PORGY AND BESS Submission - American Repertory Theater Auditions

LORT

PORGY & BESS – Photo / Resume Request

Producer: American Repertory Theater (MA) in association with Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel (NYC)

LORT Experimental Theater Contract; $452/week minimum

Director: Diane Paulus

Choreographer: Ronald K. Brown

Music: George Gershwin

Lyrics: Ira Gershwin

Book: Dubose Heyward

Revised Book: Suzan-Lori Parks

Music Supervisor: Diedre Murray

General Manager:

Casting: Telsey + Company/Justin Huff

Workshop Dates: April 13th – 21st, 2011 in NYC

NYC auditions will be held in NYC on an upcoming date ASAP.

For consideration, email picture and resume IMMEDIATELY to:
porgyandbesscasting@gmail.com

Indicate in the subject line of the email: “NYC auditions – AEA self submit”

PLEASE NOTE: Full production planned for Summer/Fall, 2011 at the American Repertory Theater in Boston. Broadway production planned for Fall/Winter, 2011/2012.

ANOTHER NOTE ON THE PROJECT: This is a re-imagining of George Gershwin’s great American “folk opera” as a Broadway-style book musical for contemporary audiences and contemporary singers. While the approach will be fresh and immediate, the production will remain faithful to the spirit of the original and will again be set in the 1940s on “Catfish Row” an African-American tenement on the waterfront of Charleston, South Carolina.

SEEKING:

Porgy:

(30-50), African American. A crippled beggar and gambler who is virile and attractive. Good hearted and noble, he defends and takes in Bess when the other residents of Catfish Row shun her and he competes for her love against the violent Crown. Must be an exceptionally strong, emotive singer. Lyric baritone. (PRINCIPAL)

Sportin’ Life:

(30-45), African American. A strutting dope peddler. He is appealing, sexy and VERY dangerous. The face of temptation for Bess, he provides not only “happy dust” but the promise of a better, glamorous life in New York City. Comedic tenor/Tenor II. (PRINCIPAL).

Crown:

(30-40), African American. A violent stevedore. He kills Robbins in a drunken craps game and goes into hiding. While abusive, he has a great sexual energy and power over Bess, to whom he was originally married. He competes for her love against his foil, the kind-hearted but crippled Porgy. High Lyric Baritone. (PRINCIPAL)

Jake:

(30-50), African American. A strong, salt-of-the-earth fisherman and husband to Clara. Desperate for money for his family, he is forced to take his boat out during a violent storm. Jake will be part of the ensemble. Must be a strong singer. Lyric Baritone. (PRINCIPAL)

Peter:

(40-60), African American. Husband of Lily and a vendor (“The Honey Man”). He is arrested as a material witness in Robbins’ murder trial. Peter will be part of the ensemble. Must be a strong singer. Tenor 1. (PRINCIPAL).

Robbins:

(35-45), African American. Husband of Serena who is murdered by Crown during a craps game. Will double as ensemble. Tenor. (SUPPORTING)

Frazier:

(40-60), African American. A lawyer who farcically divorces Bess and Crown. Frazier will be part of the ensemble. Lyric Baritone/Tenor II. (SUPPORTING)

Undertaker:

(30-50), African American. Will double as ensemble. Lyric Baritone. (SUPPORTING)

Bess:

(30-45), African American. Crown’s girl who is left to defend herself when he flees town. She is shunned by the town but taken in by the cripple Porgy, with whom she falls in love. She is beautiful, soulful, and experienced. High Soprano (PRINCIPAL)

Serena:

(35-50), African American. Mature wife of the gambler Robbins. She mourns his death when he is killed by Crown during a craps game. Must be an exceptionally strong, emotive singer. Soprano. (PRINCIPAL)

Clara:

(25-35), African American. A young mother and wife to the fisherman Jake. She sings a lullaby to her child and fears for her husband who is adrift at sea during a storm. Must be a strong singer. Soprano. (PRINCIPAL)

Maria:

(40-60), African American. A cookshop owner and saucy matriarch of the community. Equally opinionated and motherly, she shuns Bess at first but then comforts her in her time of need. Must be a strong singer. Contralto. (PRINCIPAL)

Lily:

(45-50), African American. Wife of Peter and a vendor (“The Strawberry Woman”). Will double as ensemble. Must be a strong singer. Mezzo (PRINCIPAL)