MUNCIE, Ind.- Ball State University's Department of Theatre and Dance will hold auditions for children ages 6 to 12 for four roles in its upcoming production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

Auditions will be held Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Muncie Center for the Arts, 520 East Main St.

The department is looking for two girls and two boys to read lines and sing both onstage and offstage.

Children auditioning for the roles must sing "Happy Birthday" and memorize one line from the play.

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is an intense drama. The language, especially from the character of Big Daddy, is colorful, vulgar and capable of offending some patrons. The subject of the play is also mature.

The play's director, Don LaCasse, notes that parents of prospective child-actors will be asked to read the play before children will be cast in the production.

Please call to reserve a copy of the play for 24-hour check-out. Copies are available at the Muncie Center for the Arts at(765) 286-5347 and in the office of Ball State's Department of Theatre and Dance at (765) 285-8740.

Rehearsals for children begin Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. and may run as late as 10 p.m. Technical and dress rehearsals, as well as performances, will run later than 10 p.m.

For more information, please contact LaCasse at (765) 282-6358.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Don LaCasse by phone at (765) 282-6358 or by e-mail at dlacasse@bsu.edu.)