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Breakdown
SEEKING:
Please note, this is NOT traditional casting for ‘The Fantasticks.’ The director is seeking a multi-racial cast, reflective of the America we live in today.
SYNOPSIS: ''The Fantasticks'' is a lyrical and romantic musical that tells an allegorical love story about a boy, a girl, two fathers and a wall. Director Seema Sueko will bring a contemporary framework to this enduring classic.
[EL GALLO, ‘THE NARRARTOR/BANDIT’] Male, Latino (may cast character as other ethnicity), 35 to 50, vibrant, full-bodied baritone, low A to high G (particularly strong in the lower range). Our guide through the musical. A rugged and masculine leading man. Mysterious and magnetic. El Gallo MUST HAVE TREMENDOUS CHARISAMA AND BE PHYSICALLY IN GOOD SHAPE. El Gallo is hired by Luisa and Matt’s fathers to fake Luisa’s abduction. Later, he agrees to take Luisa to see the wider world—but ultimately abandons her, teaching her ''without a hurt, the heart is hollow.'' Under his harsh exterior, he has surprising depths of compassion and honesty.
[LUISA, ‘THE GIRL’] Female, Asian American, Latina, African American or mixed race (may cast character as other ethnicity), 18+ to play 16, legit but youthful-sounding Soprano, can sing both very simply and with operatic flamboyance, high C, strong musicianship and acting required. This exuberant teenager is verging on womanhood. Luisa is an imaginative daydreamer and a romantic idealist. She is in love with her neighbor, Matt. When she falls under the influence of the roughish El Gallo, her naïve heart is prey to his machinations on her painful journey from sheltered girlhood to her wiser self. Please note, this role requires very strong acting and singing abilities, as the actor must be able to make the journey from naïve, to restless, to broken, to discovering a mature love. Must move well.
[MATT, ‘THE BOY’] Male, Native American, Caucasian, Asian American, African American, Latino or mixed race (willing to see other ethnicities), 19, sweet-voiced Baritone or Bari-Tenor, low A to high G, strong musicianship and acting required. Very handsome. An innocent young man searching for love and adventure.
Bright, but naïve and foolish at times. Matt MUST HAVE A BOYISH WONDER AND CHARM. Matt is in love with his long-time neighbor, Luisa, although the apparent feud between their fathers has kept them separate. When he finally wins Luisa’s love, Matt’s happiness soon cloys and he’s off to the wider world, where torturous adventures await. Upon his return, he finds that his love for Luisa is constant—but this time, it’s a durable and more mature love born of painful experience. Please note, this role requires very strong acting and singing abilities, as the actor must be able to make the journey from naïve, to restless, to broken, to discovering a wiser self. Must move well.
[BELLOMY, ‘THE GIRLS FATHER’] Male, African American, Arab American, or Asian American (may cast character as other ethnicity), 40’s-50’s, a ''Character'' Baritone, low A to high G. Luisa’s father. A button salesman. He is fastidious and tidy. Bellomy would do anything to make Luisa happy—including manufacturing a false feud with his best friend and neighbor, Hucklebee, to bring their children together. He even goes as far as hiring El Gallo to stage a phony abduction. Although the scheme initially meets with success, it ultimately backfires. Must have great comic timing.
[HUCKLEBEE, ‘THE BOYS FATHER’] Male, Caucasian, Arab American, or Asian American (may cast character as other ethnicity), 40’s-50’s, character baritone or bari-bass, stronger in low range, low A to high F. Matt’s father, learned horticulture in the navy. He is comical and a curmudgeon, also a bit sloppy and boisterous. Hucklebee has manufactured a false feud with his best friend and neighbor, Bellomy, to bring their children together. Despite this, he is actually a loving and concerned father who means well, but when he interferes with the organic process of romance—the results are disastrous. Must have great comic timing.
[HENRY, ‘THE OLD ACTOR’] Male, Any Ethnicity, 60+. Does not sing much, but must be able to sing in tune and hold harmonies Ideally a classically-trained actor. MUST HAVE TERRIFIC COMEDIC TIMING and a fierce darkness. MUST HAVE A STRONG STAGE PRESENCE. The stage is his world and he knows no other reality. Henry was once a famous actor, but is now an aging thespian that is down-on-his-luck and specializes in reciting Shakespearean soliloquies at the drop of a prop. Henry and his partner, Mortimer, are hired to assist with El Gallo’s staged abduction and he later takes Matt on a torturous tour of the outside world.
[MORTIMER, ‘THE MAN WHO DIES’] Male, Any Ethnicity, 45+. Does not sing much, but must be able to sing in tune and hold harmonies. MUST BE ADEPT WITH PHYSICAL COMEDY, IMPROV, MIMING AND HAVE TERRIFIC COMEDIC TIMING. Any types, ages, shapes and sizes for this role. A clownish and goofy character, who specializes in dying—comically elaborate death scenes. Mortimer and his partner, Henry, are hired by El Gallo to assist in the phony abduction of Luisa.
[THE MUTE] Female, African American, Asian American, Latina, Caucasian or mixed race (may cast character as other ethnicity), 20’s-40, a non-singing, non-speaking character that remains on stage for the entire show, moving props and aiding transitions. While this is a non-singing, non-speaking role, the director and music director prefer that the actor have a good sense of rhythm, as some basic percussion may be needed. Actor MUST BE PHYSICALLY STRONG and dance training is a huge plus. The Mute is a speechless presence who watches and helps tell the story with her body or fades into the background unnoticed, when needed. Please note, this role is more than a glorified props person. The Mute is an agile physical performer with adept mime skills and dance abilities.
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