The Tryon Little Theater and Tryon Fine Arts Center have announced auditions for their 2017 youth musical, the delightful “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” to be held at TLT’s Workshop, 516 S. Trade Street, May 30 and June 1 from 6-8 p.m. Production dates at TFAC are July 12-16.  Youth ages 12 to 18 are eligible to audition.

Originally a 1967 film starring Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, and Broadway veterans Carol Channing and Beatrice Lillie, the film was turned into a wildly popular stage musical which opened on Broadway in 2002, and promptly won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Next came productions in London and around the globe.

The year is 1922, and Millie Dillmont has just escaped from Salina, Kansas to run off to New York City, determined to become a success. She bobs her hair and turns herself into a “flapper,” with plans to marry a rich husband, never mind love.

But Millie gets mugged, and bumps into handsome young Jimmy Smith, a decidedly non-wealthy paperclip salesman.  She moves into a hotel for women, run by Mrs. Meers, the mysterious, evil owner of the hotel. Turns out Mrs. Meers is the leader of a white slavery ring in the Orient.  Meantime, at the hotel Millie befriends Miss Dorothy, a wealthy woman incognito as a hotel resident, trying to see how the other half lives.

Then there’s Ching Ho and Bun Foo, who work for Mrs. Meers, helping to spirit unsuspecting young women away to the Orient.  But then Ching Ho falls in love with Miss Dorothy. Millie, meanwhile, gets a job working for the wealthy Trevor Graydon III — perfect for her plans, except she keeps thinking about the paperclip salesman, who invites her to a party at the home of famous singer Muzzy van Hossmere.

Still with us here? Well, not really . . . because some people aren’t who they say they are, and therein hangs the tale.

In addition to the named roles above, there are several young women who reside at Mrs. Meers’ hotel, stenographers at Graydon’s company, and partygoers at Muzzy’s.

Directing “Millie” is theatre veteran Kelsey Gibson. Those auditioning May 30 and June 1 are to bring 16 bars of sheet music and come dressed to move as simple choreography is worked through. An accompanist will be provided.

For further information, call the TLT Workshop at 828-859-2466 and leave a message. Calls will be returned as soon as possible.

– article submitted by Connie Clark