Theatre West Virginia held local auditions for its 49th season Saturday.

Performers of all ages auditioned in Mabscott for the 2009 summer productions of “Seussical,” “High School Musical,” “Hatfields & McCoys” and “Honey in the Rock.”

In the morning, more than 40 local boys and girls, ages 12 to 22, took part in dance auditions for “High School Musical.”

TWV called select performers back for a singing and monologue audition in the afternoon.

To audition, contestants had to have an up-tempo and a ballad, 16 bars of each, and a monologue, two minutes or less.

“As you probably noticed, a lot of kids are here today,” TWV PR director Adam Bryan said.

“We’re probably going to hire 25 to 35 local kids and give them a chance to perform in a professional setting. It gives them a chance to do a main stage show at an outdoor amphitheater, which they probably wouldn’t have the opportunity to do if we didn’t give them the chance.”

Bryan said several new faces auditioned this year. “We saw a lot of newbies. I have a feeling several will be getting jobs because they were very good.”

TWVs artistic director, Marina Hunley, said Saturday’s auditions were a success.

“It’s been a really good day. Just the most amazing, amazing amount of talent,” she said.

Each of the TWV shows will combine local performers with professionals.

Bryan said TWV will bring in several professional actors and a professional director for the shows.

“There will be kids in the shows who are not trained at Julliard, so to speak,” he said.

“We like to put a few of the professional actors we hire from all over the country and all over the world in the show with them so they get a chance to interact with people who are on a professional level as well, which is a great opportunity for them.”

Ten-year-old Rachel Kan-akanui, a Bradley Elementary student, auditioned for “Honey in the Rock” and “Seussical.”

Her mother Karen said Rachel did her first TWV play, “Beauty and the Beast,” at age 6.

“I want to be an actor,” Rachel said of her future career aspirations.

If she had to choose between starring on Broadway or in a movie or television show, Rachel said she’d be the star of the show — “everywhere!”

“She’s always been dramatic. It’s just comes natural to her,” Karen said.

Karen lived in Los Angeles and worked at Universal Studios for 15 years.

She says “the thought of having a daughter that wants to be in that industry is a little distressing.” However, “I’ll let her do what she wants to do.

“TWV is a great opportunity for local kids. The opportunity to work with real actors and be a real actor in the summer — you just can’t beat it.”

Kids from Tennessee, Ohio and Virginia traveled to Mabscott to audition for the TWV summer season.

Bryan said performers from Huntington and Charleston also auditioned.

Performers will find out if they were cast in a show in the next two or three weeks.

Rehearsals begin in May.

“We’ll have a month and a half of rehearsal every day, and then we’ll have a show every night, all summer long. It’s the real deal,” Bryan said.

“We would like people to come back out. Just cause you’ve seen the show doesn’t mean you’ve seen it this year. It’s a different show every year. It’s never the same.”

Bryan said TWV appreciates all the community’s support in raising funds necessary to keep the TWV open.

“The biggest support, more than money, is coming out and watching a show. That’s really the best way for you to show your support for us.”

“Seussical” is new production in the 2009 TWV lineup. The plot mirrors that of the Dr. Seuss-inspired movie “Horton Hears a Who!” The play centers on Horton the elephant’s endeavors to protect the people of Who-ville.

Opening day for TWV is June 9 at Grandview Park’s Cliffside Amphitheatre.

For more information, visit www.theatrewestvirginia.com or call 304-256-6800.

— E-mail: jayres@register-herald.com