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Breakdown
FULL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare a brief song in style in one of the songs listed below:
BIG RIVER –Bluegrass, Country/Western music as well as Country/Western influenced musical theatre songs that show range.
THE NEW YORKERS –Cole Porter. Gershwin. Rogers and Hart. Sassy music in the style of the period.
THE GOLDEN APPLE –Legit vocal material from Jerome Kern to Gian Carlo Menotti. Also Rogers and Hammerstein. Adam Guettel. Marc Blitzstein. Harold Arlen. Sigmund Romberg.
2016-17 SEASON
Show #1
BIG RIVER The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Music/Lyrics: Roger Miller
Book: William Hauptman
Adapted from novel by Mark Twain
Dir: Lear Debessonet
Choreo: Josh Rhodes
Mus.Dir.: Rob Berman
1st reh: 1/24/17. Open: 2/8. Close: 2/12
MEN
HUCKLEBERRY FINN
Mid-teens. SEEKING ACTOR 18 OR OLDER TO CONVINCINGLY PLAY MID-TEENS. Must be actor with wit, cunning, spunk, and an undeniable charm. The protagonist and narrator of the play. Huck is the son of the local drunk of St. Petersburg, Missouri, a town on the Mississippi River. Is frequently forced to survive on his own wits. Though still a boy and easily influenced by others, is thoughtful and intelligent. Throughout his adventures, struggles to come to terms with what is “right” and “wrong”, particularly on the subject of race. His experiences, adventures, friendship with and loyalty to Jim ultimately allow him to come to his own conclusions about important matters, even if these conclusions contradict society’s norms of the period. BARI/TENOR
JIM
Late 20s-Mid 30s, no older. African-American. Must be actor with integrity, stature, and gravitas. Runaway slave. Huck’s companion as he travels down the river. A man of remarkable intelligence and compassion. Shelters Huck from some of the worst horrors that they encounter, including the sight of Pap’s corpse, and, for a time, the news of his father’s passing. Like Huck, Jim is realistic about his situation and must find ways of accomplishing his goals without incurring the wrath of those who could turn him in. In this position, he is seldom able to act boldly or speak his mind. Nonetheless, despite these restrictions and constant fear, Jim consistently acts as a noble human being and a loyal friend. BARITONE.
THE DUKE
Late 30s–Late 40s. One of a pair of con men whom Huck and Jim rescue as they are run out of a river town. Incredibly theatrical, claims to be a famous Shakespearian actor as well as the usurped Duke of Bridgewater. Outlandish, with a grand stylish theatrical demeanor. He and his fellow con man, The King are only interested in swindling money out of anyone they meet. This actor must have experience with Shakespeare. Must have a bravura comic performance style, with burlesque and vaudeville comedy experience. He is a ham that loves to hear the sound of his own voice. TENOR.
THE KING
Mid-to-Late 40s. One of a pair of con men whom Huck and Jim rescue as they are run out of a river town. Claims to be son of King Louis XVI and heir to the French throne. A bit of a fool. Allows himself to be manipulated by the Duke. This actor must have experience in a bravura comic performance style, with burlesque and vaudeville comedy experience. BARITONE.
TOM SAWYER
Mid-teens. SEEKING ACTOR 18 OR OLDER TO CONVINCINGLY PLAY MID-TEENS. Huck’s best friend. Appealing in his zest for adventure. His fanciful notions come from reading romance and adventure novels. Although Tom’s escapades are often funny, they also show just how disturbingly and unthinkingly cruel society can be. Knows all along that Miss Watson has died and that Jim is now a free man, yet is willing to allow Jim to remain a captive while he entertains himself with fantastic escape plans. Wily and winning with a twinkle in his eye. TENOR.
PAP FINN/SHERRIFF BELL
Mid-to-late 30s. One actor to play following 2 roles:
* PAP: Huck’s father, the town drunk and ne’er-do-well. A wreck when he appears to take Huck back from the Widow Douglas. Disapproves of Huck’s education and beats him frequently. Disgusting, threatening, can be violent, but can be charming when he wants something. BARITONE.
* SHERRIFF BELL: Small town Sherriff who exposes The Duke and The King in their attempted con to steal Mary Jane’s inheritance. Actor should be physically imposing, this role was originally played by John Goodman as a young man. BARITONE.
