AYAA to the Rescue!: But what should I audition for this year? (Youth Theatre Edition)

Figuring out what to audition for is very hard to do. There are so many great shows that go on around Arizona that it can be hard to choose what you actually want to audition for. Today, I am providing a breakdown or shows being done by youth theatres around Arizona. I have them broken into a few categories:

1. Older musicals (first performed 1975 or before; or mostly music from an older musical i.e. Mary Poppins), newer musicals (first performed 1976 or later), and plays
2. City -- the biggest issue I face as a performer is picking theatres close enough to me that I'm not driving 45 minutes to rehearsal
3. Show period: Fall (September through November), Winter (December through February), Spring (March through May) and Summer (June through August)

Please note: I am only including shows that have not already held auditions. Also, I am only including youth theatres or larger theatres that have youth only productions. (If there is a want for adult or all ages productions as well, I will include those!) I will also include relevant information like age ranges and show dates.

By type:

Older musicals:

• Bye Bye Birdie - Christian Youth Theatre - February 12 through 21 - Ages 8 to 18
• Oliver! - Greasepaint Theatre - December 11 through 20 - Ages 6 to 19
• Mary Poppins - Musical Theatre of Anthem - April 28 through May 8 - Ages 11 to adult
• 101 Dalmatians Kids - Musical Theatre of Anthem - May 12 through 22 - Ages 6 to 10
• My Son Pinocchio Jr. - Musical Theatre of Anthem - June 16 through 19 - Ages 9 to 14
• Alice in Wonderland Jr. - Spotlight Youth Theatre - October 23 through November 8 - Ages 6 to 17
• Pinocchio - Valley Youth Theatre - February 5 through 21
• Snoopy the Musical - Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy - December 4 through 13
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy - March 28 through April 3

Newer musicals:

• The Little Mermaid - Christian Youth Theatre - May 6 through May 15 - Ages 8 to 18
• TBA: School Edition (I'm sure you'll find your "Purpose" if you audition for this show) - Desert Foothills Theatre - January 8 through 17 - Ages 13 to 19
• Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus - East Valley Children's Theatre - December 3 through 13 - Ages 8 to 18
• Snow White and Rose Red - East Valley Children's Theatre - June 16 through 26 - Ages 8 to 18
• Into the Woods - Fountain Hills Theatre - February 12 through 28 - Ages 12 to 19
• Dear Edwina Jr. - Fountain Hills Theatre - April 22 through May 1 - Ages 8 to 16
• The Producers - Greasepaint Theatre - October 16 through 25 - Ages 14 to 19
• Heathers, the Musical - Greasepaint Theatre - February 19 through March 6 - Ages 16 to 19
• Honk! - Greasepaint Theatre - May 6 through 15 - Ages 6 to 14
• Annie Jr. - Musical Theatre of Anthem - December 3 through 13 - Ages 6 to 14
• Junie B. Jones the Musical - Musical Theatre of Anthem - February 18 through 28 - Ages 6 to 13
• Legally Blonde Jr. - Musical Theatre of Anthem - March 3 through 6 - Ages 14 to 18
• Annie Jr. - Desert Stages - November 13 through December 20 - Ages 3 to 19
• Back to the 80s - Desert Stages - February 19 through March 20 - Ages 3 to 19
• Shrek Jr. - Desert Stages - May 20 through June 26 - Ages 3 to 19
• Into the Woods - Desert Stages - July 8 through August 8 - Ages 12 to 19
• Spring Awakening - Spotlight Youth Theatre - January 15 through 31 - Ages 15 to 19
• Bring It On the Musical - Spotlight Youth Theatre - April 22 through May 8 - Ages 14 to 19
• Cinderella: A Rock-and-Roll Fairytale - Spotlight Youth Theatre - June 3 through 19 - Ages 8 to 19
• Seussical - Starlight Community Theatre - January 29 through February 13 - Ages 6 to 19
• Pocahontas - Starlight Community Theatre - May 6 and 7 - Ages 6 to 15
• Winnie the Pooh: A Christmas Tail - Valley Youth Theatre - December 4 through 23
• Pinkalicious - Valley Youth Theatre - April 8 through 24
• The Little Mermaid - Valley Youth Theatre - June 10 through 26
• Sweeney Todd: School Edition - Actor's Youth Theatre - February 18 through 27 - Ages 10 to 18
• Peter Pan and Wendy - Actor's Youth Theatre - February 4 through 13 - Ages 8 to 13
• Bonnie and Clyde - Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy - November 6 through 15 - Ages 14 to 19 (select roles for 10 to 13)
• Shrek Jr. - Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy - January 27 through 21

