Litefooter Youth Workshop & Production

Our young performers at the Plaza are nicknamed the Litefooters because our adults are called the Footeliters in honor of Pulitzer- and Academy Award-winning playwright Horton Foote, who was born in Wharton. Participants are broken into two age groups: Litefooters (ages 13-18) and Litefooters Jr. (ages 6-12). Every summer we teach basic stagecraft and theatre discipline at the Litefooter Summer Youth Workshop. The workshop culminates in a major production on the Plaza’s main stage in late June.

2025 Litefooter Jr. Production (Ages 6-12)

Disney-Pixar’s

Finding Nemo Jr.

  • Book, Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
  • Book Adapted by Lindsay Anderson
  • Music and Orchestrations Adapted and Arranged by Myrna Conn
  • Based on the 2003 Disney /Pixar film Finding Nemo written by Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, David Reynolds and directed by Andrew Stanton
  • a musical
  • Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)
  • All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.MTIShows.com
  • directed by Hailey Roberson

Auditions: April 27 & 29, 2025 at 6:00pm
Performances: June 19-22, 2025

2025 Litefooter Production (Ages 13-18)

Disney’s

Newsies Jr.

  • Music by Alan Menken
  • Lyrics by Jack Feldman
  • Book by Harvey Fierstein
  • Based on the Disney Film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White
  • a musical
  • Disney’s Newsies Jr. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)
  • All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.MTIShows.com
  • directed by Camille Mund

Auditions: May 4 & 6, 2025 at 6:00pm
Performances: June 26-29, 2025

About Auditions: Auditions are held in May and the number of participants will be limited for the program. You may attend both audition sessions for your age group, but only one is required.

Participants should be prepared to sing a musical selection of their choice, read from the script, and wear comfortable clothes for a dance audition.

For those that receive a part and are accepted into the program, a registration fee of $100 covers t-shirt, snacks, and supplies. Scholarships are available upon special request.

Ages are based on the age of the participant at their audition date.  Participants that will be 18 years old during the summer workshop are subject to background check.

Special Note: Youth that participate in the Litefooter Summer Youth Workshop & Production will not be allowed to audition for other summer productions because of conflicting rehearsal schedules. 

Rehearsal Schedule: The schedule is subject to change depending on the specific requirements of the production.

Performance Schedule:  The production schedule for each season is posted on the Plaza website.  Participants need to be at the theater two hours before curtain time for each performance for costumes, hair, and makeup.

Volunteering:  The Litefooter Summer Youth Workshop always requires volunteers to help with a variety of tasks, including snack preparation, backstage assistance, set construction, prop and costume fabrication, etc.  If you’d like to assist in any way, please contact us.