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Breakdown
PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:
CABIN IN THE SKY – Golden age theatre music with heart and soul or gospel style music that shows off voice and range. Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen.
1776 – Traditional theatre music excluding Rogers & Hammerstein and Lerner & Lowe, or songs in the style of Parade, and Flaherty & Ahrens.
DO I HEAR A WALTZ – Legit theatre music; Rogers & Hart, Sondheim, and Rogers & Hammerstein.
NOTE: You must provide your own sheet music. Pianist will be provided.
Show 1: CABIN IN THE SKY
Music: Vernon Duke
Lyrics: John Latouche
Book: Lynn Root
Director: Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Musical Supervisor: Rob Berman
Musical Director: TBA
Choreographer: TBA
Rehearsal: 1/27/2016
Open: 2/10/2016
Close: 2/14/2016
NOTE: Cabin in the Sky opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck theatre on October 25th, 1940. Cabin in the Sky is a musical-comedy fantasy of good versus evil. It is a bizarre dream in which God and Satan battle for "Little Joe’s" soul. It is a folktale set somewhere in the south in 1940. All characters are African American. It originally starred Ethel Waters as PETUNIA when it opened on Broadway in 1940.
SEEKING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:
MEN
"LITTLE JOE" JACKSON (40’s): Petunia’s lazy gambling husband who is ultimately guided towards redemption. Easily influenced and wooed back to his former life as a gambler, even though Petunia has set him on the righteous path and which he has tried to follow the best he can. Warm, charming, endearing, innocent, and lovable. He is ultimately a good man who deserves to go to heaven, despite his transgressions. Must move well. Bari-Tenor.
THE LORD’S GENERAL – CAST
THE HEAD MAN (Mid 40’s-Early 50’s): A figure in "Little Joe’s" imagination that represents all evil, and temptation in the world. He is Lucifer’s son sent down to trap "'Little Joe" into breaking his newly found, righteous, path and deliver him "down there." There is a fierce competition between The Head Man and The Lord’s General to win "Little Joe" over. While seemingly powerful and confident, he’s ultimately afraid of failing his father. While this actor must have strength and gravitas, he must also poses a sly, sense of humor. Baritone.
JOHN HENRY (Mid to late 30’s): Owner of the wicked gambling club. Must have a sense of danger and sexuality about him. Baritone.
WOMEN
PETUNIA JACKSON – CAST
GEORGIA BROWN (Late 20’s): The embodiment of sex and temptation. She’s a “cooch-dancer” at John Henry’s Café and in the past has led “Little Joe” down a wrong and evil path. She sets out to win him back but ultimately Petunia’s love is stronger. Actress must be an absolutely stunning woman, brimming with sexuality. She is a major star dancer, who sings well. Originally played by the famous dancer Katherine Dunham. Alto.
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Show 2: 1776
Music & Lyrics: Sherman Edwards
Book: Peter Stone
Director: Garry Hynes
Musical Director: Rob Berman
Choreographer: TBD
Rehearsal: 3/16/2016
Open: 3/30/2016
Close: 4/3/2016
NOTE: 1776 opened on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre on March 16th, 1969. This will a completely multi-ethnic production.
SEEKING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:
MEN
JOHN ADAMS (Fortyish): A not tall, fiery, very articulate, proud, passionate
man. He is a New England Puritan coupled with a passion for ideas and an
incredibly strong love for his wife, Abigail. Charismatic in a hard working
way; he’s always there. An opposition’s nightmare. Good sense of humor.
Baritone, C to F#.
THOMAS JEFFERSON (Thirtyish): Tall- must be at least 6’2”. The “American Sphinx” transformed into the quiet but intellectually forceful romantic lead. Sexy in a languid way. Good sense of humor. Vocal Range: Baritone, C to G.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (60-70) Intelligent, incorrigible, and pleasantly cunning. A jolly and admirable fellow with whom anyone would desire friendship. Vocal Range: Ab to Eb.
RICHARD HENRY LEE (30-45): Tall, masculine and full of himself. Most move well and have plenty of energy. Has big comic character number. Vocal Range: High Baritone, Bb to G (or Ab).
JOHN DICKINSON (mid-40’s): Leader of the conservative opposition to Adams. Sharp-tongued and formidable. Vocal Range: A to E.
EDWARD RUTLEDGE (late 20’s) South Carolina aristocracy. Oozes confidence and cynicism, almost serpentine. Vocal Range: C to A.
ROGER SHERMAN (45-55): A simple cobbler from Eastern Connecticut. Tenor, C to Bb.
COL. THOMAS MCKEAN (40-60): A rough-hewned Scott (with brogue) who’s seen many battles. Loud and Funny. Vocal Range: Bass Baritone, low C to Eb.