Plays:

• Alice in Wonderland - Desert Foothills Theatre - May 13 through 22 - Ages 8 to 19
• Sixty-Seven Cinderellas - East Valley Children's Theatre - February 11 through 21 - Ages 8 to 18
• Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells - Fountain Hills Theatre - December 5 through 20 - Ages 12 to 19
• Miss Minnie’s Melodrama-odeon! - Fountain Hills Theatre - May 27 through June 12 - Ages 8 to 19
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - Musical Theatre of Anthem - November 12 through 15 - Ages 13 to adult
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Spotlight Youth Theatre - December 4 through 20 - Ages 6 to 17
• Fairytale Courtroom - Spotlight Youth Theatre - February 19 through 28 - Ages 6 to 17
• John Lennon and Me - Spotlight Youth Theatre - March 4 through 13 - Ages 12 to 19
• Mission: Possible - Starlight Community Theatre - April 8 through 17 - Ages 6 to 19
• The Hobbit - Actor's Youth Theatre - November 12 through 21 - Ages 8 to 13
• Wind in the Willows - Actor's Youth Theatre - March 17 through 26 - Ages 8 to 13
• The Haunted - Actor's Youth Theatre - October 22 through 31 - Ages 10 to 18

By location: 

Phoenix:

• Christian Youth Theatre (Bye Bye Birdie, The Little Mermaid)
• Starlight Community Theatre (Seussical, Pocahontas, Mission: Possible)
• Valley Youth Theatre (Pinocchio, Winnie The Pooh: A Christmas Tail, Pinkalicious, The Little Mermaid)

Scottsdale:

• Desert Foothills Theatre (TBA: School Edition, Alice in Wonderland)
• Greasepaint Theatre (Oliver, The Producers, Heathers, Honk)
• Desert Stages (Annie Jr., Back to the 80s, Shrek Jr., Into the Woods)

Mesa:

• East Valley Children's Theatre (Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus, Sixty-Seven Cinderellas, Snow White and Rose Red)

Fountain Hills:

• Fountain Hills Theatre (Into the Woods, Dear Edwina Jr., Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells, Miss Minnie's Melodrama-odeon!)

Anthem:

• Musical Theatre of Anthem (Mary Poppins, 101 Dalmatians Kids, My Son Pinocchio Jr., Annie Jr., Junie B. Jones the Musical, Legally Blonde Jr., The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane)

Peoria:

• Spotlight Youth Theatre (Alice in Wonderland Jr., Spring Awakening, Bring It On, Cinderella: A Rock-and-Roll Fairytale, Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Fairytale Court, John Lennon and Me)

Gilbert:

• Actor's Youth Theatre (Sweeney Todd: School Edition, Peter Pan and Wendy, The Hobbit, Wind in the Willows, The Haunted)
• Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy (Bonnie and Clyde, Snoopy, Shrek Jr., Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)

By time of year: (NOT chronologically; just grouped. By opening date.)

Fall (Sept. to Nov.):

• Alice in Wonderland Jr. - Spotlight Youth Theatre - October 23 through November 8 - Ages 6 to 17
• The Producers - Greasepaint Theatre - October 16 through 25 - Ages 14 to 19
• The Haunted - Actor's Youth Theatre - October 22 through 31 - Ages 10 to 18
• Annie Jr. - Desert Stages - November 13 through December 20 - Ages 3 to 19
• Bonnie and Clyde - Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy - November 6 through 15 - Ages 14 to 19 (select roles for 10 to 13)
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - Musical Theatre of Anthem - November 12 through 15 - Ages 13 to adult
• The Hobbit - Actor's Youth Theatre - November 12 through 21 - Ages 8 to 13

Winter (Dec. to Feb.):

