The auditions went on for more than three hours.
Photo by Anna Alexeeva

Active work on the musical for this academic year started last week. In Spring 2010 audiences will attend a performance of "Hairspray," a musical based on the 1988 John Waters film with the same name. This is the third time a musical will be staged at AUBG. "We want to turn this into a tradition," the producer of the project, junior Rafayel Khachatryan, said. Five organizers are replacing the director and initiator of the previous two musicals, senior Eva Pillossof.

The reason for the change in the management team is that more people have to learn how to manage such an event so that the tradition doesn't die when Pillossof graduates, Khachatryan said. "We looked for people we can rely on." Pillossof and Khachatryan chose the new organizers together. "Like in every organization, the power is transferred, when they elect the new board," Pillossof said. The selected students are sophomore Georgi Petrov, juniors Regina Sadykova and Katerina Lovtchinova, and senior Antoni Stoyanov. They have all participated in at least one of the previous two musicals.

The new crew is working on the project with Pillossof's help. "I want them to learn, and I will advise them as much as I can," she said. However, she added she has decided not to be present at rehearsals. "I will leave it up to them." Though she will not direct the musical this year, Pillossof will be actively involved in the SG, as she is now its treasurer.

Khachatryan said he already has the contract for the copyrights of the official script of the musical. "We are the first amateur production to get the rights," he said. The team hasn't started negotiating with sponsors yet, but their estimated budget is at least 20,000 levs. Khachatryan said that due to the crisis he suspects that it is going to be harder to get the money they need for the project.

The organizers said they are planning to ask Vice-President of Institutional Development William Kirschke for help with acquiring the necessary funds. Kirschke said he will probably hold a seminar for the clubs at AUBG in order to encourage them to fund-raise. Both Kirschke and Provost Ann Ferren were present at the informational presentation which the organizers held for those interested in joining the cast on Monday, Sept. 14, in the NAB Auditorium. However, Kirschke added that for the moment he has not talked with Khachatryan directly about "Hairspray."

The Broadway Performance Club, created by Pillossof two years ago, has applied for money from the SG for all the musicals so far. Khachatryan said that they receive SG money for licensing the rights for performing the musicals. "The right thing for the SG is to pay for the license," he said.

The auditions for the musical took place at the Main Building Auditorium on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Over 70 students attended. Khachatryan said they have already filled most of the spots of the 48 positions in the cast, but they still need more boys. Sophomores Elena Ciumac and Valentina Beiu, who are part of the new cast, said some of the girls still don't have partners.

As part of the auditions' evening, the organizers provided 15 free taxis to drive students to the auditions, from Skaptopara to the Main Building. "P eople are lazy," Khachatryan said. "We want our cast members to feel special."

The team is planning on advertising the show more in Blagoevgrad this year. The idea is to interact with the town community. "We are going to try to jump over amateur level," Khachatryan said.

Anna Ceachirova also contributed to this article.

Watch a video of some of the highlights from the auditions, here.