Wanted: Red Hot Mamas for Thanksgiving

Group headed to Macy's parade

The Red Hot Mamas will once again have the opportunity to be true to their motto of "dedicated to the exploitation of merriment and the enhancement of the ridiculous."

The Coeur d'Alene-based performance company was chosen by the Macy's Parade Band and Performance Group Selection Committee to perform in the 2014 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Red Hot Mamas founder Mikki Stevens said she had to think long and hard about whether to lead the group back to the parade for a second time. The Mamas' first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade performance was back in 2006.

"At a point in my life filled with personal challenges, my initial thought was absolutely no, but a giggle immediately began growing in my heart," Stevens said, in a press release. "After serious prayer and input of friends, I realized this was a project with a purpose greater than the junk I had going on and a way to continue using whatever talents I have been given to bring laughter to others. The Macy's experience lives on well after the event for the women involved and in some cases changes their lives to ones of greater possibility."

The parade attracts 3.5 million spectators to the Big Apple, and another 50 million television viewers each year.

Founded in 1993, The Red Hot Mamas are a performance-oriented musical-comedy service organization. The group mission is to encourage and motivate women to be all they want to be at all ages, while evidencing humor, hope and fun through uplifting entertainment to change the world.

Members are trained in theatrical performance skills, stage makeup, costuming, choreography, drill team, dance, sound tech and properties management for community service. The group is composed of high-spirited women ranging in age from 18 to older than 80.

The Mamas have performed from San Diego to London, England, and have made numerous national television appearances.

The 2014 Macy's performance will be a bright new creation as the group will be featured as vintage Mamas presenting a rowdy and rebellious performance to Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It."

The team lineup will begin with wild, mop-twirling grandmas, followed by a boisterous comedy dance team using walkers with decorated baskets on the front as props.

The dance team will be followed by a line of rowdy women in wheelchairs pushed by candy striper ballerinas. The next wave is raucous razor scooter trick riders in motorcycle attire. The next line will be what the Mamas call their "Showgirls," donned in floor-length, leopard print muumuus and bejeweled with as many sequins and rhinestones as they can support. The show will end with the Mamas' popular MamasBoyz.

"This is going to be a show-stopper for sure," said Wesley Whatley, creative director of the Macy's Parade and Entertainment Group.

The Red Hot Mamas are auditioning for 50 lively performers of all ages over 18 and all shapes and sizes. Thunder thighs and pot bellies are encouraged to apply. A variety of performance skills are needed for casting in comedy roles. "This is such an exciting opportunity to join like-minded sisters for an adventure of a lifetime," said creative director Vicky Jo Carey.

Comedy roles include: baton twirlers, precision dance team, wheelchair riders, ballerinas, razor scooter tricksters, showgirls, singers and MamasBoyz.

All performers must be able to twirl, dance, scoot, ride, or whatever, down the parade route, which is 2.5 miles long, at a brisk pace. Roles are comedy-oriented with an overload of glitzy glam.

Auditioners should wear workout clothing and athletic shoes. Those auditioning for twirling, marching, walking or dancing must complete a 40-minute endurance session prior to the individual skills audition.

Auditions will be held at Peak Health and Wellness Center, 940 W. Ironwood Drive, Coeur d'Alene.

Future cast members may choose to audition Saturday, March 1 or Sunday, March 2 at 1 p.m. Auditions will conclude by 4 p.m. Peak has served as a Red Hot Mamas sponsor for 25 years.

For information, visit www.rhmamas.com or email [email protected].