SAMUEL CHASE (35-50): Large, rotund gentlemen with an insatiable appetite. Has a lot of both grace and sweat. Vocal Range: Tenor, up to Ab.
ROBERT LIVINGSTON (30-45): A gracious diplomat. Droll. Is on the Declaration writing committee. Vocal Range: Tenor, Bb to F.
STEPHEN HOPKINS (60-70): Second oldest member of Congress, starts the day with a strong drink. Vocal Range: C to Eb.
ANDREW MCNAIR (40-60): The Congressional custodian. Earthy, plain-speaking with a wry sense of humor. Vocal Range: Light Baritone, low Bb to Db (just above middle C).
COURIER (18-22): The bedraggled message runner between General George Washington and the Continental Congress. Has seen a lot of war for his young age. Vocal Range: C to Db.
WOMEN
ABIGAIL ADAMS (35-40): Sensible, loving, smart mate to JOHN ADAMS and who is his equal in all things. Has tremendous devotion to John while also being his alter-ego to balance out his fiery nature. Mezzo-Soprano, Db to F.
MARTHA JEFFERSON (20-30): Like air she floats into the play and dazzles JEFFERSON, ADAMS, and FRANKLIN with her beauty and joy. Must dance well. High Belt in mix, Bb to D.
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Show 3: DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Music: Richard Rogers
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Arthur Laurents
Director: Evan Cabnet
Musical Director: Rob Berman
Choreographer: TBA
Rehearsal: 4/27/2016
Open: 5/11/2016
Close: 5/15/2016
NOTE: Do I Hear a Waltz? Opened on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre on March 18th 1965. Do I Hear A Waltz? is adapted from the Arthur Laurents play “The Time of the Cuckoo”.
SEEKING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:
MEN
RENATO di ROSSI (Mid 40’s, no older): An attractive, Italian, antique shop keeper, who falls in love with Leona. In the world in which he lives, being married and having an affair carries no guilt. If you love someone, you must take advantage of it and embrace the opportunity. He is charming, down to earth, with a winning sense of humor and sexuality. Italian Accent. Legit Tenor.
MR. McILHENNY (Early 60’s): The pleasantly, rumpled and good natured, husband of Mrs. McIlhenny. He’s a typical, suburban mid-western, American tourist eager to see the sights. Character Baritone.
EDDIE YEAGER (Late 20’s): An American aspiring artist. Very handsome and charming, with tremendous sex appeal. He ultimately knows he must return home to save his marriage after having an affair with Fioria. Baritone
MAURO (9-11). An Italian street urchin. He will do anything to make a buck. Persistent, clever, and enterprising with tremendous charm and appeal. Italian Accent. Non-Singing.
VITO (Early 20’s - to play 18): Renato di Rossi’s Son. Polite, well mannered, a young gentleman. Handsome in that dark, Italian way. Non-Singing. Italian-Accent.
WOMEN
LEONA SAMISH (Early 40’s, No Older): Appealing and attractive. A “high-class”, secretary on holiday in Venice. She’s eager, and enthusiastic, with a need to be liked by all. Charming, but keeps people at a distance with a self-deprecating sense of humor. She’s longing to fall in love but cannot give herself emotionally to another person although she desperately wants to. She falls in love for a short time with a married Italian antique shop keeper. When she realizes he’s married and there is no future in the relationship, she must decide if it is better to love and have lost than to never have loved at all. She leaves Venice sadder but wiser than when she arrived, dreaming of the possibility of the “magical, mystical, miracle” of love. Mezzo-Belter.
SIGNORA FIORIA (Mid to late 50’s): The Italian owner of the Pensione. A handsome, charming, woman who knows and accepts the ways of the world. She sees love and sex for what it is. She has great style and a powerful, natural sexuality. Italian/European Accent. Alto Mezzo.
MRS. McILHENNY (Early 60’s): On vacation with her husband in Italy. They’ve been married for many years. She’s a pleasant, typical mid-western, American tourist. Mezzo.
JENNIFER YEAGER (Mid 20’s): Eddie’s spoiled young wife. “Very American” and very pretty in that “all American way.” She is not the brightest of young women, but is smart enough to know that she must return to America with her husband to save her marriage. Mezzo.
GIOVANNA (Early to mid 20’s): The blousy, Italian maid at the Pensione. Speaks no English. Usually extremely slow and lazy, except when it comes to her boyfriend for whom she always sprints into action. Actress must possess sharp comic skill. A working knowledge of Italian is not necessary but a plus. Mezzo.
WE ENCOURAGE PERFORMERS OF ALL ETHNICITIES TO ATTEND.
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