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Breakdown
2016 SEASON
JELLY'S LAST JAM, THE GULF (World Premiere), SILVER BELLES (World Premiere), TITANIC, Show TITLE TBA, THE CIRCUS IN WINTER (World Premiere), MIDWESTERN GOTHIC (World Premiere), JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
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JELLY’S LAST JAM
Book: George C. Wolfe
Lyrics: Susan Birkenhead
Music: Jelly Roll Morton
Add'l Music & Musical Adaptation: Luther Henderson
Dir: Matthew Gardiner
Choreo: Jared Grimes
MAX Stage: LORT C ($799/week min)
1st Reh: 7/5/16. Runs: 8/2 - 9/11
seeking:
JELLY ROLL MORTON
African American Male, 30-45. Son of racially mixed Creole parents, this pioneer jazz composer, pianist and bandleader exudes charm. Must be able to sing, dance (extremely strong tap), and/or strong jazz piano skills.
CHIMNEY MAN
African American Male, 35-60. Our lean chief jurist: a mysterious, raffish agent of the supernatural. Very physical and a strong acting singer.
YOUNG JELLY
African American Male, early teens. Exudes as much charm as his older self but raised in a snooty family.
ANITA
African American Female, 22-35. Daughter of racially mixed Creole parents, she is Jelly’s sultry girlfriend with strong movement, singing and acting capabilities.
GRAN MIMI
Female, 50-70. Religious woman and matriarch to Jelly.
JACK THE BEAR
African American Male 25-35. Full of dignified and warmhearted southern charm, he is an easy going man and a strong acting singer.
BUDDY BOLDEN
African American Male, 30-40. Impassioned man known as “the Father of Jazz” who feeds into his/others addictions. Must play cornet and be a strong acting singer.
ENSEMBLE
Ensemble of 8 comprised of strong African American male and female acting singers. Tap dance and musicianship/instruments is a plus.
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THE GULF (World Premiere)
By Audrey Cefaly
Dir: Joe Calarco
ARK Stage: LORT D ($637/week min)
1st Reh: 8/15/16. Runs: 9/13 - 11/6 (Poss Extension to 11/13)
Seeking:
KENDRA
20s-40s. Alabama, blue collar, sewage plant worker. Lesbian (butch). Introverted. A woman of few words. Simple. A loner. Scrappy, dark, brutish and volatile. Prone to bouts of scathing verbal assault. Aspires to fish and be left alone.
BETTY
20s-40s. Alabama, blue collar, bartender. Lesbian. An optimist. A chatterbox. Tender-hearted. A thinker. A planner. Promiscuous. Aspires to become a social worker and leave her waitressing days behind.
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SILVER BELLES (World Premiere)
Book: Ally Currin
Music/Lyrics: Matthew Conner
Add'l Lyrics: Stephen Gregory Smith
Dir: Eric Schaeffer
Choreo: Karma Camp
ARK Stage: LORT D ($637/week min)
1st Reh: 11/1/16. Runs: 11/22 - 12/24
Seeking:
EARL
60s - 70s male: A sweet, bumbling fellow. Baritone
ORALENE
60s - 70s Female: Earl’s wife, a tiny, dainty dynamo. Mezzo Belt.
BO JACK
50s – 60s Female: Earl’s best friend, the town mechanic. Mezzo.
BERNEICE
60s Female: The town gossip. Mezzo Belt.
GLORIA
50s-60s Female: Hot, buxom, rich and sexy. Soprano with belt.
RUTH ANN
40s – 50s Female: The church secretary, mousy and uptight in seasonal sweaters. Mezzo.
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TITANIC
Book/Story: Peter Stone
Music/Lyrics: Maury Yeston
Dir: Eric Schaeffer
Choreo: Karma Camp
MAX Stage: LORT C ($799/week min)
1st Reh: 11/4/16. Runs: 12/13- 1/15/17
Seeking:
THOMAS ANDREWS
Late 30s, Male: Designer of the Titanic, a very level-headed but passionate man. Dramatic baritenor (sings up to G). Northern Irish/English RP accent.
