Civic Theatre Holds Auditions for RAGTIME, 1/27

Civic Theatre of Allentown is seeking African American actors, singers, and dancers for its production of Ragtime: The Musical, and will hold auditions on Thursday, January 27th at 7:00 PM at Civic Theatre of Allentown, located at 527 N. 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104.  The auditions will take place in the rehearsal hall located above the theatre. 
 
People wishing to audition should prepare 16-32 bars of a song from Ragtime or a similar musical theatre genre that shows range and experience. An accompanist will be at the audition; actors are expected to provide sheet music. Please bring a headshot or picture of yourself, in which your face is clearly visible. Also, bring a list of your conflicts from audition date until the show's close (May 23rd).
 
Rehearsals for the production will begin in late February, with performances taking place on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from May 6th through the 23nd. Rehearsals are typically held from 7:00-10:30 PM Monday-Friday, and from 2:00-5:00 and 7:00-10:30 on Sunday. Performers can expect to be called for rehearsal a few times a week at first, with calls increasing as performance dates near. Please note that while a few conflicts with rehearsal can certainly be honored, performers are required to be at rehearsal when they are needed. Conflicts close to performance dates cannot be honored.
 
Ragtime, based on E.L. Doctorow's landmark book, is the story of three American families (upper-middle class Caucasians in New Rochelle, African Americans in Harlem, and Jewish immigrants new to New York) at the turn of the twentieth century. Brilliantly weaving actual historical events with fictional characters, the musical tells the characters' stories of struggle, independence, search for fulfillment and reliance on each other as the three families' lives become intertwined in ways that could not have been foreseen. Set to a sweeping, magnificent score (widely considered to be one of the crowning achievements of American musical theatre), Ahrens' and Flaherty's masterpiece is simultaneously moving, funny, and tragic, but ultimately leaves the audience filled with hope for the future of the country that we know is to come, and even more so for the world that is yet to be. Originally produced on Broadway in 1998, the musical won four Tony awards, including Best Book and Best Score.
 
Please note that the production does include some racially charged language, including the 'n-word.' It is important to understand, however, that like Mark Twain's use of the word in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, its inclusion serves two purposes: historical accuracy and the making of a point against such bigotry. Performers should be aware of this and need to be comfortable with the use of this language in a theatrical setting.  
 

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