What are the Good Shepherd Players?
Founded in 1981, the Good Shepherd Players are an in-reach/outreach ministry of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Burke, Va. We produce a yearly Broadway-style musical, along with cabarets and other special performances. We recently celebrated our 35th anniversary, and we look forward to many more years of fellowship and fun!
Where do you rehearse/perform?
All rehearsals are at Church of the Good Shepherd, 9350 Braddock Rd., Burke, Va. We perform on our fully-functional proscenium stage in the Grand Hall at Good Shepherd. The hall seats about 300 people.
What makes your group special?
Besides putting on quality community theatre productions for large, appreciative audiences, we also serve each other and our community, whether it is through our special needs performance, organizing a canned food drive for local food banks, or supporting each other as a theatrical family. It truly is a special group!
What is the “special needs performance?”
In past years, we have invited special needs audiences and their caregivers to attend our brush-up rehearsal between performance weekends. This is a sensory-sensitive performance with adjusted light/sound cues and piano rather than full orchestra. It is a wonderful, moving experience for both the cast and the families who attend the show!
Are there special considerations about working in a church group?
In accordance with church and diocesan policy, cast/crew members ages 16+ are to take a two-hour training course on the prevention of child abuse and sexual misconduct. This training is free of charge and is good for 10 years. We will announce the date of this mandatory training as soon as it has been scheduled.
Do I need to be an experienced actor or singer to audition?
We have people of all levels of experience in our group…from professional singers and music educators to kids and adults experiencing the joys of theatre for the first time!
Do I have to be a member of the church to audition?
No! You are welcome to audition no matter where you worship or where you are on your faith journey. We are a ministry of the Episcopal Church, and we begin our rehearsals with a God-centered prayer circle. However, we have members of many faith traditions!
Does everyone who auditions get a role?
We love a big cast! However, it has become increasingly difficult to manage our large cast sizes. We have always tried to offer everyone a part, but we may need to limit onstage involvement depending on how many people sign up for auditions.
What if I don’t get a role?
There are many other ways to get involved! We are always looking for stage managers, costumers, backstage help, scenic artists, carpenters, ushers…the list goes on. Please consider using your gifts to become a part of our theatrical family.
Is there a participation fee?
The participation fee is $30 for cast members under the age of 18 with a parent in the cast/crew. The participation fee for cast members 18+ and all cast members under the age of 18 with no parent in the cast/crew is $65.
What is the audition format?
Come prepared with 16-32 bars of a Broadway-style song that shows off your vocal range and personality. Please bring sheet music in the correct key. You will also do cold readings from the libretto. Please check back soon on our members’ page for an audition packet.
What is your rehearsal schedule?
In general, we rehearse on Saturday mornings and on Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Not everyone will be called for every rehearsal. The dates for the rehearsals are currently available on the calendar on the members’ page at our website. A schedule with the call for each rehearsal will be sent out after the cast list goes up. The schedule will be updated at the end of every month. The schedule on our website will be updated in real time and is always the best source.