P R E S S R E L E A S E

Contact: Michele Craig

219-548-9137

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BE A PART OF HISTORY-AUDITION FOR RAGTIME the Musical

at the Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso

Be a part of the history with us! The Memorial Opera House has partnered with the Westside Theatre Guild of Gary to produce Ragtime the Musical, which will be a Memorial Opera House as well as Northwest Indiana Premiere.

Ragtime the Musical is based on E.L. Doctorow's Ragtime. Ragtime the Musical follows the troubled lives of one particular family and those they encounter through the years 1906 - 1915. The story is an interesting snapshot of the history of this time, including real characters and events such as Houdini, J. P. Morgan, the murder of Stanford White, the invention of the Model T, and the sinking of the Lusitania.

The auditions will be held at the Memorial Opera House, 104 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso, at the following dates and times:

Saturday, December 6^th 2008 – 2:30 pm – 6 pm

Sunday, December 7^th 2008 - 6:00 pm – 10 pm

Wednesday, December 10^th 2008 – 7 pm – 10 pm

Casting 30 – 35. Looking to cast 10-12 African American Men & Women. Auditioners are asked to prepare the following: Bring a prepared song with sheet music. No accapella or taped music is allowed. An accompanist will be provided. We will not allow anyone else to play your audition for you. We ask that you prepare 16 bars of a song that will showcase your vocal ability and range. Preferably a song NOT from the show. There will be a dance audition.

If you have any questions about the auditions, please contact Michele Craig mcraig@mohlive.com.

Performances Dates are in 2009:

Saturdays, February 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 @ 8 pm

Sundays, February 15, 22 & 29 @ 2 pm

Rehearsals Will Begin: the week of December 15^th, 2008