Chicago Casting Auction: Be A Star (For A Price)

A long time institution in Chicago theatre finds a new home this season with Bailiwick Chicago. The Chicago Casting Auction, long associated with the Tony-award winning company Victory Gardens offers theatre fans to get out of the audience and perform in a professionally produced production directed by Jeff-award winning theatre professionals. After a successful production of Damn Yankees this past year, Bailiwick Chicago and the Chicago Casting Auction will be auctioning off over 60 roles for this season's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at a gala event held on Saturday, October 27 at the Dank Haus German American Cultural Center Grand Ballroom , 4740 N. Western Ave. in Chicago.

At the Live Auction Event , a professional Auctioneer starts the bidding for leading roles and major supporting roles. Anyone can make an opening bid, either for themselves or on behalf of someone else, and that person becomes a Player and is called onto the event stage. Once all Players for a role are onstage, the bidding begins! Friends, family and supporters bid to win that role for their Player of choice. Be advised, Players may be asked for a display of their talents! Once a role is won, the winning Player is presented with a Winner's Certificate and their rehearsal schedule. Supporting roles and chorus roles are bid on in the silent auction arena throughout the night.

New to the event this season is an innovative and interactive for players to raise money to bid for roles with. The Sponsor Drive is an online effort for Players to maximize their chances of scoring a role at the live auction. Players sign up online and receive a free "Players Page," which can be customized and used to raise money online from friends and family which can be used to bid on roles at the Auction event.

After casting is complete and five weeks of rehearsals, all the fun culminates in a public production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice, co-directed by Bailiwick Executive Director Kate Garassino and Collective Member Christopher Pazdernik with music direction by Robert Ollis. Joseph will be presented January 31 – February 2, 2013 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets for Joseph go on sale January 1, 2013.

The Live Auction Event will be this Saturday, October 27 at the Dank Haus German American Cultural Center Grand Ballroom , 4740 N. Western Ave. in Chicago. The Event will include live entertainment, a silent auction, delectable catering, an open bar and a professional photo booth to ham it up! Door open at 6 pm, the live auction begins at 7 pm. Tickets for the Live Auction Event , priced at $29 - $75, are available here.