Wheaton Drama, Inc. (WDI) announces auditions for its 2016-2017 season closer, “The Producers” – unquestionably one of the funniest and most popular musical comedies of all time. Adapted from the Academy Award winning screenplay by Mel Brooks, the original production of “The Producers” opened at the St. James Theatre on April 19, 2001, and ran for 2,502 performances, closing on April 22, 2007 and winning twelve Tony Awards (including Best Musical) – more than any other show in Broadway history. The cast album won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
“Everybody who sees ‘The Producers’ is going to be hard-pressed to choose one favorite bit from the sublimely ridiculous spectacle... ‘The Producers’ is as full of gags, gadgets and gimmicks as an old vaudevillian's trunk. But the show, which has a book by Mr. Brooks and Thomas Meehan with songs by Mr. Brooks (you heard me), is much more than the sum of its gorgeously silly parts. It is, to put it simply, the real thing.”
– New York Times
“Extraordinary tickling power... it is irresistible.”
– LA Times
“Entirely irresistible and irrepressible confection.”
– The Stage (UK)
Craig Gustafson is directing. Music Director: Joni Kotche. Choreographer: Katy Smith. Production Managers: Elyse Wadzinski and Leah Rae Witt.
For a synopsis of the show, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Producers_(musical)
To hear samples of the music, go here: http://www.mtishows.com/the-producers
In order to best utilize the time of actors auditioning for “The Producers,” auditions are by appointment only at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton.
THIS SHOW IS RATED R and will not be diluted in any way. Actors must be completely comfortable with content that is bawdy, politically incorrect, deliberately offensive and bawdy. Did we mention “bawdy”? You need to be 18 or older to audition.
The process is as follows:
To schedule an appointment, please email ProducersWDI@comcast.net. State your name and which day you would like to audition. Attaching a headshot and resume is acceptable but not required. Details on what you need to sing and read will be given to you when your appointment is scheduled.
1. Actors will be scheduled for March 26 or 27. If all slots fill up on those dates, other dates will be added.
2. Actors will be assigned a call time, either 7:00, 8:00 or 9:00 p.m.
3. Actors will be assigned to a group and will spend 20 minutes in the singing audition, 20 minutes in the dance audition and 20 minutes in the reading audition. Everyone who attends will get to read.
4. Walk-ins will be seen only if there are any cancellations or open slots, so making an appointment is strongly encouraged.
5. Those cast or called back will be called by noon on Wednesday, March 29. Actors who are not cast or called back will be contacted by e-mail. Callbacks will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29.
Performances of “The Producers” are May 26 through June 18, 2017. Shows are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.
“The Producers” is presented by special arrangement with Musical Theatre International.
For tickets and information, please visit http://www.wheatondrama.org.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
(Character ages listed are guidelines only. If you’re not that age, but you want a part, convince us.)
MAX BIALYSTOCK
The consummate con man. Naturally animated and bombastic, he is never at a loss for charm and deviousness.
Gender: Male
Age: 35 to 55
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: A2
LEO BLOOM
An accountant. Lovably boring and mousy, he is a hesitant optimist who longs for something more.
Gender: Male
Age: 25 to 45
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: A2
FRANZ LIEBKIND
Unrepentant Nazi/sensitive playwright. German accent required.
Gender: Male
Age: 30 to 55
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: F2
ROGER DEBRIS
New York's most flamboyant stage director. Doesn’t stand out in a crowd – he IS the crowd.
Gender: Male
Age: 35 to 60
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: G#2
CARMEN GHIA
Roger Debris' common-law assistant. Prissy, caustic and slavishly devoted. He may appear younger than he actually is thanks to skilled surgeons.
Gender: Male
Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: C3
ULLA INGA HANSEN BENSON YONSEN TALLEN-HALLEN SVADEN-SVANSON
A young and hopeful actress. A sex bomb, which frequently explodes. Swedish accent required.
Gender: Female
Age: 18 to 35
Vocal range top: G5 NOTE: MUST HAVE A STRONG BELT.
Vocal range bottom: A3
ENSEMBLE
Accountants; Bavarian Peasants; Convicts; First Nighters; Little Old Ladies; Storm Troopers; Chorus Girls; Girl Prisoners; Usherettes
Videos
