MERRY-GO-ROUND PLAYHOUSE 2011 SEASON Equity Performer Audition - Merry-Go-Round Playhouse Auditions

Merry-Go-Round Playhouse 2011 Season

– Equity Performer Auditions by APPOINTMENT in Auburn, NY

Auburn NY LOA (approval/salary level pending; 2010 minimum: $547/week).

Producing Dir: Ed Sayles

Equity Performer Auditions (Principal / Chorus) by APPOINTMENT:

Saturday, January 29, 2011 Merry-Go-Round Playhouse

Sunday, January 30, 2011 Located in Emerson Park, Rte. 38A

10 AM - 6 PM both days. Auburn, NY 13021

Lunch from 1 – 2. Parking lot adjacent to Playhouse.

For an appointment, please call Beth Hulik at 315/255-1305. Equity Members without appointments will be seen throughout each audition day, as time permits.

Please prepare a brief song which shows full vocal range, or two 16-bar selections. Bring sheet music; accompanist provided. If auditioning for non-singing roles, prepare a brief monologue. Those who wish to dance should bring dance clothes, jazz, tap and ballet shoes (your dance audition will take place in another room following your singing/acting audition).

Please bring a picture & current resume, stapled back-to-back.

2011 Season (all dates are in 2011). All roles / chorus positions available:

ANYTHING GOES Score: Cole Porter. Book: Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Dir: Ed Sayles. Mus Dir: Corinne Aquilina. Choreo: Lori Leshner. Contract dates: 5/19-6/22.

Billy Crocker:

Late 20s. Handsome, charming ne’er-do-well. Disorganized assistant to business tycoon Elisha Whitney. In love with Hope. Seeking comic leading man, strong dancer. Range: B3 - G5.

Reno Sweeney:

Early 40s. Sexy, charismatic nightclub singer and supposed former evangelist. Infatuated with Billy. Seeking great comic actress with a huge presence and a voice that can bring down the house. G4 - Eb5 (G below middle C to Eb a 10th higher).

Hope Harcourt:

Mid 20s. Beautiful debutante. Engaged to Oakleigh, but secretly in love with Billy. Strong dancer. Range: A4 - Eb 5.

Emma:

Late 20s. Moonface’s sexy girlfriend. Very streetwise and flirtatious. Great figure. Performer must be a great comedian and strong dancer. Range: Below middle C – C# (octave higher).

Moonface Martin:

Late 30s - early 50s. Gruff but lovable gangster, wanted by the police. Right out of “Guys and Dolls”; classic tough guy with a heart of gold. Range: Bb 4 - Gb 5.

Elisha Whitney:

Late 50s, early 60s. Extremely nearsighted business tycoon. Very Ivy League. Spends most of the show quite tipsy. Range: C4 middle C - D5.

Evelyn Oakleigh:

Late 20s, early 30s. Hope’s aristocratic English fiancé. Fascinated by all things American. Handsome, charming but very upper class. Performer must be a strong ballroom dancer with good partnering skills. Range: Middle C - G5.

Mrs. Wadsworth T. Harcourt:

Late 50s-60s. Terribly sophisticated, with great aristocratic look and manners to match. Purports to be a rich widow, but is actually broke. Her goal is to see her daughter marry well. Non-singing.

Luke and John:

Asian men, 20s. Mischievous con-men who happen to be exceptional card-sharps. Performers must be great comedians. Non-singing.

Ensemble.

HAIRSPRAY Music: Marc Shaiman. Lyrics: Scott Wittman and M. Shaiman. Book: Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan Dir/Choreo: Kate Swan. Mus Dir: Mark Goodman. Contract dates: 6/16-7/20.

Note: For all high-school characters (and Little Inez), seeking actors 18+ to play these ages believably.

Tracy Turnblad:

Caucasian high-school girl. Heavyset. Outgoing, unstoppable, good-hearted with a vibrant, lovable, spirited personality. Loves to dance. Strong pop belt (high: E, low: G). Strong dancer.

Edna Turnblad:

Caucasian woman, 40s-50s. PLAYED BY A MAN. Tracy's mother. Working-class, devoted, loving housewife with dreams of her own. Sincere, not campy. Seeking funny, large character actor who can convincingly play a woman. Singing ability needed (high: F, low: B; if bass, high: C, low: G or F#).

