Greetings! We’re thrilled you found us! Follow us on Insta at @mapsofollies

‍ Audition Guidelines for Wednesday, September 23rd (show is October 22nd):

• ‍ Performers must be at least 9 years old. (Bonus points for multi-generational acts)

• No solos. (Bonus points for 3 or more performers)

• Your act may not exceed 3 minutes.

• Please bring a 1–2 minute sample of a song, juggling, drag, stand-up, bird call, step routine, poetry, yodeling, acoustic/instrument playing, clogging, magic, opera, ribbon dance, tap dance, comedy improv, jazz trio, bird act, dramatic skit, balancing bit, or any “talent" deemed entertaining. (Bonus points for upbeat, uptempo song choices, silliness, or comedy)

• No drum kits, spiders, and/or snakes. (no joke)

• Maplewood, South Orange, and surrounding area residents are welcome. 

‍

How serious are you about the above guidelines?

Very.

‍ Is it a contest?

‍ Nope. Just an old-school, old-timey, small-town community celebration of variety, talent, and fun.

‍How do we audition for The Follies?

‍ First, read the guidelines above, slowly. Then, just show up to Columbia High School (17 Parker Ave., Maplewood) on Wednesday, September 23rd between 6pm – 8pm.

‍What if I can’t make it that night, but I want to audition?

‍ Submit your under-3-minute video act online between Wednesday, September 23rd and Wednesday, September 30th at 12 midnight. Link for the form will be posted here and on our Insta page (@mapsofollies) as we get closer to auditions.

‍What should we bring to the audition?

‍Your winning personality plus a 1-2 min sample—or all 3 minutes—of your act. Bring any props you’ll need. Nothing that needs to be plugged in, please, and no drum kits. The show moves quickly so set-up times between acts are very brief.

‍What if someone in our act is under 18 years of age?

‍A parent supervisor must come to auditions to co-sign permission for members of the act under 18 years of age.

‍How will auditions work?

‍You’ll enter the main doors at Columbia High School (17 Parker Ave., Maplewood) on Wednesday, September 23rd, between 6pm – 8pm, and be given a number in the order in which you arrive. You’ll fill out a form telling us all about your act and sign a release. When your number is called, your act will be brought onstage where a panel of 3 judges and show producers will welcome you and ask to see your act. We’ll time it to make sure it’s under 3 minutes, record a little video, and take a few pics for promotional purposes later. 

‍May we bring our moms, besties, instructors, etc. into the audition with us?

‍Acts where all performers are under 12 years old may be chaperoned by one adult. Otherwise, we ask that non-performers wait, please. Auditions move quickly, about 12 minutes per act.

Who can audition for The Follies?

‍Anyone 9 years or older, residing in Maplewood, South Orange, or surrounding New Jersey communities. 

‍What are Follies judges looking for?

‍Our Follies judges encourage all types of entertainment; however, they are especially enthusiastic to see multi-generational acts; multi-cultural richness; acts with 3 or more people; upbeat, uptempo song choices; unusual talents; silliness; and comedy.

‍Whose idea was the show?

‍ Lara Tomlin’s

‍Who directs the show?

‍Tori Chickering

‍Who produces the show?

‍Sybil Rodgers

‍ Who runs the show’s marketing/comms?

‍Katy Chapman

‍Who the heck are they?

‍Tori is a long-time director of film, television, and live shows/performance events. She’s either performed, directed & choreographed, written for, produced and/or emceed (or a combination thereof) a family follies show—much like this one—for over 50 years. This will be her 4th magical year directing the MAPSO Family Follies Variety Show.

‍Sybil, a 20-year resident and arts devotee, is thrilled to join the Follies crew again as producer, where she'll be using her brand agency creative operations and design team management chops to help bring the show to life. Nurturing creative dreams is her passion, along with walking her loving dog throughout Maplewood.

‍Katy is a seasoned marketer and exuberant fan of The Follies and its community mission of inclusive multi-generational creativity, charm, and delight. She has supported and appeared in numerous productions of the Panto at the Burgdorff Theater and has performed as well as co-produced for the last 2 years of The Follies.

‍Lara has since moved away, but was best known for drawing the Able Baker portraits as well as creating the “Painters in the Park” plein air events.

‍Who’s putting it on?

‍Andrea Teutli and Miriam R. Perez of the Division of Arts & Culture of the Township of Maplewood.

Who did the poster?

‍Caroline Cunningham with Craig Stout

‍Who are the judges?

‍TBD

‍How do we find out if our act is in the show?

‍We’ll let you know via email by EOD, Friday, October 2nd. 

‍If we can’t use you this year, we hope you’ll audition again next year because we think you’re incredibly brave for trying out and hope you won’t take it personally because life’s too short and also, life is long, so please audition again. 

‍If you’re in the show, please respond with confirmation that you’re available for both the show, Thursday, October 22nd at 7:30pm, and dress/tech rehearsal the night before, Wednesday, October 21st for 30 minutes between 6:30 - 8:30pm.

‍What happens after that?

‍Practice like crazy amongst yourselves. Then, be fully prepared and arrive in full costume with all props at dress rehearsal/tech run-through on Wednesday, October 21st for 30 minutes sometime (TBD) between 6:30pm - 8:30pm. 

The show is Thursday, October 22nd at 7:30pm. You’ll be asked to check in with the Talent Coordinator by 6:30pm, one hour before curtain. The show ends promptly at 9pm.

‍How can we help get the word out?

‍Forward & repost our Insta posts (@mapsofollies), tell your friends and neighbors, and remind your school/community peers. This is a family-friendly old-school variety show for kids and grandparents alike. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased HERE!

‍‍What if our act can’t participate in the show due to health/COVID, family crisis, scheduling issues, etc.?

‍Please contact our Talent Coordinator the moment you know your act can’t participate so we can reach out to other acts to take your place. Do not delay in letting us know.

‍How will we know the show’s order of acts?

‍We’ll email everyone the day of the show. Then, grab a program and get yourself backstage 2 acts before yours is up.

Will there be a program or T-shirts?

Yes to a program. No t-shirts, yet.

Will there be a winner?

‍Nope. Remember, it’s not a contest, so relax and have fun!

How do I buy tickets to the show?

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased HERE! Also, on a link on Follies Insta: @mapsofollies

What if you’re sold out?

‍We’ll release a bunch of tickets at the door the night of the show, so come on down!

‍How long do you expect the show to last?

‍No longer than 90 minutes, tops.

‍What if we want to bring little babies and small, hungry/tired children?

‍You do you. Having said that, if your child is melting down, it would be incredibly courteous to the performers and audience members alike if you would consider taking your little one(s) outside and away from the venue to ride it out. Yes, you may miss some of the show. Additionally, there are always babysitters. 

‍How do we volunteer to help out?

‍If you’d like to volunteer or be part of the crew, please contact Tori Chickering: at tori.oconnell@gmail.com. You can also help us out enormously by talking it up with your friends and reposting on your socials.

REMEMBER, we think you’re incredibly brave for auditioning and are super-impressed you went for it. We hope you won’t take it personally if your act doesn’t make it in the show this year because there’s always next year and life’s too short, and, also--life is long :)

‍Yours in Folly,

‍Tori Chickering (Director)

Sybil Rodgers (Producer)

Katy Chapman (Marketing/Comms)

and the whole Follies Team

‍ ‍