J. BRUCE ISMAY
Late 40s, Male: Upper-class ruthless man who stops at nothing to get his own way, physically fit, strong character, and a dominant man. Baritone, (sings up to G). English RP accent.
E.J. SMITH
50s to 60s, Male: Captain of the Titanic, a white-haired man with strong morals, near to retirement. Has a wealth of experience. Character baritone (sings up to F). English RP accent.
WILLIAM MURDOCH
30s to 40s, Male: The first officer on the bridge of the Titanic. Baritone (sings up to F#). Scottish/English RP accent.
HAROLD BRIDE
18-35, Male: The radioman, slim, a sweet man. Melodic tenor (sings up to G) English RP accent. Also plays John B. Thayer and 3rd Class Passenger.
FREDERICK BARRETT
20s to 30s, Male: The stoker, very masculine, handsome, and physically fit. Lyric baritenor (sings up to G). English Midlands accent; also plays Benjamin Guggenheim and 3rd Class Passenger.
FREDERICK FLEET
20s to 30s, Male: The lookout, tall, physically fit actor. Floating lyric tenor (sings up to G, but possible High C). English RP accent. Also plays Frank Carlson, George Widener, 3rd Class Passenger, Stoker, and Lead Dancer.
HENRY ETCHES
30s to 50s, Male: handsome and physically fit, head butler on the ship. Jaunty tenor (sings up to G). English RP accent. Also plays Herbert Pitman.
ISIDOR STRAUS
Late 60s, Male: 1st class passenger, the highest of social elite. Warm legit character baritone (sings up to F). General American (New York, Jewish Origin) accent. Also plays Robert Hichens and 3rd Class Passenger.
IDA STRAUS
60s, Female: Calm and content member of the upper class but very down-to-earth and accepts her fate. Contralto (sings up to D (an octave above middle C)). General American (New York, Jewish Origin) accent. Also plays 3rd Class Passenger.
EDGAR BEANE
30s, Male: A man content with his middle-class life and thinks he knows his place, looking forward to his new life in America. Character bass (sings up to D). General American (Indianapolis) accent. Also plays Joseph Boxhall and 3rd Class Passenger.
ALICE BEANE
20s to 30s, Female: An aspirational young woman who dreams of becoming a 1st class passenger. Alto (belts up to E). General American (Indianapolis) accent. Also plays 3rd class passenger.
KATE MCGOWAN
18-25, Female: a feisty and strong girl, 3rd class passenger. Celtic mezzo (solo singing up to F#, chorally up to G). Northern Irish/English RP accent. Also plays Charlotte Drake Cardoza and Stewardess/Maid.
CHARLES LIGHTOLLER
second Officer on board the Titanic. (up to D, but preferably with tenor timbre, chorally up to G). English RP accent. Also plays J.J. Astor.
CHARLES CLARKE
30s to 40s, Male: A man content with his middle-class life and thinks he knows his place, looking forward to his new life in America. Heroic tenor (sings up to G, but also possible high C man). English RP accent. Also plays a Porter.
JIM FARRELL
20 to 30, Male: Handsome, romantic lead; he's a 3rd class passenger. Bari/tenor (sings up to F#). Northern Irish accent. Also plays Andrew Latimer, Porter, 1st Class Passenger, and Joseph Bell (Chief Engineer).
BELLBOY
20s, Male: The youngest worker on board the ship (13-16 years old); must have a very young look and childlike quality. Tenor (solo up to G, but also possible high C man). English RP accent. Also plays Wallace Hartley, Waiter in 1st and 3rd Class, and Stoker.
CAROLINE NEVILLE
30 to 40, Female: A young woman who dreams of becoming part of the social elite. First soprano, lyric (chorally up to High C). English RP accent. Also plays Stewardess/Maid and Mme. Aubert.
KATE MURPHEY
18-30, Female: 3rd class passenger. Alto/mezzo (sings up to F#, but also possible high C). Northern Irish/English RP accent. Also plays Lead Dancer, Eleanor Widener, and Stewardess.
