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Laura Nolen » Laura Nolen - Bio

Laura Nolen - Bio

I am very excited to be teaching Middle School Drama/Performing Arts here at AVA this year.  After a successful run of The Addams Family Musical this past May as the Music Director of the musical, I was happy to have this opportunity.  I am the mother of an 8th grade daughter at AVA.  My professional background is as an Opera Singer at the New York Metropolitan Opera as well as traveling the world singing and acting with many opera companies.  Namely, Santa Fe Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Lyric Opera Kansas City, Dallas Opera and New York City Opera to name a few.  I have also traveled the world singing in such places as Japan, Ireland, Italy, France and England.  I have been teaching private voice lessons for many years and look forward to incorporating voice into my classroom as well as stage movement and theater.  I have been married to my husband for over 23 years and we moved to Colorado in 2019.  Along with our family of 3, we have two 4 legged family members, Lucy and Pico.  I look forward to working with your children and helping with their confidence on stage to prepare them for exciting opportunities in Community Theater and High School Theater and Musicals!

 

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Dear AVA Middle School Students and Parents,


I am happy to announce that the Middle School Theater program will be auditioning for The Wizard of Oz Jr. Musical.  Auditions will be held on December 13 and 14 from 3:45-5:45 pm.  In mid November, I will be sending out a Sign Up genius with 4 minute time slots for each auditioner.  Attached to this email are the sound clips.  Your student should choose one of the clips for their audition.  You will see clips WITH VOCALS and clips WITHOUT VOCALS.  They are to sing the clip WITHOUT the vocals for their audition and it must be memorized.  They must also choose ONE of the 5 short monologues below and act this out memorized as well. 


Over The Rainbow - Vocals

If I Only Had a Brain - Vocals

Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead - Vocals


Over the Rainbow Karaoke

If I Only Had a Brain - Karaoke

Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead - Karaoke


MONOLOGUE #1 


DOROTHY:  Oh Jeepers! My heart’s thumping so loud I can’t hardly breathe. Oh, Toto! No need to be scared anymore. She ain’t followin’ us. Did she hurt you? She tried to, didn’t she? She must be the meanest old woman that ever was. Let’s go tell Uncle Henry and Auntie Em. They’ll take care of her. Come on Toto.


MONOLOGUE #2


GLINDA:  Well, I’m a little muddled. The Munchkins called me because a new witch has just dropped a house on the Wicked Witch of the East, and there’s the house, and here you are, and those legs are all that’s left of the Wicked Witch of the East. And so, what the Munchkins want to know is, are you a good witch or a bad witch?


MONOLOGUE #3


WEST WITCH:  Very well, I’ll bide my time and as for you, my fine lady, it’s true I can’t attend to you here and now as I’d like. So you best try to stay out of my way. Just try! I’ll get you, my pretty… And your little dog, too! (Evil laugh as she exits)


MONOLOGUE #4


SCARECROW:  But I’d face a whole box full of them for the chance of getting some brains. (kneeling) Look – I won’t be any trouble, because I don’t eat a thing, and I won’t try to manage things, because I can’t think. Won’t you take me with you?


MONOLOGUE #5


LION:  (jumps out and scares them) Hah! Put ‘em up! Put ‘em up! Which one of you first? I’ll fight you both together if you want. I’ll fight ya’ with one paw tied behind my back! I’ll fight ya’ standin’ on one foot! I’ll fight ya’ with my eyes closed! Oh, pullin’ an axe on me, eh? Sneakin’ up on me, eh? Why! 


If your child is interested in auditioning for this musical, please send me an email with their interest in advance of receiving the Sign Up genius.  Thank you and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out.  


Best Wishes,


Laura Nolen / Theater and Performing Arts 

Tyler Griffin / MIddle School Music