Rainbow Company Youth Theatre, a city of Las Vegas program, will feature productions of “Lord of the Flies,” “The Odyssey,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” and “The Addams Family” during its 47th season.
All performances will be held at Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. Each show will have eight performances over two consecutive weekends; during the second weekend’s Saturday matinee, American Sign Language interpreters will be available for the deaf and hard of hearing. Season ticket packages and individual show tickets are available now. Visit rainbowcompany.org to purchase.
The core of the Rainbow Company is its ensemble of 40 dedicated students, ages 10 to 18, selected yearly by open audition. The ensemble members work in all aspects of each production – costumes, makeup, sets, lights, sound and backstage crew – under the tutelage of professional directors and designers.
Theatre Productions & Auditions
“Lord of the Flies”
Written by William Golding
Adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams
Directed by Daz Weller
Performances Sept. 22-24 and Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2023
Showtimes Fridays & Saturdays 7 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays 2 p.m.
“Lord of the Flies” is a stage play adapted by Nigel Williams from the 1954 novel by Nobel Prize-winning English author William Golding. Both the novel and the play tell the disturbing tale of a group of British schoolboys stranded on an island and the tension caused by fear and power. This will be the Las Vegas debut of “Lord of the Flies,” since it was first professionally produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford-upon-Avon in July 1995.
“The Odyssey”
Adapted by Gregory A. Falls and Kurt Beattie
Directed by Marcus Weiss
Auditions Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, by appointment.
Performances Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 8-10, 2023.
Showtimes Fridays & Saturdays 7 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays 2 p.m.
This is a celebrated version of Homer’s masterpiece, nationally applauded in three professional productions and staged at the John F. Kennedy Center. Odysseus’ epic journey home from the Trojan War is a fanciful adventure with the man-eating, one-eyed Cyclops, the twin Sirens, the sorceress Circe, King Aeolus, and the trickster god, Hermes. This is a fast-moving realization of the Homeric classic that will intrigue both children and adults while remaining faithful to the poetic original.
“Much Ado About Nothing”
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Cassandra Krupp
Auditions Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, by appointment.
Performances Feb. 9-11 and Feb. 16-18, 2024
Showtimes Fridays & Saturdays 7 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays 2 p.m.
“Much Ado About Nothing” is a comedic play about misunderstandings, love and deception. The play is set in Messina and revolves around two romantic pairings that emerge when a group of soldiers arrives in the town. The first, between Claudio and Hero, is nearly altered by the accusations of the villain, Don John. The second romance, between Claudio’s friend Benedick and Hero’s cousin Beatrice, takes center stage as the play continues, with both characters’ wit and banter providing much of the humor.
“The Addams Family”
Book by Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman
Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Directed by Skip Galla Katipunan
Auditions Feb. 24, 2024, by appointment.
Performances April 26-28 and May 3-5, 2024
Showtimes Fridays & Saturdays 7 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays 2 p.m.
In the kooky, upside-down world of the Addams Family, to be sad is to be happy, to feel pain is to feel joy, and death and suffering are the stuff of their dreams. Nonetheless, this quirky family still has to deal with many of the same challenges faced by any other family, and the spookiest nightmare faced by every family creates the focus of the musical — the Addams kids are growing up. In one fateful, hilarious night, secrets are disclosed, relationships are tested, and the Addams family must face up to the one horrible thing they’ve managed to avoid for generations: change.
Auditions will be held for each of the last three productions at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. Casting for Rainbow Company shows is open to members of the community ages 8 to 18. There is no cost to audition for each show. Auditions will be by appointment; sign-ups for audition slots as well as audition sides (short scenes from the script) for preparation will be available at rainbowcompany.org before each audition.
The Rainbow Company Youth Theatre is a nationally acclaimed, award-winning youth theatre group. For more than 45 years, the company has provided professional training for young people and theatre art classes for all ages. For more information on these and more events and classes, visit ArtsLasVegas.org or call 702-229-ARTS (2787).