Wilbur Turnblad:

Caucasian man, 40s-50s. Tracy's father. Working-class inventor. Sweet, goofy, childlike. Adores his family. Seeking thin, funny character actor. Good character singer. Should be able to emulate Sinatra or Bobby Darrin style. Low: B, high: F#, falsetto to A.

Link Larkin:

Caucasian high-school boy. Handsome, sexy, clean-cut, good-hearted, down-to-earth. Heartthrob of the local TV teen dance show. Amber's boyfriend at first, he soon falls for Tracy. Strong pop singer (high: A, low: C). Great mover.

Seaweed J. Stubbs:

African American high-school boy. Cool, sexy, street-smart, good-hearted. Son of Motormouth Maybelle. Becomes Penny’s boyfriend. His dance lessons help Tracy get chosen for the local TV teen dance show. Strong, soulful pop tenor (high: Bb or B, low: D). Great mover.

Penny Pingleton:

Caucasian high-school girl. Tracy’s ditzy, neurotic, devoted best friend. Very funny. Strong pop belter (high: G, low: A). Strong mover.

Amber von Tussle:

Caucasian high-school girl. Ice princess of the local TV teen dance show. Attractive snob. Funny. Strong pop belt singer (high: E, low: A). Great mover.

Corny Collins:

Caucasian man, 30s. Host of the local TV teen dance show. Handsome, charming, engaging, smooth, outspoken. Strong pop singer (high: A, low: D).

Motormouth Maybelle:

African American woman, 40s-50s. Seaweed and Little Inez’s mother. Queen of Baltimore Soul; radio DJ. Powerful and inspiring, with an infectious, brassy personality. Large physique. Strong, soulful gospel/pop singer. High: D(should be able to riff to E), low: F (E).

Velma von Tussle:

Caucasian woman, 40s-50s. Former beauty queen. Amber’s mother. Producer of the local TV teen dance show. Upscale, attractive prejudiced snob. Always wants her daughter in the spotlight. Funny, biting, manipulative. Good high belter (high: E, low: Ab).

Little Inez:

African American girl, early teens. Petite. Spunky, tough, streetwise, outgoing, older than her years. Seaweed's lovable little sister. Strong Broadway/pop singer (high: F, low: A). Strong mover.

Male Authority Figure:

One actor plays various Caucasian characters, 40s-50s. Characters include a nervous businessman, a condescending high school principal, a flamboyant fashion boutique owner, a cop and a corrupt prison guard. Actor may understudy Edna and Wilbur. Must be a sharp, funny, inventive character actor with good singing voice.

Female Authority Figure:

One actress plays various Caucasian characters, 40s-50s. Characters include Prudy Pingleton, Penny's uptight and small-minded mother; a sadistic high school gym teacher; a cop and a sardonic prison matron. Understudies Velma. Must be a sharp, funny, inventive character actress with strong singing voice.

The Dynamites:

Three African American women. Sexy singer/dancers, inspired by the Supremes. Should have glorious pop/gospel singing voices. Should move well. They are featured in the showstopper"Welcome to the '60s". Sopranos need solid high D. Must be extremely skillful at harmony singing.

Ensemble.

42nd Street Music: Harry Warren. Lyrics: Al Dubin. Book: Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble.

Dir/Choreo: Brett Smock. Mus Dir: Corinne Aquilina. Contract dates: 7/14-8/17.

Dorothy Brock:

40s-50s. Established Broadway star, no longer in her prime. Requires an excellent actress/singer; comedic diva with power and stature. Must move well. Low alto, strong belt (low Eb below middle C to 3rd line B).

Peggy Sawyer:

20s. Pretty. Hopeful, naïve small-town girl. Performer must be a knock-out tapper. True star quality. Excellent “triple threat”. Mezzo w/strong belt (F# below middle C to 4th space E).

Ann Reilly (Anytime Annie):

Late 20s-30s. Wisecracker; tough exterior with a heart of gold. Comedic chorine. Excellent “triple threat”. Great feet. Mezzo with strong high belt (Ab below middle C to 5th line F).

Maggie Jones:

40s. Co-author of “Pretty Lady”. Seeking comedic actress/singer who moves well. Huge presence. All sizes/types. Alto with big belt (Ab below middle C to 3rd line Bb).

Julian Marsh:

40s-50s. Broadway show director. Suave, elegant, strong leading man-type. Requires excellent actor/singer. High baritone (3rd line D to high G).

