"Headwaters: Didja Hear?," the acclaimed community story performance, has scheduled auditions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Sautee Nacoochee Center.

"You don't have to have any experience," said Lisa Mount, project director. "You just need a desire to perform and the ability to stand on a stage and tell a story or sing a song.

"This is a great way to get involved in something that showcases the intriguing characteristics of our part of Georgia - how we love to hear about tricksters and folk heroes, how we find ways around not being able to hear and how sometimes we choose to listen to each other, rather than people from other places who want to tell us what to do."

Rehearsals for the play will begin in May, and 30-60 people will be needed to create it. Rehearsals will be in the evenings during the week and on Sundays.

"Headwaters" will be performed for the public in the Sautee Nacoochee Center's gymnasium from July 5-22.

There will be parts for all ages. "Experienced performers will learn new skills such as puppetry, and those who have never been on stage will get their chance to debut," said Mount.

The play is an excellent opportunity for families to do something together. Performers ages 10 and over are welcome.

"If you've ever wanted to perform or just be around a theater production, this is a great chance," said Tommy Deadwyler, co-producer and technical director for the show.

"We'll need lots of volunteers and crew before and during the performances to build sets, install seating and do all the things that make a performance possible."

A group of about 20 volunteers have been collecting stories for seven years from both natives and newcomers in Habersham, Rabun, Stephens, Banks and White counties.

"Headwaters: Didja Hear?" is being written by Jerry Grillo, co-playwright on the three previous "Headwaters" scripts, and Lisa Mount will direct.

The Sautee Nacoochee Center received grants to support the project from the national Endowment for the Arts and the Georgia Council for the Arts.

For more information, call 706-878-3300 or email headwaters@snca.org.