KATE MULLINS
18-30, Female: 3rd class passenger. Alto/mezzo (sings up to F#, but also possible High C). Northern Irish/English RP accent. Also plays Madeline Astor and Stewardess/Maid.
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TBA Title
By TBA Playwright
Dir: TBA Director
MAX Stage: LORT C ($799/week min)
1st Reh: 1/3/17. Runs: 2/7 - 3/5/17
Seeking:
ELVA
60s Female: Heavy-set woman on the other side of 60. A frugal kind of gal. Probably goes once a week to the local Claremont, California beauty salon to have her hair lacquered high on her head. If one had to pick a single adjective to describe Elva, it would probably be jolly.
JOHN
70s Male: Older than Elva, he wears a perpetual smile. Has recently suffered a stroke, leaving him with limited use of his right arm and leg. He, like his wife, is always cheery, at least for now.
JOELLE TAYLOR
20s Female: their niece
SIMON BOCK
20s Male: Mrs. Miller's musical director, a nice looking, clean-cut young man
BOBBY SHERIN
30s Male: backup singer, preppy and a little fey
CAROL SUE SINGLETON
30s Female: backup singer, blonde and very white.
DENISE BANFIELD
30s Female, backup singer, shy and also very white.
CHARACTER ACTOR
30s-50s Male to play roles of Larry Drummond, Dr. Shapiro, Ed Sullivan, etc.
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THE CIRCUS IN WINTER (World Premiere)
Book: Hunter Foster
Music/Lyrics: Ben Clark
Based on novel by Cathy Day
Choreo: by TBA
Dir: Joe Calarco
MAX Stage: LORT C ($799/week min)
1st Reh: 2/21/17. Runs: 3/28 - 4/23/17
Seeking:
WALLACE PORTER
30s-40s. Proprietor of the “Great Wallace Circus and Menagerie”. Stern and demanding. A dreamer who wants great things, and to build things that will last a lifetime. After the death of his wife, he shuts down emotionally until the arrival of Pearly.
IRENE PORTER
20s. Wife of Wallace. Woman trying to escape the captivity of living in New York City and high society. Longs for the freedom that the circus provides. Has a strong progressive spirit that almost seems out of place for a woman of that time period. An woman full of ideas and imagination, she helps Wallace build and plan the circus.
OLLIE
20s. The narrator of the play and a great storyteller. A young man who stows aboard a circus train and ends up being a clown for the “The Great Porter Circus and Menagerie”. He is a traveler who is searching for his purpose in life. He ends up believing his purpose is to “Paint colors” and fall in love with Jennie Dixianna.
JENNIE DIXIANNA
30s-40s. A high-flying aerialist who spins on a rope with one hand. Has a dangerous, dark exterior that covers up the guilt of her past. She can also see people’s past and future by merely touching them. She manipulates those around her in order to get what she wants.
MRS. COLONEL
40s-60s. Wife of a former Army colonel. Has spent years traveling with her husband. She longs to have a home and a place to make her own, and is searching for love and intimacy, things that are missing from her marriage. She sees in Ollie her missing youth, and develops a friendship with him that leads to complicated feelings for her and the young boy.
PEARLY
20s-30s. African American daughter of a former slave, who falls in love with a white Union soldier after the Civil War. Gets pregnant by the soldier and then is banished by her father. She has a white son, and ends up on a circus train that takes her to the “Great Porter Circus and Menagerie”. She has faith that she will see the father of her son one day. She doesn’t believe in magic, but uses her intuition to see the future.
GORDON
20s-30s. Young white Union soldier who falls in love with Pearly. He stands up for her, believing that the world is wrong. There must be a place where the two of them can exist together.
MR. COLONEL
50s-60s. Wallace hires him to help run “The Great Porter Circus and Menagerie”. He is closed off, and is unable to connect to his wife (Mrs. Colonel).
ELEPHANT JACK
30s-40s. The elephant handler. A brute. A dangerous man who takes out his anger on Caesar the elephant.
JO-JO
40s-50s. An African American clown who partners up with Ollie. He also plays the role of GUS.
