Ford’s Theater 2011-12 Season Equity Performer Audition - Ford's Theatre Auditions

LORT

Ford’s Theater 2011-12 Season – Equity Performer Auditions

(Washington, DC) LORT A; $882/week minimum

DC Casting Director: Mark Ramont, Director of Theatre Programming

Equity Performer (Principal/Chorus) Auditions:

Monday, February 7, 2011 at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre

10 AM – 6 PM 641 D Street NW

Lunch from 1:30 – 2:30. Washington, DC 20004

No appointment necessary; AEA actors will be seen on a first come, first served basis.

Please prepare two contrasting songs from the classic American musical canon. Songs should show vocal and stylistic range. In addition, please prepare one two-minute monologue. Accompanist will be provided. Bring picture and resume, stapled together.

All roles will be understudied.

FORD’S THEATRE encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to audition.

PARADE

Score: Jason Robert Brown. Book: Alfred Uhry. Dir: Stephen Rayne. Mus Dir: Steve Landau. Choreo: Karma Camp. 1st reh: 8/16/11. Runs 9/23-10/30.

Theatre states that in this production, all performers will be on Chorus contracts except for those playing Leo and Lucille Frank. Theatre is seeking strong singer/actors who move well.

Leo Frank:

29-31. Jewish man from New York who has moved to Atlanta. Quiet, intense, intellectual. Requires a great actor and singer. Tenor.

Young Soldier / Frankie Epps / Guard:

20-30. Masculine Southern characters. Comic ability needed. Tenor.

Britt Craig / Mr. Peavy:

40ish Southern characters. Thick-set. Track for a character actor. Baritone.

Officer Ivey / Luther Rosser:

Late 40s Southern characters. Track for a character actor. Baritone/bass-baritone.

Lucille Frank:

29-31. Jewish Southern woman. Plain, modest and shy, but attractive. Role for a great actor and singer. Soprano.

Minnie McKnight / Angela:

African American roles, 25-35. Seeking character actress with authority and comic ability. Soprano.

Mrs. Phagan / Sally Slaton:

40ish. Southern characters. Slim. Track for a character actress. Mezzo Soprano

The following roles are cast. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible replacements, should any become necessary, and as understudies.

Hugh Dorsey:

CAST. 40s. Southern. Role for a character actor. Baritone.

Gov. John Slaton:

CAST. Late 40s/50. Southern. Slim, balding. Educated. High baritone/tenor.

Old Soldier / Judge Roan / Guard:

CAST. Late 50s - 60. Southern characters. Track for a distinguished character actor with some weight and authority. Baritone.

Newt Lee / Jim Conley / Riley:

CAST. African American characters, 30s. Track for a character actor with range. Baritone/tenor.

Officer Starnes / Tom Watson:

CAST. 35-40. Southern characters. Tough, masculine. Track for a character actor. Baritone/tenor.

Mary Phagan / Lila:

CAST. 13-16. Very young-looking. Poor, pretty, innocent. Soprano.

Iola Stover:

CAST. Late teens/20s. Southern. Factory girl. Slim. Role for a character actress. Soprano.

Monteen:

CAST. 16. Southern. Slim. Factory girl. Soprano.

Essie:

CAST. Teens – 20s. Role for a character actress. Soprano.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Adapted by Michael Wilson. Original direction by Michael Baron. 1st reh: 11/1/11. Runs 11/18-12/31.

Seeking:

Topper / Young Jacob Marley:

20s. Bumbling with words, pleasant attitude, boyish charm.

The following roles are cast with performers who have played them at the Theatre before. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible replacements, should any become necessary, and as understudies.

Ebenezer Scrooge:

CAST. 50s or older. Transformed from jaded, pessimistic banker to joyful and appreciative philanthropist.

Ghost of Christmas Past / Doll Vendor:

CAST. 30s or older. Illuminates the joys of Christmas to Scrooge.

Ghost of Christmas Present / Fruit Vendor:

CAST. 30s or older. Towering physical presence. Joyful spirit.

Ghost of Christmas Future / Clock Vendor:

CAST. 40s or older. Sturdy physical frame. As ghost, communicates non-verbally.

Jacob Marley:

CAST. 50s or older. Deceased business partner of Scrooge. Once bitter, he now cautions Scrooge against self-serving practices.

Bob Cratchit:

CAST. 30s. Cheerful and devoted employee of Scrooge. Optimistic and caring father.

Mrs. Cratchit:

CAST. 30s. Loving wife of Bob. Worried mother. Harbors ill will toward Scrooge.

Fred:

CAST. Late 20s. Scrooge’s young nephew. Genial and appreciative of the Christmas Spirit.

Mrs. Fred:

CAST. Late 20s. Strong-willed, but with a generous spirit.

Mrs. Fred’s Sister:

CAST. 20s. Lover of Topper/Dick Wilkins. Sassy and sexy.

Solicitor #1:

CAST. 30s or older. Jovial lawyer with a hearty laugh and quick smile.

Solicitor #2:

CAST. 30s or older. Generous lawyer, but a bit of a hothead.