JUDGE THATCHER/HARVEY WILKES/SILAS PHELPS
Late 30s to Mid 40s. Character Man. One actor to play following 3 roles:
* JUDGE THATCHER: When Pap returns to reclaim Huck as his son for his money, Judge Thatcher, against his will, legally turns Huck back to his father. Upstanding country judge and Huck’s Trustee. BARI/TENOR.
* HARVEY WILKES: Mary Jane’s real English uncle, who appears just as The Duke and The King are about to successfully con the Wilkes family into believing the King is Harvey Wilkes. BARI/TENOR.
* SILAS PHELPS: Tom's uncle. Silas buys Jim’s slavery from The Duke. Huck, trying to rescue Jim is mistaken for Tom by the Phelps family. A plodding old man, both farmer and preacher. BARI/TENOR.
MARK TWAIN/DOCTOR
Early-to-Mid 60s. One actor to play following 2 roles:
* MARK TWAIN: A nonspeaking role in the prologue, he observes his own creations as the story unfolds. BARITONE.
* DOCTOR: An understanding local doctor who together with Jim saves Tom Sawyer from an accidental bullet wound. BARITONE.
BEN/A YOUNG FOOL/HANK
Late teens–early 20s. One actor to play following three roles:
* BEN: One of Tom Sawyer’s gang. TENOR.
* THE YOUNG FOOL: Young simple oddball who informs Huck, The Duke, and The King about the death of Peter Wilkes, and that the Wilkes family is waiting for his English brother to claim the inheritance, prompting the Duke and King’s next con. Has solo song 'Arkansas.' TENOR.
* HANK: One of the 'onrey –looking bunch of loafers' in Bricktown, Arkansas. TENOR.
WOMEN
MARY JANE WILKES
Late teens–early 20s. Beautiful, young, innocent charming country girl. When Huck sees she is being robbed of her rightful inheritance by The Duke and the King, he steals back her money as she mourns her father's coffin. Her encounter with Huck sparks a womanly awakening, an appreciation of being cared for, and the first blush of romantic feelings for the opposite sex. SOPRANO.
WIDOW DOUGLAS/SALLY PHELPS
Mid 40s–Mid 50s. One actress to play following 2 roles:
* WIDOW DOUGLAS: the kind lady who has taken Huck in. While on surface she rules with an iron switch, deep down she truly loves Huck. Tries her best to civilize Huck, believing it is her Christian duty. MEZZO.
* SALLY PHELPS: Tom's aunt. Huck, trying to rescue Jim, is at first mistaken for Tom by the Phelps family. High-strung but loving lady. MEZZO.
MISS WATSON/STRANGE WOMAN
Mid 40s–Mid 50s. Character Woman. One actress to play following 2 roles:
* MISS WATSON: Widow Douglas’s sister and Jim’s slave owner who lives with the widow and Huck. Tough old spinster; fairly hard on Huck, causing him to resent her a good deal. SOPRANO.
* STRANGE WOMAN: Woman Huck encounters in a shanty along the river who unknowingly tips Huck off that her husband is after Jim, inspiring them to run away. A craggly, crusty, pipesmoking eccentric. SOPRANO.
ALICE
Early 30s. African-American. The Wilkes family’s loyal servant, and mourns at the death of Peter Wilkes. MAJOR GOSPEL SINGER.
ALICE’S DAUGHTER
Mid-to late teens, no older. African-American. Teenage daughter of the Wilkes family’s loyal servant. MAJOR GOSPEL SINGER.
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Show #2
THE NEW YORKERS
Music & Lyrics: Cole Porter
Book: Herbert Fields
Based on story by E. Ray Goetz and Peter Arno
Concert Adaptation: Jack Viertel
Dir: John Rando
Choreo: TBA
Musical Dir: Rob Berman
1st reh: 3/7/17. Open: 3/22. Close: 3/26
NOTE: The musical premiered on Broadway in 1930. The musical satirizes New York types, from high society matrons to con men, bootleggers, thieves and prostitutes during Prohibition. The score includes such Porter standards such as “You Do Something to Me,” “Love for Sale,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Take Me Back to Manhattan,” and “I Happen to Like New York.”
