Youth Dance Theater of Greater Chicago Auditions for Spring 2027

Young dancers ages 7 to 17 across the Chicago area can submit one-minute video auditions through November 30, 2026, for the Youth Dance Theater of Greater Chicago’s spring 2027 production of What the River Remembers, an original work inspired by the 1915 Eastland disaster on the Chicago River.

The Youth Dance Theater of Greater Chicago is casting performers for a full-length original production that asks what happens when a city’s history reaches out to a new generation. Dancers of all styles and technique levels are welcome, and everyone who completes the audition process will be cast in a role suited to their age and skill.

The show builds from the New York Times bestselling youth mystery Scritch Scratch by Lindsay Currie, which follows a curious young girl whose encounter with the past leads her to the story of the 1915 Eastland disaster. From that spark, the theater is creating an original dance collage that moves between eras, using theatrical imagery to explore how Chicago holds its memories and how stories from long ago still ripple into young lives today.

A River on Stage, and a Deadline Approaching

The audition process is entirely video-based. Young performers must submit a one-minute video through the Youth Dance Theater of Greater Chicago website by November 30, 2026. Casting will be announced around December 12, 2026.

The production features five featured roles plus an ensemble that embodies the river itself—the main character—as it changes through various historical moments. Margo Ruark, Artistic Director, is the contact for the auditions.

Rehearsals begin with a 15-hour winter intensive from 12 to 5 p.m. December 27 through 29, 2026. Weekly Sunday rehearsals run from 12 to 5 p.m. starting January 3, 2027, leading to a dress rehearsal on March 17, 2027 from 5 to 8 p.m. The single performance takes place Saturday, March 20, 2027 at 6 p.m. at the Madison Street Theater, 1010 Madison Street in Oak Park, Illinois.

Instagram

What Cast Members Gain

Participation is unpaid, but the experience comes with concrete perks. Cast members will have an exclusive meet and greet with author Lindsay Currie, enter a poster contest where the winning artwork appears on the cast T-shirt and printed program, and receive a professional headshot for the playbill. The production is supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

The river serves as the emotional anchor for the piece. By staging the river as a character that flows through time, the production gives young dancers a way to physically embody the weight of local history while making it accessible to contemporary audiences.

Families considering the commitment should note the full schedule: the winter intensive, weekly Sunday rehearsals through the winter and early spring, the March dress rehearsal, and the March 20 performance. Full details on the time and financial commitment are available on the YDTGC website.

For young performers in the Chicago area, this offers a chance to be part of an original work that connects a historic tragedy to present-day storytelling, while performing on a stage in Oak Park.