Rebecca Mueller/Winonan

Winona State University student actors had the opportunity to audition for “Straw Into Gold: The Classic Tale of Rumpelstiltskin” Jan. 15 and 16.

“Straw Into Gold” was written by Sally Netzel and will be directed by Vivian Fusillo. The play will be performed by a cast of eight speaking roles and some silent roles.

This play was performed at Winona State in 1986 as part of the Theatre for Young Audiences program. Fusillo expects to see many of the original cast members in the audience at the upcoming performance.

The auditions were open to both theatre majors and non-theatre majors. Theatre majors prepared short children’s audition pieces. All students were required to bring their spring 2013 schedules in order to plan for conflicts between the play and classes or work.

“So many talented students auditioned, causing stiff competition,” Fusillo said. She is still in the process of determining the audition results in such a way that will prevent scheduling conflicts.

During auditions, Fusillo looked for students who could move and speak with energy and charisma. These students will be able to connect with the audience and make the show enjoyable for everyone.

Although the cast has not been finalized, the production crew is already hard at work designing the costumes, set and lights.

“Our performances are our laboratories,” said Peggy Sannerud, production manager and an associate professor in Winona State’s theatre department. She views each performance as a chance for her students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to a professional setting.

Not to be confused with children’s theatre, the Theatre for Young Audiences is a term used for plays performed for audiences composed of children.

“It’s a growing field in the United States,” Sannerud said. There are a number of professional venues in the country, including the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis.

The Theatre for Young Audiences has had a long and successful history at Winona State.

Fusillo has directed over 44 children’s shows and has received several awards for her accomplishments.

These awards include the Governor’s Public Service Award for Children’s Theatre in 1988, the Outstanding Teacher of Theatre in Higher Education in 2001, and the National Award for Outstanding Teacher of Theatre in Higher Education in 2005.

During her first year as a professor at Winona State, Fusillo was asked to direct a children’s show. She selected “Ali Baba and The Forty Thieves” and chose to invite schools. Two hundred people auditioned, including students, community members, and children.

Students traveled from as far as Minneapolis to see the play. This first play marked the beginning of the Theatre for Young Audiences at Winona State.

“Through the years, I stayed mostly to the classics,” Fusillo said. “Some I’ve repeated two or three times with new cast and crew.”

These children’s shows were originally performed in Somsen Auditorium. After the first two shows, the performances were moved into the Main Stage of the newly-constructed Performing Arts Center.

This change in venue came with access to new equipment but a decrease in seating from 900 seats in Somsen Auditorium to 400 seats in the PAC Main Stage.

For this reason, the number of performances each year was increased in order to reach the same number of audience members each year.

Students at many area schools will come to see “Straw Into Gold,” including Bluffview Montessori, Goodview, Jefferson, Madison, and Washington-Kosciusko Elementary. Rushford Elementary has attended the performances every single year since the Theatre for Young Audiences program began.

This year, Sannerud expects that around 3000 students will come to see the play during the week of performance. The performances have always been free of charge, although schools must often pay for transportation to and from Winona State.

“We promise one hour of wonderful fun, audience participation, great cast playing on an exciting set created by Peggy Sannerud, in wildly different costumes designed by Tracy Vanvoorst,” Fusillo said. “It’s for every age: 5 to 95.”

The cast and crew aim to create the best performance possible each year in the hopes that they will inspire their young audiences to pursue acting or other creative activities.

“Straw Into Gold: The Classic Tale of Rumpelstiltskin” will be performed beginning on April 2 and ending on April 6. The scheduled performances include eight matinees for school groups and two evening shows, all held in the PAC Main Stage.

Contact Rebecca at [email protected]