Audition Notice: CHESS: A Musical (UK Stage Version)
Music by Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Based on an idea by Tim Rice
Presented through special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.
Director: Rick Steinberg
Producer: Priscilla Losey
Music Directors: Jim Holmes & Shelley Saxer
Choreographer: Miriam Durrie-Kirsch
Audition Dates & Times:
Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday; September 10th through 12th, 2017 at 7:30 PM.
Audition Location:
Conejo Players Theatre
351 South Moorpark Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91361-1008
Performance Dates:
November 17 - December 17, 2017
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday at 8:00pm
Sunday at 2:00pm (**No performance Thanksgiving Day 11/23**)
Rehearsal Schedule:
Starting 9/18, Monday through Wednesday evenings -- until current Mainstage production closes on 9/30 … at which point, rehearsals will be Monday through Friday evenings. There will be some Saturday and Sunday rehearsals -- but not both in the same week.
Audition Requirements:
An accompanist will be provided; bring sheet music or CD (no vocals) in your key**. Please wear/bring dance attire -- note: there is NO tap. Sides will be provided. Open call audition; no appointment necessary. No roles have been precast. Non-Equity; no pay.
**In addition to the song you prepare, everyone who auditions will be taught sixteen bars from a song in the show called “The Story of Chess”. The sheet music and track can be downloaded by clicking the butto below (audition section begins at 1:27). This song is in three quarter time. Please pick whichever part you prefer to sing.
Visit the website for audition material http://conejoplayers.org/audition-notice-chess
Plot Summary:
In this energetic rock musical, the ancient game of chess becomes a metaphor for romantic rivalries, competitive gamesmanship, super-power politics, and international intrigue. The pawns in this drama form a love triangle: the loutish American chess star, the earnest Russian champion, and a Hungarian-American female assistant who arrives at the international chess match in Merano with the American but falls for the Russian. From Merano to Bangkok, the players, lovers, politicians, and spies gleefully manipulate … and are manipulated themselves.
For More Information:
Please contact Priscilla Losey, producer, at
pcillalosey@gmail.com
Character Breakdown:
Florence Vassy - Female, Lead, Age 25-40, Mezzo/Belt (to E). Frederick’s chess second; Hungarian-born, she’s worked hard to become the cosmopolitan woman she is today -- and sometimes tries too hard. Starts by focusing on the game (and Frederick), ends focusing on her heart (and Anatoly).
Anatoly Sergievsky - Male, Lead, Age 25-40, Baritone (to G#). Russian chess champion. Brilliant, unexpectedly charming, romantic, Married, but falls in love with Florence; must decide between duty to country and love.
Frederick Trumper - Male, Lead, Age 25-40, Rock Tenor (to C). American chess champion, arrogant, temperamental, prideful, a genius, dangerously obsessed … but somehow, we find ourselves attracted to him.
Alexander Molokov - Male, Supporting, Age: 40-65, Bass (down to F#). Anatoly’s second; KGB agent and head of Russian delegation, politically manipulative, intellectually formidable and fiercely patriotic. Russian accent helpful.
Svetlana - Female, Supporting, Age 20-40, Strong belt voice. Domestic, wholesome, still effortlessly elegant, loves her husband Anatoly but knows she can never combat his flaws and obsessions.
Arbiter - Male, Supporting, Age 30’s, Rock high baritone (to A). Judge/Referee of chess match; all business, cares only for the match and not for politics. Authoritative, with clockwork precision. Must move well.
Walter de Courcey - Male, Supporting, Age 40-60, Bass-baritone (down to G#). Marketing agent; seemingly respectable, of substance, trustworthy -- but secretly a CIA agent.
Ensemble – Dancers who sing and singers who dance. A vocal and dance ensemble of 12 or more will be chosen following the audition call. There is featured dancing in several scenes and the vocals will serve as a “pop” choir in many of the solo numbers, with equal members chosen for each voice part.
Ages are only a suggestion; acting/singing/dancing ability takes priority.
All ethnicities are welcomed and encouraged to audition.
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