• Oliver! - Greasepaint Theatre - December 11 through 20 - Ages 6 to 19
• Snoopy the Musical - Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy - December 4 through 13
• Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus - East Valley Children's Theatre - December 3 through 13 - Ages 8 to 18
• Annie Jr. - Musical Theatre of Anthem - December 3 through 13 - Ages 6 to 14
• Winnie the Pooh: A Christmas Tail - Valley Youth Theatre - December 4 through 23
• Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells - Fountain Hills Theatre - December 5 through 20 - Ages 12 to 19
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Spotlight Youth Theatre - December 4 through 20 - Ages 6 to 17
• TBA: School Edition (This show will make you feel "Special") - Desert Foothills Theatre - January 8 through 17 - Ages 13 to 19
• Spring Awakening - Spotlight Youth Theatre - January 15 through 31 - Ages 15 to 19
• Seussical - Starlight Community Theatre - January 29 through February 13 - Ages 6 to 19
• Shrek Jr. - Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy - January 27 through 21
• Bye Bye Birdie - Christian Youth Theatre - February 12 through 21 - Ages 8 to 18
• Pinocchio - Valley Youth Theatre - February 5 through 21
• Into the Woods - Fountain Hills Theatre - February 12 through 28 - Ages 12 to 19
• Heathers, the Musical - Greasepaint Theatre - February 19 through March 6 - Ages 16 to 19
• Junie B. Jones the Musical - Musical Theatre of Anthem - February 18 through 28 - Ages 6 to 13
• Back to the 80s - Desert Stages - February 19 through March 20 - Ages 3 to 19
• Seussical - Starlight Community Theatre - January 29 through February 13 - Ages 6 to 19
• Sweeney Todd: School Edition - Actor's Youth Theatre - February 18 through 27 - Ages 10 to 18
• Peter Pan and Wendy - Actor's Youth Theatre - February 4 through 13 - Ages 8 to 13
• Sixty-Seven Cinderellas - East Valley Children's Theatre - February 11 through 21 - Ages 8 to 18

Spring (March to May):

• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy - March 28 through April 3
• Legally Blonde Jr. - Musical Theatre of Anthem - March 3 through 6 - Ages 14 to 18
• John Lennon and Me - Spotlight Youth Theatre - March 4 through 13 - Ages 12 to 19
• Wind in the Willows - Actor's Youth Theatre - March 17 through 26 - Ages 8 to 13
• Mary Poppins - Musical Theatre of Anthem - April 28 through May 8 - Ages 11 to adult
• Dear Edwina Jr. - Fountain Hills Theatre - April 22 through May 1 - Ages 8 to 16
• Bring It On the Musical - Spotlight Youth Theatre - April 22 through May 8 - Ages 14 to 19
• Pinkalicious - Valley Youth Theatre - April 8 through 24
• Mission: Possible - Starlight Community Theatre - April 8 through 17 - Ages 6 to 19
• 101 Dalmatians Kids - Musical Theatre of Anthem - May 12 through 22 - Ages 6 to 10
• The Little Mermaid - Christian Youth Theatre - May 6 through May 15 - Ages 8 to 18
• Honk! - Greasepaint Theatre - May 6 through 15 - Ages 6 to 14
• Shrek Jr. - Desert Stages - May 20 through June 26 - Ages 3 to 19
• Pocahontas - Starlight Community Theatre - May 6 and 7 - Ages 6 to 15
• Alice in Wonderland - Desert Foothills Theatre - May 13 through 22 - Ages 8 to 19
• Miss Minnie’s Melodrama-odeon! - Fountain Hills Theatre - May 27 through June 12 - Ages 8 to 19

Summer (June to Aug.):

• My Son Pinocchio Jr. - Musical Theatre of Anthem - June 16 through 19 - Ages 9 to 14
• Snow White and Rose Red - East Valley Children's Theatre - June 16 through 26 - Ages 8 to 18
• Cinderella: A Rock-and-Roll Fairytale - Spotlight Youth Theatre - June 3 through 19 - Ages 8 to 19
• The Little Mermaid - Valley Youth Theatre - June 10 through 26
• Into the Woods - Desert Stages - July 8 through August 8 - Ages 12 to 19

Any questions? Did I miss anything? I'd love to know what everyone is auditioning for this year. I can't wait to see some of these shows.