Upcoming Auditions in Nashville 10/30/15

Directors and producers in the Nashville region are seeking actors for upcoming productions of Will Enos' The Flu Season, Memphis the Musical and The Wiz. We've gathered the details together here to make your planning easier. So now you have no excuse: go follow your dream!

David Arnold's Caricatures Etc. is looking for someone with experience as a "Living Statue" (or thinks they could handle it). Also, anyone who believes they might be an awesome celebrity look-a-like, princess or super hero for parties and special events. Serious inquiries only. PM me or email me: caricaturesetc@gmail.com

November 8 and 9

ACT 1, Nashville: The Flu Season by Will Eno, directed by Memory Strong. Auditions will be held at Tulip Street UMC, 522 Russell Street (entrance on 6th Street side of building) on Sunday, November 8, and Monday, November 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. Callbacks, if needed, will be held on November 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. Read-through will be on November 12, with rehearsals primarily on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Show runs January 15-30, 2016 at the Darkhorse Theater.

Synopsis: "The Flu Season really isn't about the flu or the season, of course. It's about a man and woman, called just that, Man and Woman, who meet and grow close as patients in a mental hospital, and their doctor and nurse, called (you guessed it) Doctor and Nurse, who have their own peculiarities and don't help their patients much. Only The Flu Season is not really about all that, either. It's as much about the commentators, Prologue and Epilogue, who watch from the sidelines and interrupt to discuss the story that's unfolding. What it's about, in fact, is the process of writing the play (or the creative process in general). The two figures represent two sides of the creative impulse. Prologue is the earnest, optimistic voice early in the process, confident of his mastery. Cynical Epilogue is the wised-up voice of experience, after facing problems and rewrites: 'For what it's worth, which is probably very little...'"

Cast requirements: Prolgue: A narrator, Male or Female, any age. Must have a clear speaking voice; Epilogue: A narrator, Male or Female, any age. Must have a clear speaking voice; Man: Intelligent, Scrappy, 28-40; Woman: Intelligent, delicate, 28-40; Doctor: Male, Distracted, 50's; Nurse: Female, maternal, dignified although distracted, 50's

Arts Center of Cannon County: Memphis the Musical, directed by Darryl Deason and choreographed by Regina Wilkerson Ward. At the Arts Center of Cannon County, 1424 John Bragg Highway, Woodbury.

For the Roles of Huey Calhoun and Felicia Farrell: Sunda,y November 8 at 5 p.m. or by appointment
Huey Calhoun- Male, 25 to 40, C(3) to B(4); Felicia Farrell- Female, African American, 18 to 35, G(3) to A(5)

All other roles: (NO ROLES ARE PRE-CAST) Monday November 16 and Tuesday November 17 at 6:30 p.m. Please prepare 16 bars of a song in the style of the show, gospel, or R&B. An accompanist will be provided and you should come prepared for a dance audition

Delray Jones- (Felicia's brother) Male, African American, 25 to 55, Bflat(2) to Bflat(4); Gator- Male, African American, 18 to 40, Fsharp(3) to A(4); Bobby- Male, African American, 18 to 35, G(3) to C(5); Mama (Gladys Calhoun)- Female, 45 to 70, B(3) to A(5); Mr Simmons- Male, 40 to 70, non singer

Ensemble (multiple acting and singing roles): 3 to 5 African American women ages 16 to 30
4 African American men ages 16 to 40; 2 teenage girls; 1 woman age 35 to 50; 2 teenage boys; 3 men ages 25 to 60. Rehearsals will begin early January.

Performance dates: March 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25 and 26

For questions and audition sides please email: darryltdeason@gmail.com

November 9 and 10

The Center for the Arts, 110 W. College Street, Murfreesboro: Dreamgirls, directed by Matthew Hayes Hunter, produced by Lavy Little, musical direction by Emily Dennis and choreographed by Tosha Pendergrast. You need only be present one of the two nights for auditions. Callbacks (by invitation only) will be Wednesday, November 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Auditionees should prepare 32 bars of a song in the style of the show (Broadway or R&B is fine). An audition accompanist and auxiliary cable will be provided. Sheet music or instrumental tracks only. Please no CDs or a cappella. Be prepared to move for a short dance call. Ladies, please wear heels, if possible. Cold readings from the script will take place if time permits. ALL roles are AVAILABLE and NOT pre-cast:

Cast breakdown: Effie White - Female, African American, 20-30, Mezzo/Belt. Must move very well; Deena Jones - Female, African American, 20-30, Mezzo/Belt. Must move very well; Lorrell Robinson - Female, African American, 20-30, Soprano/Belt. Must move very well; Michelle Morris - Female, African American, 20-30, Mezzo Soprano/Belt. Must move very well; Curtis Taylor, Jr. - Male, African American, 30-40, Baritone. Must move well.; James "Thunder" Early - Male, African American, 30-40, Rock and R&B Tenor. Must move very well.; C.C. White - Male, African American, 20-30, High Baritone/Tenor. Must move well.; Marty - Male, African American, 30-45, Baritone. Must move well.

Ensemble - Male & Female, ages 16+ and all ethnicities to play several roles in the show, including: The Stepp Sisters, Tiny Joe Dixon, Little Albert & The Tru-Tones, Dave & The Sweethearts, Reporters, Announcers, Fans, Stagehands, Party Guests, Photographers, Film Executives, and more. All ensemble members should possess unique and vivid personalities and be able to play a wide variety of characters. Ensemble will double in at least 2 roles, possibly more.

Rehearsals will be held 3-5 times a week, with possible weekend rehearsals. Rehearsals will go dark for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.

Performance Dates: February 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28. These dates, as well as the week prior to opening, are MANDATORY to be considered for a role.

November 18- 21

The Wiz: A Spiritual Journey, directed by Calvin R. Martin, is seeking actors and singers, poets and spoken word performers, dancers and musicians for an upcoming production. All roles are available and are not pre-cast.

Please prepare a two-minute monologue and one song to show vocal range. Be prepared to sing a capella. Auditions are Wednesday, November 18, from 5 to 8:30 p.m.; Thursday, November 19, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 21, will be callbacks by invitation only.

Dancers should prepare a dance piece (32 count) and be prepared to learn choreography. Musicians should have a song prepared to play live on Friday, November 20, from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Auditions location: Watson Grove Baptist Church, 1415 Horton Avenue, Nashville.

Questions? Call (615) 945-4595 or email TheCRayEvent@gmail.com

Tuesday, December 1

Broadway veteran and Nashville's hometown girl Savannah Frazier will lead a master class on the art of auditioning at The Van Wye Vocal Studio on Tuesday, December 1, presented by VWA Theatricals.Frazier made her Broadway debut in Amazing Grace, the Musical, which closed on Sunday, October 25, at the Nederlander Theatre.

The master class is best described as a pre-audition workshop. Each student who wants to perform should come prepared to sing either two 16-bar cuts, or one 16 bar cut/one-minute monologue. Participants will then be given suggestions/adjustments by Frazier, and will then be able to perform again with those suggestions in mind. The class is geared toward the objective of a scene or song, and the tactics and process used to achieve the performers goals. When there's specificity in an audition, Frazier says, "It changes the whole game." Participants will receive instruction and advice to achieve the best audition possible, vocally and acting-wise, and to prepare them for what a typical New York audition would be like.

In addition to the mock-audition scenario, participants will go through a warm-up to start, and there will be a question and answer session, as well. Ideally, participants will come with questions in mind, but Frazier plans to discuss the audition scene in NYC, how to find one's footing in classes there, the difference between managers and agents, and how best to gain representation. Frazier will also discuss the college audition process from her point of view as well as the work ethic required to achieve success. Everyone who takes part in the master class is not expected to sing - but there is so much to be learned from watching their peers receive critique, she suggests.

Parents and teachers are welcome to join as well-Frazier's hope is that this will be a welcoming and informative master class for those who want to learn. The class is expected to last about two hours, depending on the number of participants. Cost is $25 and reservations for the class are possible by calling Lisa Van Wye at (615) 300-9613. The Van Wye Vocal Studio is located in the RCA Building, 30 Music Square West.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Send your audition announcements to Jeffrey Ellis, BWW Nashville senior contributing editor, at jeffreyellis37215@att.net for inclusion in this column.

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