Perspective #2: Tryouts are Terrific
Next let’s consider another viewpoint… Months after the holidays are over, I still sing songs from our Christmas musicals. They pop into my head, bringing me back to when 100+ kids touched many hearts by singing.
My understanding of the impact is reinforced whenever my daughters recall the fun they had performing and the friendships that began and grew during rehearsals. I think Christmas musicals are wonderful experiences for children—even though, and perhaps because, each program involved tryouts.
Tryouts Lead to Success
Tryouts for church Christmas musicals or plays can be a good experience if you conduct them the right way. In fact, tryouts are key for assuring a successful performance that kids enjoy and learn from. Tryouts ensure quality, develop leaders, and build team.
Ensure quality.
Musicals and other performances are lots of work for the director and participants. No one wants to put in all that work and end up with a poor production. In addition, many churches use performances as opportunities to reach out to the community. Neither kids nor directors want to invest time and energy into a mediocre performance. That’s why tryouts are necessary.
When a musical score requires individual parts and solos, it’s important to have kids who are up to the task in these key roles. Churches often forego auditions and fill special parts with the same reliable kids or give the role to the child whose parents are convinced their son or daughter is a gifted performer. So every year, the same kids get the parts. By offering auditions, you give all children a chance to exhibit their talents. You also guarantee that children are in roles they’re capable of doing.
Develop leaders.
Our Christmas musical auditions enticed a quiet girl who was at Sunday school every week to try out for a part. By competing, she landed the lead role. This gal who barely spoke in class blossomed into a leader, a role model for the younger kids, and an encourager for every child involved. She was an example of a child serving God with the gifts he gave her.
Had we not conducted an audition, this quiet, talented child might have stayed in the shadows. And the entire cast and audience would’ve missed out on her leadership and example.
Build team.
Celebrating the accomplishments of everyone involved creates a sense of unity and teamwork. A quarterback might seem to have the lead role on a football team, but he couldn’t throw a touchdown pass without the defensive line supporting him and without the receiver catching the pass.
Likewise, a musical can’t succeed with only one or two people. Although several children may be selected to dramatize the story or sing solos, the entire cast carries the show.
Tryout Tips for Christmas Musicals
Use these tips during tryouts, rehearsals, and the performance to ensure that every child plays an important role.
1. Talk with children about what an audition is.
Beforehand, explain the audition and its purpose. Emphasize that the ensemble—not just the leading roles—plays an important part in a musical. Let kids and parents know up front what the time commitment will be. Have them complete an audition form that clearly explains the expectations of kids who receive lead or ensemble roles.
2. Use unbiased selectors.
Kidmin workers likely hold biases toward some children. So ask other children’s ministry directors in your community, a local music teacher, or college students to help with auditions. Using outside selectors ensures that you aren’t playing favorites.
3. Affirm each child who auditions.
Have kids audition in groups of four or five, and have their peer audience clap and cheer after each tryout. This is a great way to see how a child performs in front of peers and an audience. Although an audition can be frightening, it’s also a confidence booster. I’ve witnessed many kids who didn’t get a part but felt thrilled to make it through the audition and excited about another in the future.
When kids finish their auditions, give each of them something that celebrates their accomplishment. At one audition, I gave each child a star cutout that said “Way to Go!” along with candy.
4. Cast everyone in a role.
Don’t let any child walk away feeling cut from the program. Find a role for each child, even if it’s being part of the choir, stage crew, lighting crew, or another necessary role. Tryouts may exclude children from certain parts, but they never have to exclude them completely.
5. Choreograph and costume the entire cast.
Having a costume for each child helps kids know they’re an important part of the cast. Costumes can be as simple as blue jeans and a red T-shirt. Develop choreography or motions for each song so cast members don’t feel as though they’re providing only background music. At each rehearsal, have a different group of kids come up front to lead the motions.
6. Give the ensemble a name.
For Christmas musicals, we call the entire cast something, like The Christmas Candy Kids. That way, kids have a stage name instead of just “the choir.”
7. Include every name in the printed program.
Print each child’s name so they have a memento of their hard work. This acknowledges that their role was important.
8. Celebrate the entire cast.
Directors often single out children by giving only those with special parts gifts or recognition. Instead, have a celebration party afterward for your entire cast and their families. Give each child a small gift in appreciation for the hard work and dedication. We gave every cast member a bookmark with the legend of the candy cane printed on it.
Tryouts for Christmas musicals and other kidmin programs aren’t bad. They’re simply tools to help children serve God with excellence by identifying and using their gifts. When you use tryouts, always celebrate all your kids and their unique gifts and talents.
It’s not the individuals who speak the loudest. It’s the group as a whole who shouts loudly and ministers to the audience through one voice that’s all in one accord.
This article was originally published on ChildrensMinistry.com, © Group Publishing, a division of David C Cook.