Billy Lawlor:

25-35. Young leading man, handsome. Juvenile lead of “Pretty Lady”. Requires excellent “triple threat”. Star presence. Must tap extremely well. Strong tenor (2nd space C# to high A).

Abner Dillon:

40s-60s, character man-type. Redneck sugar daddy; bankrolling the show. Seeking comedic actor who sings (no solos).

Andy Lee:

25+. Dance director/captain. Great tapper. Baritone (3rd line D to F above middle C).

Bert Barry:

40s-50s. Author of “Pretty Lady”. Nebbish; lovable character man-type. Must move well. Baritone (2nd space C to F above middle C).

Pat Denning:

40s. Strong actor, handsome. Dorothy’s former Vaudeville partner.

Ensemble.

Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? Music/Lyrics: James Quinn and Alaric Jans. Book: John R. Powers. Dir: Ed Sayles. Mus Dir: Mark Goodman. Choreo: Lori Leshner. Contract dates: 8/11-9/10.

Eddie Ryan:

Male lead, should read early 20s. Clean-cut, boyish good looks. Seeking great comic actor who can handle serious moments. Goes from 1st day of school to young manhood. Strong baritone (low Bb -high G); strong harmony.

Becky Bakowski:

Female lead, should read early 20s. Goes from pudgy grade school girl to sexy young lady. Seeking great comic actor who can handle serious moments. Soprano to Ab; belt to C, belt/mix to E.

Father O'Reilly:

40s, 50s. Strictly old-school Catholic priest, but not mean. Sings character baritone (low Bb - high F).

Sister Lee:

40s-50s. Strict but loving teacher. Cares deeply for her students. Humorous, warm and tough. Character belt (A – A); head voice to D.

Virginia Lear:

Should read early 20s. One of the gang. Kind of a tomboy. Very self-confident. Athletic, good mover. Very strong high belter to E. Low: G.

Nancy Ralansky, Mary Kenny, Felix Lindor, Mike Depki, Louie Schlang:

Should read early 20s. With Eddie, Becky and Virginia, this is the gang we follow from kindergarten to high school graduation. Seeking all types and sizes to get a real “Our Gang” feel. Strong singer/movers.

THE Marvelous Wonderettes by Roger Bean. Score by various authors. Dir/Choreo: Tricia Tanguy. Mus Dir: Mark Goodman. Contract dates: 9/1-10/1.

All characters should “read” early 20s. Extremely skilled in close harmony; able to easily emulate the style of girl groups of the 1950s-70s.

Cindy Lou:

Knows she is the prettiest at Springfield High, knows she will be named prom queen and acts out against best friend Betty Jean when things don't go her way. Makes the biggest change between Act 1 and Act 2 (which takes place during the 10-year class reunion). Has learned the lessons of true love and loss. Mezzo soprano belt; belt/mix to E; low: F. Sings lead on most songs. Among her songs: “Allegheny Moon”, “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Maybe”.

Missy:

Overachiever/smartest of the group. Very controlled. Officer in most of the school's clubs, in charge of the prom decorations and the organizer of the reunion. Best friend: Suzy. Soprano, wide range, floats very high vocals and belts throughout the show. Among her songs: “Secret Love”, “You Don't Own Me” and “Wedding Bell Blues”. All colors from full belt (to D) to belt/mix (to high F) to legit soprano (to high B). Low: F.

Betty Jean:

Slightly put-upon class clown; tomboy. Always vying for attention with her best friend Cindy Lou. Loves high-school crush Johnny with all her soul, but Cindy Lou steals him away. Betty Jean holds this grudge against Cindy Lou until they make up at the 10-year reunion. Alto w/strong low range. Among her songs: “Lipstick on Your Collar”, “I Only Want To Be With You” and “It's My Party”. All colors from full belt, belt/mix to legit soprano E (low: F).

Suzy:

Best friends with Missy. The happy-go-lucky one, always smiling and giggling; nothing ever seems to bother her. Completely surprised when named prom queen. Angry, crying and confused in Act 2. Mezzo/alto, both simple and soul voice. Among her songs: “Stupid Cupid,” “Hold Me, Thrill Me” and “Rescue Me”. All colors from full belt, belt/mix to legit soprano E (low: F).

Theatre’s statement: “The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse encourages the practice of non-traditional casting to expand opportunities for women, senior performers, actors of color and performers with disabilities.”

NYC EPA and ECCs TBA.