they’re best enjoyed in person, anyway! So, make a date with your family and friends to experience one of Lancaster County’s best loved seasonal shows.
The 2011 Christmas Show — “Winter Wonderland,” runs November 1 through December 30, with morning, matinee and evening performances available. Click here to purchase tickets. We hope to see you there!