TOTEM POLE PLAYHOUSE 2023 SEASON - CHAMBERSBURG, PA EPA
TOTEM POLE PLAYHOUSE
The Capitol Theater
159 South Main Street
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Tue, Mar 7, 2023
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (EST)
Break: 1:00 - 2:00pm
Members may audition on a first-come, first-served basis. Non-Equity actors may be seen if time allows.
LOA
$741 weekly minimum (LOA ref COST)
Equity actors for roles in Totem Pole Playhouse's 2023 Season (see breakdown).
Please prepare a brief cut of a song and/or a 2 minute monologue.
David Hemsley Caldwell - Artistic Director
Darren Server - Resident Musical Director
See production dates in breakdown.
OTHER
www.totempoleplayhouse.org
All actors must be vaccinated for COVID-19.
An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of audition.
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.
Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.
Equity encourages everyone participating in the auditions to wear a two-ply cloth face mask, surgical mask, singer’s mask or respirator (N95, KN95 or KF94). Single-ply face masks, gaiters and bandanas are not recommended. Singer’s masks can be found at www.broadwayreliefproject.com/singersmask.
Equity encourages members to prepare for their audition prior to arriving at the audition venue, to the extent that they can (e.g., get dressed, hair/make-up, etc.) to avoid crowding in bathrooms and dressing rooms.
Holding/Audition room information:
The audition room can accommodate no more than 150 individuals at a time.
The holding room can accommodate no more than 50 individuals at a time.
Director TBA
Musical Director - Darren Server
Rehearsal - 5/9/23
Opening - 5/26/23
Closing - 6/11/23
Seeking:
Angela: A Texas housewife in her mid-thirties. She has a great sense of humor and a fiercely independent streak. She identifies with “Roseanne,” an earth-mother comedienne.
Darlene: A young woman from the deep South in her late teens to early twenties. She is pretty, sweet, and simple. A young woman who grew up in a coal mining town in West Virginia and the Mississippi Delta. She plays simple guitar. She also clogs (the mountain version of “tap dancing”).
Sue Ellen: A Los Angeles career woman in her thirties. She is a “citified” country girl. Smart, very attractive, sexy and frustrated, she dances, roller skates, and twirls baton (if possible). She also clogs. A great dancer.
Director - TBA
Rehearsal - 5/30/23
Opening - 6/16/23
Closing - 7/2/23
Seeking:
Sherlock Holmes: Male, 30-40- Highly intelligent, confident, quick-witted, and obsessive. Lives to solve mysteries and discover the truth. Thinks very highly of his close friend Watson.
Doctor Watson: Male, 40-49 - Smart, grounded, and full of heart. Doctor Watson is full of wonder. He lives to have adventures and assist his close friend Holmes.
Track One: Male, 30-49 - Multiple roles, including Stapleton (seemingly geeky butterfly lover persona conceals the psychopath within), Barrymore (mournful caretaker of Baskerville Hall), Milker (scrappy Dickensian urchin boy) and Dr. Mortimer.
Track Two: Male, 20-35 - Multiple roles, including Sir Hugo Baskerville (brutal, cruel Cavalier), Wilson (exuberant, hearty head of messenger office), Sir Henry Baskerville (Texan relation to Baskervilles) and Inspector Lestrade (cocky police inspector).
Track Three: Female, 20-35 - Multiple roles, including Miss Stapleton (Stapleton’s initially secretive, scared “sister” who falls passionately in love with Sir Henry), Mrs. Barrymore, Mrs. Hudson.
Director - TBA
Rehearsal - 6/20/23
Opening - 7/7/23
Closing - 7/23/23
Seeking:
ANNIE, Mezzo-Soprano Belter, Female, 11 years old: A tough yet charming streetwise orphan. Annie is independent, hopeful, and full of life; she acts as a leader/mother figure to the other orphans and yearns for parents of her own. A strong singer who can carry the energy of the show.
OLIVER WARBUCKS, Bari-tenor, Male, 40-60: Warbucks is a highly successful businessman who made a fortune as an industrialist in World War I. Confident, intimidating, and a bit stiff. At first, he is unsure and awkward around Annie, but warms up to her and eventually learns to love her as a father. Has a smooth legit voice, falsetto a plus.
GRACE FARRELL, Soprano, Female, 30-40: Oliver Warbucks’s secretary; she is poised, sophisticated and savvy, yet gentle and warm. Acts as a welcoming motherly figure to Annie and is able to access Warbucks’s gentler side.
MISS HANNIGAN, Alto Belter, Female, 35-55: The disillusioned, bitter, and cruel matron of the orphanage. Her distaste for her job should ooze from every line she delivers. Looking for a larger-than-life comedic character with a strong belt to match. New York accent a plus.
ROOSTER HANNIGAN, Tenor, Male, 25-40: The flashy, self-assured conman of a brother to Miss Hannigan. He poses as Annie’s father in order to claim a cash reward. A great mover and has excellent comedic chemistry with Lily. New York accent a plus.
LILY ST. REGIS, Character Soprano, Female, 20-30: Rooster’s sleazy, airheaded girlfriend. She poses as Annie’s mother in order to claim a cash reward. A great mover; seductive, ditzy, and annoying, all at the same time.
