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Spotlight Players to Hold Auditions for "Freak Friday, the Musical"

originally published: 05/07/2025

(MATAWAN, NJ) -- Calling all adults, teens, and an outgoing 9 to 11 year old  boy who loves to act, sing and dance.  Spotlight Players is thrilled to announce auditions for Freaky Friday: The Musical – the hilarious, heartfelt body-swap comedy from Disney with libretto by Bridget Carpenter, the co-executive producer and writer on the beloved TV hits, "Friday Night Lights" and "Parenthood", with music by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning team behind Next to Normal and If/Then.

Auditions will take place Monday, May 19th from 6:30pm-10:00pm and Tuesday, May 20th from 6:30pm-10:00pm at First Presbyterian Church (883 Rt 34) in Matawan, New Jersey. Callbacks will be Wednesday, May 21st by invitation only. Please prepare a short vocal selection in the style of the show and bring printed sheet music in the correct key—a piano accompanist will be provided. Teen actors should be prepared to dance; adult actors will not need to dance. Please email questions to freakyfriday@spotlightplayers.org

When mom Katherine and daughter Ellie magically switch bodies, their lives spiral into a hilarious and heartfelt whirlwind. Katherine must survive high school, while Ellie juggles adult stress, a looming wedding, and real-world responsibilities. Through the chaos, they learn to see each other—and themselves—in a whole new light, in a story that celebrates empathy, growth, and the messy magic of family.

Packed with catchy pop-rock songs, high-energy choreography, and a ton of heart, Freaky Friday is a musical adventure about learning that, no matter how different we seem, family is the ultimate common ground. Get ready for a story that’s funny, touching, and totally relatable — because sometimes, walking a mile in someone else’s shoes is the only way home.

Spotlight Players is a welcoming, inclusive community theatre committed to diversity and representation on stage and off. All ethnicities, body types, gender identities, and experience levels are encouraged to audition.

The creative team includes Producers Mike Leonard, Dorothy Gallop, and Alex Fritsch; Direction by Chuck Cutaia-Hamilton; Musical Direction by Justin Ryan; Choreography by Isabella Taylor; and Assistant Direction by Lizzy Stefanic.




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Rehearsals begin either May 31 or June 2. In June, rehearsals will run Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm to 10:00pm, and Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm. In July, rehearsals will be held Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 6:30pm to 10:00pm, and Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Tech Week will take place July 26–30. Performances will run August 1–10 at the Presbyterian Church of Matawan.

Spotlight Players is a community theatre in Monmouth County that primarily rehearses and performs at the First Presbyterian Church in Matawan, New Jersey.  Founded in 1997 by local community members, Spotlight ultimately strives to entertain, to educate, and to enrich the community.

They provide theater to local audiences, enhancing their area’s cultural appeal by putting on shows that are moving, thought-provoking, and enjoyable. Through the process of running the organization, they provide their members with a hands-on learning experience in all aspects of theater, from the artistic and technical challenges of acting, directing, lighting, and set construction, to the practical considerations of advertising, publicity, and budgeting. In doing so, they enrich the lives of those who see their shows and those who work on them.

Through production of theatre classics, children’s shows, musical revues, and original  works, they aim to allow and encourage members of the community to grow and develop while taking artistic risks.




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