MONSOON WEDDING OPEN Singers - Developmental Lab Auditions

Call Type
Non-Required Principal

Time(s)
Saturday, April 9, 2016
10:00AM - 12:00PM

Contract
Other
Developmental Lab Agrmt; $1000/week

Location
Cubberley Communitiy Center Auditorium
4000 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303

Seeking
See breakdown

Preparation
Please prepare a brief contemporary song of your own a cappella, ideally in the style of Indian Pop, Bollywood, or Classical.
Please also bring picture of yourself with contact information.

Other Dates
Lab Dates: 5/30-6/17

Other
If you are unable to attend our open call, please email your information to
mwcastingoffice@gmail.com

Personnel
Director: Mira Nair
Assoc. Director: Sarna Lapine
Book: Sabrina Dhawan
Music: Vishal Bhardwaj
Lyrics: Susan Birkenhead
Music Dir: Andy Einhorn
GM: Roy Gabay
Casting: Cindy Tolan/Adam Caldwell

· A monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of this audition.

Appointments
N/A. Open Call

Performers of all ethnic and racial background are encouraged to attend.

Always bring your Equity Membership Card to auditions.

Breakdown

PIMMI VERMA
Female, 40s. SOUTH ASIAN. Still sexy in her 40s, she is much more than just Lalit’s loving wife - she is his rock. She relishes in taking care of her children, especially her son Varun whom she dotes on and spoils. Exceedingly cheerful when not equally frazzled, she is constantly buzzing with energy. She is the kind of person who smokes in a toilet to hide her habit, even though everyone knows she does it. Vocal description: Strong mezzo with rich chest sound (up to E on staff) Mostly featured ensemble singing with a few solos.

ADITI VERMA
Female, mid 20’s. SOUTH ASIAN. Beautiful, fashionable Aditi is about to have an arranged marriage with a nice young man from New Jersey, after placing an advertisement in a matrimonial column in India. This is in rebound of a thankless affair she has been having with her boss Vikram, a married man and TV talk show host. She is ditsy but brave in her way, and longing escape to the anonymity of America, away from relatives and ex-boyfriends. Vocal description: Soprano but with very strong chest register (needs clear soprano up to Ab) Solo/duet and ensemble singing. An ingénue sound with rich timbre.

RIA VERMA
Female, 30. SOUTH ASIAN. A driven, independent, vibrant feminist, she is a social worker who wants to be a writer and has no interest in getting married and settling down. Full of beans and mischief, her quick wit is often jokingly directed at members of her family. Because she is 30 and unwed, she must suffer frequent comments from her aunties related to her spinsterhood. Underneath her cheerful and happy go lucky persona, she hides a wound from her past. After her father passed, she was adored and nurtured by Lalit and his family who regard her as a daughter. Vocal description: Mezzo soprano with strong chest voice – low is very important here (up to D though)- most forceful and guttural female singer in the show.

SAROJ RAI / ENSEMBLE
Female, mid/late 40s. SOUTH ASIAN.
SAROJ RAI: Mother of the groom and married to Mohan, she is a neurotic, snooty, polished lady who thinks that no one is good enough for her son. The product of an arranged marriage herself, she, like many Indian mothers-in-law to be considers herself entitled and privileged in accordance with her status as mother of the groom. She could be said to have a drinking problem…. Vocal description: Mezzos and sopranos needed. Strong ability to sing harmony as well as knowledge of Indian folk music and should be adept in improvisational Indian styles.

VEENA VERMA / ENSEMBLE
Female, 50s. SOUTH ASIAN. A shrewd, dignified and elegant widow, Veena is Ria’s mother, and Lalit’s sister-in-law. After the death of her husband, Veena and Ria have been absorbed into Lalit’s family. She is the epitome of the “disapproving aunty” who is always tut-tutting or pointing out flaws. This disapproval stems from a deep concern for the wellbeing of her daughter Aditi, who at 30 and is as yet unwed, and therefore unsettled in life, which to her, as the only surviving parent is terrifying. Vocal description: Mezzos and sopranos needed. Strong ability to sing harmony as well as knowledge of Indian folk music and should be adept in improvisational Indian styles.

VIJAYA / ENSEMBLE
Female, mid 50s. SOUTH ASIAN. Married to Tej, she is a strong, elegant, and dignified lady who is authoritative and has a commanding presence. She is extremely graceful and always finds a way to appear dignified in even the most challenging situation. Vocal description: Mezzos and sopranos needed. Strong ability to sing harmony as well as knowledge of Indian folk music and should be adept in improvisational Indian styles.

MA / ENSEMBLE
Female, late 70s. Approaching blindness, she is a child of the partition of India. She looks diminutive but is filled with strength, appears conservative but is more liberal than her son. Vocal description: Mezzos and sopranos needed. Strong ability to sing harmony as well as knowledge of Indian folk music and should be adept in improvisational Indian styles.

SHASHI CHAWLA
Female, Mid/late 40s. SOUTH ASIAN. Shashi is married to CL, and is a larger than life, buxom “aunty” devoted to bling and gossip. She knows how to enjoy every moment of life, has impeccable comic timing, and is full of excitement. She is the bride’s aunt. Vocal description: Mezzos and sopranos needed. Strong ability to sing harmony as well as knowledge of Indian folk music and should be adept in improvisational Indian styles.

ALIYA CHAWLA / ENSEMBLE
Female, to play 8-14 years old. SOUTH ASIAN. Curious, spirited and naïve she is the baby of the family, loved and protected by all, and sometimes teased as a child her age would be. Vocal description: Mezzos and sopranos needed. Need an actress who can carry a tune.

VIKRAM/ TAMEEZUDDIN / ENSEMBLE
Male, SOUTH ASIAN.
VIKRAM: Late 30’s. A supercilious talk show host, he is smart, sophisticated, impeccably dressed, and has a distinct Oxbridge accent which makes him a draw on television. He is married, having an affair with the bride-to-be Aditi, and thinks he is god's gift to women. TAMEEZUDDIN: Dubey’s helper. Coarse, loyal, and lazy. Vocal description: Baritones and tenors needed. Strong ability to sing harmony as well as knowledge of Indian folk music and should be adept in improvisational Indian styles.

HEMANT RAI
Male, late 20s/early 30s. SOUTH ASIAN. Sincere, polite, and endearing, Hemant – the groom - comes across as the ideal Indian bachelor with his job in America. A bit of a mama’s boy, for years he has been indoctrinated into believing that there exists an idealized perfect Indian girl that he should marry. Tired of online dates with skinny Americans, he is convinced that Aditi is the right girl to bring India home to him. Vocal description: Tenor – leading man – needs contemporary sound with classical fundamentals (up to A) Solo material as well as some ensemble.

VARUN VERMA
Male, to play 14-16. SOUTH ASIAN. A mama’s boy in the throes of adolescence and teenage angst. Mildly effeminate, and uninterested in sports, he prefers to spend his time singing, dancing, or watching Top Chef. Sensitive yet strong, he comes out of the closet to his family and faces a mixed reaction. Though he does not enjoy his father being tough on him, or constantly asking him to run errands, he does love him and his family a great deal. Vocal description: Tenor – childlike sound (up to high A) Mostly featured ensemble singing with some solo material.