ADULT ENSEMBLE, All genders, All voice types, ages 16+: Excellent singer/dancer to play various roles around New York City in the 1930’s, including street vendors, homeless people, tourists, newsboys, pickpockets, street cleaners, Broadway ushers, news reporters, and more. They will also appear as Warbucks’s staff who take care of his mansion.
Featured ensemble roles include:
PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, Male, 50-65: Has a bit of solo singing and speaking lines.
STAR-TO-BE, Female, Mezzo-Soprano Belter, 18-25: Featured soloist in “NYC”, the Star-To-Be is a young actress who recently moved to New York City to become a Broadway star.
BERT HEALY, Male, Tenor, 20-40: A classic 1930’s radio announcer, with solo singing in“Never Fully Dressed”.
BOYLAN SISTERS, Females, Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano, 18-30: A trio of 1930’s radio singers, able to hold close harmonies.
DRAKE, Male, any voice type, 20-45: Warbucks’s butler. British or Trans-Atlantic accent a plus.
MRS. GREER, MRS. PUGH, AND CECILLE, Females, any voice type, 18+: Maid servants who work at the Warbucks mansion.
ICKES, PERKINS, HULL, MORGANTHAU, AND HOWE, All Males except Perkins, allvoice types, 30-55: Members of President Roosevelt’s cabinet.
JUDGE BRANDEIS, Male, 50-55: Attorney & associate justice of the Supreme Court.
Orphans:
MOLLY, age 6-7: The littlest orphan, she latches onto Annie for love and protection.
KATE, age 7: The second youngest orphan after Molly.
TESSIE, age 10: The crybaby of the orphanage; must have a loud, whiny voice.
JULY, age 12: The quietest orphan.
PEPPER, age 12: The toughest orphan, always getting into fights.
DUFFY, age 13: The oldest orphan, usually forced to help Annie break up the fights
Director - TBA
Rehearsal - 7/11/23
Opening - 7/28/23
Closing - 8/13/23
Seeking:
Elvis Presley: Baritone or Tenor. Early 20s; Elvis at the beginning of his career. Songs include “Memories Are Made of This”, “That’s All Right”, “Long Tall Sally”, “Peace In The Valley”, “Party”, “Hound Dog”. Please accompany yourself on guitar to “That's Alright Mama”, “Peace In The Valley” or any other Elvis song of your choosing. Note: Should sound and look somewhat like Elvis without being an “impersonator.” Must be familiar with his music and able to play guitar.
Jerry Lee Lewis: Tenor. Early 20s; He was rock ‘n’ roll’s legendary piano prodigy and celebrated “Last Man Standing; superb piano player, fun, energetic. Songs include “Real Wild Child”, “Great Balls of Fire”, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”. Accompany yourself on piano to “Great Balls of Fire”, “Whole Lotta Shakin”, or another song of your choosing. Comic skills a plus. Note: Must be able to play piano like Jerry Lee Lewis.
Carl Perkins: Tenor. Mid 20s; he was the American pioneer of rockabilly music and best known for his song “Blue Suede Shoes.” Songs include “Who Do You Love”, “See You Later Alligator” or any other Carl Perkins song of your choosing. Please accompany yourself on guitar. An excellent lead guitarist and play electric guitar.
Johnny Cash: Bass or Baritone. Tall; Mid 20s; Johnny Cash at the dawn of his epic career. Songs include “Folsom Prison Blues”, “Sixteen Tons”, “I Walk the Line”, “Riders In The Sky”. Please accompany yourself on guitar to Folsom Prison Blues (the show’s version of 16 Tons) or any other Cash song of your choosing. Note: Must be familiar with his music and able to play guitar.
Sam Phillips Tenor or Baritone. Mid 30s; Father of Rock’n’roll and founder of Sun Records who discovered Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and many others including Roy Orbison and B.B. King. A charismatic figure in American music; has a strong stage presence and ability to command an audience. This track may cover other male roles.
Dyanne: Mid 20’s; An aspiring singer and Elvis’s girlfriend. A great singer with a wide range; sings solos and back-ups through the show. She sings “Fever” in her alto range and covers the high soprano part (3 “Gs” above middle “C”) of “Riders In The Sky” (Johnny Cash song); also sings “I Hear You Knockin’.”
Director - TBA
Rehearsal - 8/1/23
Opening - 8/18/23
Closing - 9/3/23
Seeking:
Norman Thayer, Jr.: Nearing his eightieth birthday, Norman is flirting with senility and is aware of it enough to use it to his advantage, usually in a humorous way. He is a curmudgeon, as he feels his age entitles him to be.
Ethel Thayer: Ten years younger than Norman, Ethel is a spritely, active woman who loves her husband completely and who is in love with simply being alive. She is caregiver, sweetheart, and friend to Norman.
Charlie Martin: The local delivery-by-boat mailman, Charlie is a long-time family friend and a typical Maine down-Easterner. Still single, he has had a life-long crush on Chelsea.
Chelsea Thayer Wayne: Attractive, divorced, and in her forties, Chelsea is still dealing with the lack of closeness between her and Norman. She is engaged to Bill Ray, whom she brings to meet her parents.
Billy Ray: The fourteen-year-old son of Bill Ray, he is a typical California teenager who comes to spend a month with Norman and Ethel on Golden Pond while his father and Chelsea are in Europe.
Bill Ray: Chelsea’s fiancé and Billy’s father, Bill is definitely not the outdoors type. He is trying his best to make a good impression on Norman and Ethel.
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