BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE

BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE

Written by Todd Wallinger

Directed by Russel Stich

Student Matinee: Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

Friday, October 24, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.

Jules, Sydney, and Elliot have some big dreams.  An up-and-coming musical team, they’ve rented a creaky old theater for six weeks to mount a production of their new show. Top Broadway investors are slated to attend, so the team is going to need every minute to rehearse the musical. To their dismay, they discover that the theater is scheduled for demolition the very next day, and they don’t have the money to rent another venue! There’s only one thing to do: throw the show together in just two hours and present it to any investors who can make it on such short notice. From child actors and stage moms to confused protestors, and a bumbling demolition crew, this show takes the saying “the show must go on” to a whole new level! Directed by Beck Center’s own Russel Stich, this show is sure to bring down the house with laughter!

Tickets for Youth Theater productions are $15 for adults and $13 for children.  Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3:00 p.m. Sundays. Schools and home school groups may reserve seats for student matinees immediately at 216-521-2540. Like previous years, the holiday show will not go on sale until late November to the general public. Tickets to most productions will go on sale Monday, September 2, 2025.

All performances are at theaters inside Beck Center for the Arts located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just ten minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available. For more information visit beckcenter.org.

AUDITIONS – Bringing Down the House at Beck Center Youth Theater

 Beck Center for the Arts Youth Theater, one of the oldest continuously running Youth Theaters in the country, will be holding auditions on September 13 & 14, 2025 for the first production of our 77th Season:

 BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE

Written by Todd Wallinger and Directed by Russel Stich

Jules, Sydney, and Elliot have some big dreams.  An up-and-coming musical team, they’ve rented a creaky old theater for six weeks to mount a production of their new show. Top Broadway investors are slated to attend, so the team is going to need every minute to rehearse the musical. To their dismay, they discover that the theater is scheduled for demolition the very next day, and they don’t have the money to rent another venue! There’s only one thing to do: throw the show together in just two hours and present it to any investors who can make it on such short notice. From child actors and stage moms to confused protestors, and a bumbling demolition crew, this show takes the saying “the show must go on” to a whole new level! Directed by Beck Center’s own Russel Stich, this show is sure to bring down the house with laughter!

 Audition/Callback dates: (open to Beck Center students ages 6 to 19*)

•     Saturday, September 13, 2025: 2:00 to 5:00pm

•     Sunday, September 14: 12:30 to 3:30 pm

Callbacks:

•     Monday, Sept. 15 between 4:30 and 8:30pm 

Please sign up for a half hour time slot (starting 9/3 after 4:30pm) via Signup Genius https://tinyurl.com/audbdh

*Please note: Youth Theater roles are only eligible to students who will be enrolled in our Fall 2025 semester. Actors do not need to be enrolled at the time of the auditions, however, participation in the actual production does require Beck Center enrollment in our Fall 2025 semester. Students do not need to be specifically enrolled in a Theater class at Beck Center to qualify. Students enrolled in the Theater, Dance, Music, Visual Arts, and/or Creative Arts Therapies Departments are equally eligible. Class sizes and offerings are limited at this time, so please register in advance if possible.

Bottom line:  if you are accepting a role in the show, you will need to enroll prior to the start of rehearsals. Any questions, please feel free to contact Sarah Clare, Associate Director of Theater Education, at sclare@beckcenter.org.

Our Fall 2025 registration is now open at https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/beckcenter/home?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

 There is NO additional participation fee required beyond enrollment.

What to Prepare:

•     Students are asked to prepare a short one-minute comedic monologue or poem to present as their audition piece.  Memorization is strongly encouraged.

•     Prepare a headshot or picture of your student, and resume for online submission

•     Please prepare a list of all potential rehearsal and performance conflicts

Potential Rehearsals: September 22 – October 18, 2025

•     Mon, Tue, Weds, Thurs, Fri: between 4:30 – 8:30pm

•     Saturdays: between 2:00 – 6:00pm

•     Sundays: between 12:30 – 6:00pm

The show will NOT be rehearsing every day or the full-time range listed. The director will pick the days that best accommodate everyone’s schedules – once conflicts and availability are known for the above dates.

Tech Week:  October 19- 22, 2025

•     Sunday between 12:00 – 7:00pm and Weeknights between 5:00 – 8:30pm

All cast members are expected to attend ALL rehearsals during Tech Week.

Performance dates October 23-26, 2025

All cast members are required to attend all performances.

•     Friday, October 24 at 7:30pm

•     Saturday, October 25 at 7:30pm

•     Sunday, October 26 at 3:00pm

•     Student Matinee: Thursday, October 23 at 10:00am

(NOTE: This will require missing school that morning.)

Please visit and join our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beck-Center-Theater-Education-Youth-Theater/80835041820?ref=ts

Located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater productions, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for special needs students, and gallery exhibits featuring local, regional and international artists. For more information visit beckcenter.org.