MEN
JIMMIE DEEGAN
Mid 30s - 40s. The headliner at the Club Toro and a bootlegger on the side. This role was originated by Jimmy Durante and requires a remarkable world class, vaudeville, burlesque style comedian. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE STAR COMIC PART. Character voice.
AL SPANISH
Mid – Late 30s. A dark, swarthy, smooth talking, slick, tough, sexy gangster. He thinks nothing of shooting people at will, of course they always somehow come back to life. He is a perpetual womanizer, but is charmed and fascinated and ultimately falls in love with Alice. He is the owner of the Club Toro. Baritone
DR. WINDHAM WENTWORTH
Mid – Late 50s. A distinguished looking millionaire. He invented the drink “Hal-Ca-Dol,” the ultimate picker upper. He is an incorrigible womanizer. Character singer
CAPTAIN HILLARY TRASK
Mid – Late 20s. A terribly handsome proper but charming English captain. Currently on the arm of Gloria Wentworth. He ultimately succumbs to the charms of sexy showgirl, Lola. Tenor.
FEET MCGEEGAN
Mid 40s. While a gangster, he is more effete than the George Raft type. He is in no way effeminate, very much like Edward Evert Horton in the Astaire Rogers films. He is Al’s competition in the caviar black market business. He also turns up in various disguises whenever you least expect him to. Actor must be a true character comedian. Actor must be adept at rapid patter singing, ala Danny Kaye.
PHILLIP BOOSTER
Mid 30s. Alice’s current fiancé. He is overbred and a little chubby. A thoroughly doughy, boring, but loveable type. Tenor.
MONAHAN
Mid 30s. Jimmie Deegan’s bootlegging sidekick, he appears out of nowhere wherever Jimmie does. Must be excellent comic song and dance man.
GREGORY
Mid 30s. Jimmie Deegan’s bootlegging sidekick, he appears out of nowhere wherever Jimmie does. Must be excellent comic song and dance man.
WOMEN
ALICE WENTWORTH
Early – Mid 20s. An adorable but spoiled society young lady. The heiress to the Wentworth fortune. She is energetic and off-beat and has a sense of adventure and sense of humor. This character is very much like Carole Lombard in My Man Godfrey. Soprano with mix.
GLORIA WENTWORTH
Mid 50s. Alice’s eccentric mother. A true society matron. Constantly falling in love with younger men and having a wonderful time. She loves and embraces life in the most ridiculous and surprising ways. She is in no way a gorgon. Very much like an oversexed version of Billie Burke and an attractive Mary Boland. Actress must be a superb comedian. Alto.
LOLA MCGEE
Mid – Late 20s. A sexy, saucy, flirty, witty showgirl. She is the current mistress of Dr. Windham Wentworth. She ultimately falls in love with Gloria’s young handsome man of the moment. Belter, must be excellent tapper.
MONA LOW
Early – Mid 30s. The headliner at the Club Toro. Must have a sultry quality both in her demeanor and in her singing voice. She must be a superb vocal stylist. Falls in love with Alice’s boring but endearing fiancé. Alto.
MAY
Late 20s – Mid 30s. A sassy prison guard at Sing Sing. In love with the star comic, Jimmie Deegan. Has to have a real vaudeville, Eve Arden quality. Belter.
STREET SINGER
Female, Mid 30s – Early 40s. A prostitute with class. Must be superb vocal stylist, as she sings the famous Cole Porter song, “Love For Sale.” Mezzo.
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Show 3
THE GOLDEN APPLE
Music: Jerome Moross
Lyrics: John Latouche
Dir: TBA
Musical Dir: Rob Berman
Choreo: TBA
1st reh: 4/25/17. Open: 5/10. Close: 5/14
Theatre, where it opened on March 11, 1954.[1] The musical transferred to Broadway on April 20, 1954, at the Alvin Theater where it played for only 125 performances despite rave reviews.
Homer's mythical tale of Penelope and Ulysses is relocated to the small town of Angel's Roost in Washington State between 1900 and 1910, during the years of the Spanish-American War. The show satirizes cultural attitudes and icons of the time and place, and is entirely sung and danced through.
