Dear Parents of Level VII, VIII, and Advanced C Students:

We are excited to present Beauty and the Beast as the 24/25 season Family Matinee, choreographed by Bruce Wells. The Family Matinee is a wonderful opportunity for our upper-level students to perform in McCaw Hall in a one-hour ballet, created especially for family audiences. We will hold auditions on Sunday, September 15 at the Phelps Center. Auditions are open to PNB School students in Levels VII, VIII, and Advanced C. We encourage all students to audition, though there is a large time commitment for the entire rehearsal and performance period, as detailed in the document linked below. Students participating in Beauty and the Beast will still be eligible for potential casting opportunities in the January/February world premiere of The Sleeping Beauty. Rehearsals will be scheduled to avoid conflicts for those students participating in both productions.

Beauty and the Beast will have up to two casts of students. Casting decisions are based on performing ability, musicality, technique, and attendance. All casting decisions are made by the Artistic Staff. While we encourage all eligible students to audition, we do not have roles for every student who auditions. Students are required to register online for the Beauty and the Beast audition by Tuesday, September 10 at 9:00 PM (see link below).

Please consider the following information before your student auditions for Beauty and the Beast:

Student Commitment

  • Those selected for roles in Beauty and the Beast must be available for the entire rehearsal and performance period, from October 1 through November 16, 2024, and January 6 through March 30, 2025. Please only audition if you are available for the entirety of the time commitment.  
  • We cannot excuse students from rehearsals or performances for vacations, family events, school events, etc.; the only acceptable reasons for missing rehearsal are illness, injury, and family emergencies.
  • Dropping out of Beauty and the Beast for any reason, other than illness, injury, or family emergency is a break in the student’s commitment. If the commitment is broken, the student will not be considered for future Company productions.
  • Attendance at regular PNB School classes is mandatory during the Beauty and the Beast rehearsal and performance period.  Participation in Beauty and the Beast is not a substitute for ballet training.
  • If a student is injured/not taking technique class, including pointe class if they have a pointe role, at any time during the Beauty and the Beast rehearsal and performance period, they cannot participate in Beauty and the Beast rehearsals or performances. Students must be cleared by PNB School to return to Beauty and the Beast rehearsals or performances following an injury.
  • All Beauty and the Beast rehearsals will be at the Phelps Center in Seattle.

Please click here for detailed information regarding auditions and a general schedule, including rehearsals and performance dates. For questions, please contact Student Cast and Parent Volunteer Coordinator Lauren Kirchner at lkirchner@pnb.org. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, September 15.

Sincerely,

Peter Boal (he/him/his)                                                                

Artistic Director