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The Dorset Players have announced that their final production of its 84th anniversary season will be "Oliver!", the award-winning musical adapted from Charles Dickens's classic novel, "Oliver Twist".

Auditions for "Oliver!" will be held in the downstairs rehearsal room at the Dorset Playhouse on Cheney Road in Dorset, Vermont at 7:00pm on Tuesday, January 31 and on Wednesday, February 1. Each hopeful, in addition to reading from the script, will be asked to sing at least a portion of a well-known song and to exhibit their dancing acumen. Accordingly, all are asked to bring comfortable shoes to wear to the audition.

"Oliver!" follows the travails of Oliver Twist, a young orphan, as he moves from a public workhouse in 19th century London, into the world of a gang of pickpockets led by the scheming Fagin and his sartorially splendid pupil, Jack Hawkins, otherwise known as the Artful Dodger. We also encounter several additional low-lifes, including the greedy Mr. Bumble and Widow Carney, who run the workhouse, as well as the villainous Bill Sykes and Nancy, a thief whose willingness to extend a kindness to Oliver brings about her doom. There is also the kindly Mr. Brownlow, who recognizes something in the young orphan who never loses his pure heart.

Made into the 1969 film version that was awarded the Academy Award for Best Picture, "Oliver!" features such well known songs as "Food, Glorious Food", "I'd Do Anything", "Consider Yourself", "Pick A Pocket or Two", and "Where is Love?".

Director Kevin O'Toole will team with Music Director Michael Gallagher and Choreographer Ron Ray to help bring "Oliver!" to the Dorset Playhouse stage. There are roles for over thirty men, women and children, including ten to twelve children to play orphans and denizens of Fagin's lair. Although the script calls for boys, girls will be auditioned for male roles. (Caps are wonderful things.) Please note that children ages six and under will not be considered.

Performances will be held on May 17-20 and May 24-26 at 7:30pm and on May 20 and 27 at 2:00pm. For more information, call Producer Kevin O'Toole at (802) 867-5711 or Sheila at the Dorset Players' business office at (802) 867-5570.

Who are the Dorset Players?
Everyone who becomes a member, and every year at this time, each of us is asked to renew our membership status.
Supporting the arts, no matter how small is supporting the idea of artistic endeavors world wide. So whether you join or renew as an individual for $30 (the cost of lunch for 2) or sponsor a production for $500 (without which we wouldn't be able to bring you the variety of shows every year), you are helping to maintain local community theatre.

So, you want to direct...
Have you been looking for an opportunity to direct and just haven't found a way to get involved? Do you feel like you're stuck on or behind the stage with no opportunity to advise your fellow actors? Are you bursting with the desire for creative expression? Are you frustrated by your need to make directorial decisions, wishing you could just take over? Well now's your chance to be the visionary you always wanted to be! For the 9th Annual One-Act Festival, Sheila Childs will open up her library of one-acts to experienced as well as inexperienced directors. That's right, absolutely no experience is necessary, just stop by THE DORSET PLAYHOUSE on FEBRUARY 9 at 6:30PM for your chance to get involved!

If you have any questions, please call 802-867-5570. This could be your opportunity to direct one or more actors in a one-act play, comedy or drama, from a minimum of 10 minutes to a maximum of 45 minutes in length with minimal sets and costumes. Come on, give it a go!