Apollo Jazz Productions, LLC
CONTRACT
Development Agreement $1300 weekly minimum (Tier 3)
SEEKING
Equity actors for roles in the work session of ELLA (see breakdown).
INSTRUCTIONS
SEE PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS IN BREAKDOWN. To submit your tape, please fill out the following form: https://tinyurl.com/EllaEPAForm2022 . Please submit one link. Deadline: 6pm EDT, Tuesday, May 10th, 2022.
Deadline: Tue, May 10, 2022
PERSONNEL
Producers: Steven Scarduzio and John Hart
General Manager: Foresight Theatrical
Book by Anna Deavere Smith
Directed by Philip Wm. McKinley
Choreography by Ellenore Scott
Casting: Tara Rubin Casting
Casting Director: Tara Rubin, CSA (viewing auditions)
OTHER DATES
Monday, August 29th, 2022 – Saturday, September 25th, 2022
OTHER
Workshop location: New York, NY
ELLA is an American musical based on the life of Ella Fitzgerald.
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to submit.
BREAKDOWN
PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Slate with your name and the material you’ll be singing. Film your audition from your waist up in front of a clean background, with no backlighting and with as much limit of ambient noise as possible.
Please prepare a video performing a jazz standard or a song from the American Songbook or the song, “ALWAYS” at https://tinyurl.com/ELLA-SONG-AUD-MATERIAL .
SEEKING:
ELLA/GHOST - (Black, female identifying, 60's-70's, singer) Ella after her death at age 76. A ghost reviewing her life. Sings in the style of Miss Fitzgerald and has the ability to scat jazz composition. She is elegant, funny, and powerful.
ELLA - (Black, female identifying, 30s-40s, ages from 13 to 76, singer) Ella from a child to her death. Sings in the several styles of Miss Fitzgerald including swing, bebop, and jazz. Has strong jazz scatting skills. Miss Fitzgerald's emotional arc - is dramatic and comedic.
TEDDY - (Biracial, female identifying, age 10–12, singer) – A young girl who lives next door to and has befriended Miss Fitzgerald. Extremely smart and well educated, wise beyond her years. Although she is a child, she has the thinking process and the vocabulary of an adult without being precocious in an annoying way.
BUTCH - (Black, male identifying, age 14- 20, singer) Ella’s best friend in childhood and spirit guide to Ella/Ghost. Even though Butch is a teenager, he is a man-child who is street wise and lives on his survival instincts. Possesses (or capable of learning) circus skills such as juggling and/or acrobats. Ability to play instruments is a plus but not required.
FEMALE TRACK #1 – Dr. Adrienne Cesaire (Black, female identifying, 20s-30s, singer) Dr. Adrienne Cesaire has been sent by the Smithsonian to pack up Ella’s home for the institution. She has an impressive demeanor and worldliness. She is the archeologist of Ella’s life. May double as additional roles.
FEMALE TRACK #2 – Sudsy, Matron Morse, Sophia Loren (Female identifying/white, early 30s, singer/dancer) Several roles including Sudsy the neighbor who lived across the street from Miss Fitzgerald. Sudsy is the Mary Tyler Moore, Marlo Thomas, Jennifer Anniston of Ella’s Beverly Hills neighborhood. Sudsy is also the mother of Teddy and is a former Las Vegas showgirl. Also doubles as the Italian movie star Sophia Loren and Matron Morse, a tough no-nonsense, abusive matron at the NY Training School for Girls.
FEMALE TRACK #3 – Billie Holiday/Frances (Black, 30s, singer, dancer) Billie Holiday and others. Has an excellent singing voice and is able to sing in the style of Billie Holiday. Also Frances (Ella’s younger sister).
FEMALE TRACK #4 – Tempe, Maxine Sullivan/Georgie (30s – 40s, Black, female identifying) Excellent singing voice. Comic skills a plus. Tempe (Ella’s mother), jazz singer Maxine Sullivan, Georgie (Ella’s cousin and confidant). May double as additional roles.
FEMALE TRACK #5 – Marilyn Monroe (30s, white, female identifying, singer) Marilyn Monroe and others. An honest Miss Monroe and not a caricature.
MALE TRACK #1 – Norman Granz (white, late 40s -70, great shape, comic skills) Norman Granz, Ella’s long time manager who established Ella as a world renown artist. American jazz record producer and concert promoter. Granz was acknowledged as the most successful empresario in the history of jazz. An attractive physically fit older gentleman with a Hollywood persona that he wears proudly. Granz believed music had a part to play in breaking down segregation and used his concerts to promote integration and equal treatment and respect for his clients. May double as other characters in the story.
MALE TRACK #2 – Ray Brown Jr. (40’s Black male identifying) – Excellent singer. Ray Brown Jr., Ella Fitzgerald’s son as well as others. Has a formidable, dignified physical presence without being intimidating or overbearing. Ability to play an instrument a plus (but not required.)
MALE TRACK #3 – Heywood Henry/Charles Linton/Teddy McRae (20s-40s, Black/male identifying) Several characters including, but not limited to, Heywood Henry, Charles Linton (handsome star vocalist with Chick Webb band), Teddy McRae (saxophone player). A good-looking man with a charismatic persona. Ability to play bass or another instrument a plus (but not required.)
MALE TRACK #4 – VARIOUS CHARACTERS (Black/30s-40s, male identifying) Singer. Several characters. Ability to play drums or another instrument a plus (but not required.)
MALE TRACK #5 – Joe Da Silva/Ben Kornegay/Duke Ellington (Black-male identifying/singer/30s-40s) – Several characters including Joe Da Silva (Ella’s abusive stepfather), Ben Kornegay, a feral dandy who married Ella and took advantage of her and the famous bandleader Duke Ellington. Ability to play an instrument a plus (but not required.)
MALE TRACK #6 – Benny Goodman/Milt Gabler/Fritz Rau (white/ 30s-40s, male identifying) Singer. Several characters including Benny Goodman/band leader, Milt Gabler/record producer and Fritz Rau a German promoter. Facility with dialects a plus. Ability to play clarinet a plus (but not required.)
MALE TRACK #7 – Al Feldman/Pete Cavello/Thor Einar Larsen (white, male identifying, 30s-40s) Several characters including Al Feldman/music arranger, Pete Cavello/Ella’s manager and Thor Einar Larsen/Ella’s lover. Ability to play piano a plus (but not required.)
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to submit.
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