Fezziwig:

CAST. 50s. Jovial merchant, former business affiliate of Scrooge. An energetic dancer.

Mrs. Fezziwig:

CAST. 50s. Spirited and joyful; a real firecracker.

Belle:

CAST. 20s. Ingénue, love interest of young Scrooge. Beautiful, with a heart of gold.

1776 Score: Sherman Edwards. Book: Peter Stone. Dir: Peter Flynn. Mus Dir: Jay Crowder. Choreo: Michael Bobbitt. 1st reh: 1/31/12. Runs 3/9/12 – 5/19/12

Seeking:

John Adams:

41. Electric, aggressive personality from Massachusetts, committed to his mission of independence, regardless of whether he’s liked. In fact, “obnoxious and disliked”. Passionate, relentless, egotistical and subtly vulnerable and sentimental. Baritone/tenor.

Ben Franklin:

70. The famous sage: humorous, patient, wise, flirtatious, able to see past personality to the true value of a person. Baritone.

Thomas Jefferson:

33. Soft-spoken, modest, intelligent Virginian. Sensual, and in love with his wife. Humanist to Adams’s idealist. Baritone.

Edward Rutledge:

26. Dashing Southern gentleman: suave and well-spoken, but with a hidden and fierce volatility. High baritone/tenor.

John Hancock:

39. President of the Continental Congress: a strong and gentle leader. Honest, diplomatic, able to hear both sides despite his own passionate belief in independence. Baritone.

James Wilson:

33. Slight, dim, somewhat of a sycophant. Doesn’t like to rock the boat; would rather go with the crowd. Baritone to tenor.

Richard Henry Lee:

44. Tall, exuberant firecracker of a man from Virginia: charismatic, relentlessly optimistic. Good-natured, if not somewhat dim, cheerleader. Baritone to tenor.

Stephen Hopkins:

69. Second-oldest member of Congress, and proud of it. Made of true, obstinate New England stock. Doesn’t suffer fools, and takes great delight in wit. Also loves his rum. Any vocal range.

Dr. Lyman Hall:

52. Quiet, thoughtful man of few words but great thinking. Pensive and powerful. Baritone to tenor.

Caesar Rodney:

47. Very small, feeble; suffering from facial cancer, which is quickly sapping his energy. Still admires great wit among peers. Baritone to tenor.

George Read:

42. Conservative delegate from Delaware. Weak-willed and afraid of upsetting England and its forces. Baritone to tenor.

Col. Thomas McKean:

42. Tall Scotsman, true army man. Proud of his heritage, and even prouder of being an American. Has no tolerance for weak-willed men (e.g. Read). Bass to tenor.

Lewis Morris:

50. Leftover aristocrat from New York. Never able to commit without consent from the lawmakers back home. Baritone to tenor.

Philip Livingston:

60. Jovial, affable businessman with a penchant for family and entertaining. Baritone to tenor.

Roger Sherman:

55. Very simple man of very few words: practical, modest if not shy. Baritone to tenor.

Joseph Hewes:

46. Very diplomatic, conservative, little backbone. Well-spoken when backed by others, but ultimately demurs to a more powerful man, like Rutledge. Baritone to tenor.

Samuel Chase:

35. Articulate gentleman with great loyalty to the crown. Coolly rejects independence with tolerant politeness. Baritone to tenor.

Josiah Bartlett:

46. Reasonable man of logic, but also instinct and insight to the human character. Friend to Adams. Baritone to tenor.

John Dickinson:

44. The coolest and most conservative, G-d fearing man in Congress. Composed; not given to bouts of temper and, therefore, it is even more surprising when he uses it. Tenacious in his belief that the colonies must stay linked to England. Baritone to tenor.

Rev. John Witherspoon:

53. Sweet, humble; thrust into the maelstrom of Congress. Enthusiastically for independence, and voices it sparingly but potently. Baritone to tenor.

Charles Thomas:

47, Congressional Secretary. Professional, no-nonsense; holds his job with great seriousness and serves the Congress well. Holds a fondness for Gen. Washington through his letters, and shows his vulnerability briefly in his compassion for the great leader. High baritone to tenor.

Andrew McNair:

Congressional Custodian. Laborer, put-upon by all the blowhards in Congress. Tirelessly serves the needs of the congressmen, knows everything about everyone and has an opinion about them, too. Baritone to tenor.

Courier:

Late teens or early 20s. Quiet, reticent man, enlisted in the Continental Army. When he expresses himself, he allows his fear, youth and exhaustion to come through. Tenor.

Martha Jefferson:

28. Beautiful bride of Thomas. Exceedingly charming and winning; a bit of a vixen and a flirt. It is clear to all why Thomas wants her near. Mezzo soprano.

Abigal Adams:

32. Wife of John. Incredibly smart, grounded, devoted. As understanding and supportive as John is temperamental and vulnerable. Her beauty is in her deep care and love for her husband. Soprano.

Stage managers and local performers unable to attend the open call may send their resumes to:

Casting

Ford’s Theatre

514 Tenth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20004

Electronic submissions may be sent to
auditions@fords.org.