THE GOLDEN APPLE IS ENTIRELY SUNG THROUGH, THERE IS NO DIALOGUE.
THE STYLE OF SINGING FOR ALL CHARACTERS IS VERY LEGIT UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
MEN
ULYSSES
Mid – Late 20s. The handsome hero of our story, a solider returning from the Spanish-American war, to his loving wife Penelope. Ulysses and the men of Angel’s Roost follow Helen to Rhododendron to bring her back and restore her honor. However, once there, Ulysses and the men succumb to the sexual temptations and pleasures of the big city. Through his self-reflecting experiences, his lust for adventure, excitement, and sensation turns to ashes. He returns older and wiser, and vows to return to Penelope and a contented wedded life. Legit Baritone.
PARIS
Late 20s. An unbelievably sexy traveling salesman tempting the women of Angel’s Roost. He allows Helen to seduce him and takes her by balloon to Rhododendron. This is a sexual young man, not a boy. This is a major role. While non-speaking, he must be a world class dancer with impeccable ballet, jazz, and modern technique and a beautiful physique.
MENELAUS
Late 40s - Mid 50s. The crusty, old sheriff of Angel’s Roost. Helen married him because he is rich. In Rhododendron, he plays Mr. Scylla, a greedy, corrupt stockbroker in league with Mayor Hector of Rhododendron. A comic character actor capable of playing both a crusty old coot, and a vaudevillian style entertainer. Tenor.
HECTOR CHARYBDIS
Early – Mid 50s. Mayor Hector is the essence of the corrupt city of Rhododendron. A spry, dapper gentleman whose corruption is masked by a crocodile smile and an occasional crocodile tear. He is inevitably highhatted, spatted, morningcoated, and striped trousered. His keynote is cheery elegance and his bland tactics are winning and lethal. This role requires a truly comic, old fashioned, vaudeville song and dance man capable of putting across a song in the Al Jolson style. Baritone.
WOMEN
HELEN
Late 20s. The farmer’s daughter of easy virtue. While not a typical beauty, she has a sultry sex appeal with a curvy alluring figure. She’s oversexed and looking for adventure even though she is married to the old, crusty sheriff of Angel’s Roost, Menelaus. She seduces the handsome Paris and escapes her boring life with him in Rhododendron. She is capable of devouring men. This role requires an actress of both sexual allure and great comic skills. Sings “Lazy Afternoon.” Originally played by a young, sexy Kaye Ballard. Mezzo-Soprano.
PENELOPE
Mid – Late 20s. Our beautiful heroine. She is married to the handsome solider Ulysses. She wants an ideal loving marriage and the times to remain simple and is afraid of progress in the future. She remains loyal and loving to her husband, Ulysses, despite his adventures in the wicked city of Rhododendron. Legit Soprano.
LOVEY MARS
Mid 30s. The matchmaking busybody of Angel’s Roost. She is married to the local captain. She is cunning and manipulative. When the action moves to Rhododendron in the second act, this actress plays the sexy South Sea siren, a nightclub entertainer, tempting the corruptions of the men and the city. Is it very important that the actress be able to play a small town biddy and a sexy siren prostitute. Actress must have comic ability and be able to sing both in legit and musical theatre style. Contralto.
MRS. JUNIPER
Mid – Late 30s. Another one of the town’s prominent busybodies. She is the mayor’s very proper and judgmental wife. In Rhododendron, she becomes Madame Calypso, a rich and enticing sly, cunning social climber, tempting the corruptions of the men and the city. Actress must have comic ability and be able to sing in both legit and musical theatre style. Mezzo-Soprano.
MISS MINEVRA OLIVER
Mid - Late 30s. The local spinster schoolmarm. In Rhododendron, she plays a mad intense scientist who shoots men into space but can’t get them back to illustrate the evil of the future. Soprano.
MOTHER HARE
Mid 30s – Early 40s. The local mountain dwelling mystic who the townspeople consult for predictions of the future, but who they consider too strange to include in the social life of Angel’s Roost. She looks eccentric and wild. In Rhododendron, she plays Circe, the goddess of magic, who arrives to offer Ulysses complete power at the price of human feeling. A character woman. Contralto.
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