GUS
40s-50s. African American. A former slave and the father of Pearly. When he discovers Pearly’s pregnancy, he believes she will be killed if the Army finds out she has had a relationship with one of the white soldiers. Also plays the role of JO-JO.
TONY COLORADO
30s-50s. An Italian horse rider who is the star of “The Tony Colorado Wild West Show”. He is a flamboyant womanizer with a thick Italian accent. Also plays the role of Jennie’s father.
ETHEL HOBZINI
30s-40s. The lion tamer. She is a practical joker who loves all the men that she meets.
YOUNG WALLACE - 18-24
YOUNG JENNIE - 18-24
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MIDWESTERN GOTHIC (World Premiere)
Book: Royce Vavrek and Joshua Schmidt
Lyrics: Royce Vavrek
Music: Joshua Schmidt
Dir: Matthew Gardiner
ARK Stage: LORT D ($637/week min)
1st Reh: 2/7/17. Runs: 3/7 - 4/23/17 (Poss Extension to 4/30)
Seeking:
STINA
Sexy, odd, young, dangerous. Very demanding vocally. Ranges from A3 to Gb5--mezzo-soprano with belt.
RED
A good-looking, blue-collar, middle-aged man who is stepfather to Stina. Baritone, ranges from Bb2 to G4.
MAMA (DEB)
Mother of Stina. Alto, ranges from Bb3 to E5.
ANDERSON
Tenor, the principal Hired Boy. Not extremely attractive. Maybe slightly over weight. Range from D3 to Bb4, with fairly frequent A's.
3-D
AKA Dwayne Daniel Douglas, A funny-looking man who happens to the the local sheriff. Bari-tenor, ranges from C3 to G#4.
LUANN
A drunk at the bar. Range: Soprano
HIRED BOYS
Hired boys serving as chorus--there are two tenor boys and two baritone boys. Must be strong actors and singers.
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JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Lyrics: Tim Rice
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Dir Joe Calarco
ARK Stage: LORT C ($799/week min)
1st Reh: 4/17/17. Runs: 5/16 - 7/2/17 (Poss Extension to 7/9)
Seeking:
NOTE: Especially looking for racial diversity in all roles.
JESUS
20s - early 30s Male: Strong willed, a rock and roll wailer and, of course, a Superstar. Rock Tenor (low Bb to high E, optional high G)
MARY MAGDALENE
20s - early 30s Female: Jesus’ protector, caretaker and soother, quite nurturing and very grateful for His attention. Folk/R&B Mezzo/Alto (low G# to B, optional high A)
12 Members of The Ensemble Who Will Comprise The Following Roles:
JUDAS
Late 20s - early 30s Male: A tortured soul, angry, bitter, and wildly emotional. One of the twelve apostles of Jesus; concerned for the poor and the consequences of Jesus's fame. Rock Tenor (low D to high E)
PETER
Male: The head apostle and Jesus' right hand man. Loyal and loving and in awe of Jesus, yet conflicted by self-interest. Tenor/Baritone (A2–G4)
PONTIUS PILATE
40s-50s Male. Governor of Judea. Stern and puzzled at the same time. He plays his role but is reluctant to put Jesus to death himself. Tenor/Baritone (low A to Bb)
HEROD
Late 30s-50s Male: The King of Galilee. Herod is unimpressed yet quite impressive in his own way. Tenor/Baritone (low B to high B)
ANNAS
30s-50s Male: Fellow priest at the side of Caiaphas. Devious, covert, stern and slimy. Tenor (low F to C#)
CAIAPHUS
30s-50s. Male: High priest who sees Jesus as a threat to the nation. Covert and stern and very political. Bass (very low C to middle F)
SIMON ZEALOTES
Male: One of Jesus's twelve apostles; urges Jesus to lead his followers into battle against the Romans. Alto/Tenor (G3–B4)
All will double as Lepers, Cured Lepers, Merchants, Apostles, Soldiers, Judas's Tormentors, Reporters, Temple Ladies, and Soul Girls.
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