Upcoming Auditions in Nashville and Tennessee 6/4/15

Directors and producers in the Nashville region are seeking actors for upcoming productions of American Idiot, August: Osage County, The Last Five Years, Heathers the Musical and The Music Man. We've gathered the details together here to make your planning easier. So now you have no excuse!

This is planned as a regular feature and we invite you to send your audition announcements to Jeffrey Ellis, senior contributing editor, at jeffreyellis37215@att.net for inclusion in this column.

CHAFFIN'S BARN DINNER THEATER is looking for (3) female dancer/singers and (2) male dancer/singers for ALL SHOOK UP at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre. Rehearsals start July 6, show runs July 23 - Aug 30. This is a professional, paid gig. Email Martha at marthawilkinson11@gmail.com to set up an audition.

June 7 and 8

American Idiot by Green Day

Presented by Circle Players, Nashville

Directed by Bradley Moore, music direction by Steve Mogck and choreographed by Shauna Smartt Hopkins

Produced by Dareath Jackson and LaTonya Turner

ABOUT THE SHOW: Circle Players kicks off its 66th season in August with the Tony Award-winning hit musical American Idiot, based on Green Day's Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum album. Johnny, Tunny and Will struggle to find meaning in a post-9/11 world. When the three young men flee their hometown for the thrills of city life, their paths are quickly torn apart: Tunny enters the armed forces, Michael is called back home to take care of family; Johnny's attention is diverted a seductive and hazardous new relationship. A high-octane rock opera, American Idiot, features little dialogue and instead relies on the lyrics from Green Day's powerhouse album to execute the story. American Idiot is a high concept show with strong social messages. www.circleplayers.net

AUDITION LOCATION: Circle Players' Rehearsal Facility, 801 Madison Square, Madison
(Take Briley Parkway to Gallatin Road, north, away from downtown: drive about 2 miles to intersection of Emmitt Avenue; turn left into Madison Square Shopping Center; drive around back to the right for entrance to Circle Players)

AUDITION PROCESS: Prepare 32 bars of a rock song or Broadway-rock style song (Must have sheet music or CD. No à cappella.) Head shots and resumes requested. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes for dance/movement. Please arrive no later than 6 p.m. as we will be dancing first, then you will sing.

QUESTIONS? Email the director at circleplayers.net@gmail.com

PERFORMANCES: August 20-30 at TSU Performing Arts Center

June 13 and 14

August: Osage County by Tracy Letts

Presented by Encore Theatre Company, 6978 Lebanon Rd, Mount Juliet

Directed by Misty Embry and Jonathan Hunter

ABOUT THE SHOW: Roles for seven women - various ages (14 to mid-60s) and six men - various ages (mid-40s - 70) Visit the Encore website: www.encore-theatre-company.org for character descriptions. Note: This production may contain language and content that some may find offensive or not suitable for themselves or younger persons. This play contains strong language, adult subject matters, and content intended for mature audiences only. The language used in the show will not be altered in any way. If offered a part in this cast, you will be required to read the script as it is and not alter any language or content.

AUDITION LOCATION: Encore Theatre Company, 6978 Lebanon Rd, Mount Juliet

PERFORMANCES: Saturday, June 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, June 14 from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Show Dates - August 7-22 weekends only

QUESTIONS? Contact Misty Embry (embrymisty@yahoo.com) or Jonathan Hunter (jhhvzw@gmail.com)

June 16 and 17

The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown

Presented by VWA Theatricals, Nashville

Directed by Jeffrey Ellis, music direction by Micah Snow, vocal direction by Lisa Van Wye

Produced by Lisa Van Wye and Ed Amatrudo

ABOUT THE SHOW: The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress. The show uses a form of storytelling in which Cathy's story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and Jamie's is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have first met). The characters do not directly interact except for a wedding song in the middle as their timelines intersect.

ABOUT AUDITIONS: Auditions will be held Tuesday, June 16 and Wednesday, June 17 from 5 to 10 p.m., for the role of Jamie in VWA Theatricals' production of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, as well as standbys for the roles of Jamie and Cathy (the role of Cathy has already been cast).

AUDITION PROCESS: Auditionees should prepare 16 bars of two contemporary Broadway showtunes (both a ballad and an upbeat song are requested) and a one-minute monologue (either comedic or dramatic, whichever shows off your skills best) and should be prepared to do cold readings. You must provide your own sheet music. No CDs or a capella auditions will be allowed. Standbys will be guaranteed at least one performance during the show's nine-performance run at Nashville's Darkhorse Theater (August 13-22). Rehearsals will take place in Nashville beginning Monday, July 13. Cast members will receive a stipend for their work. Resume and headshot requested. Auditions are by appointment only.

AUDITION LOCATION: The VanWye Vocal Studio, located at 709B Main St., Nashville.

PERFORMANCES: August 13-22 at Darkhorse Theater

QUESTIONS? To schedule an audition, email director Jeffrey Ellis at jeffreyellis37215@att.net or call him at (615) 300-2513.

June 15 and 20

Smoke: A Ballad of the Night Riders by David Alford

Spirit: The Authentic Bell Witch Experience by David Alford

Presented by Bell Witch Fall Festival in Adams, Tennessee

ABOUT CLARKSVILLE AUDITIONS: Monday, June 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. (sign up for a five-minute slot) at the Trahern Theatre on the Austin Peay State University campus (located on Eighth Street off of College Street). Callbacks to follow general auditions that evening.

ABOUT NASHVILLE AUDITIONS: Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (sign up for a five-minute slot) at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre (8204 Highway 100, Nashville). Callbacks to follow general auditions.

Email Producer Anna Filippo (annafilippo@att.net) to sign up for a five-minute audition slot. Indicate if auditioning for Smoke, Spirit or both.

ABOUT THE SHOWS: Smoke is a musical about the night riders in TN and KY who destroyed farmers' homes, farms and families who couldn't maintain their allegiance to the Tobacco Association. The score has a country/bluegrass feel. Performance dates: Thursday-Saturday, October 1-3 and 8-10. Spirit is based upon Richard Williams Bell's historic memoir, detailing the infamous Bell family haunting during the early nineteenth century in Adams. Performance dates: Thursday-Saturday, October 22-24 and 29-31.

All performances of Smoke and Spirit are outdoors at the Bell School Community Complex in Adams, TN. Rehearsals will be held in nearby Joelton and/or Nashville, as well as Adams, primarily during evening hours, with mostly daytime hours on weekends. Smoke rehearsals begin around August 24; Spirit rehearsals begin around September 26. While there may be some flexibility with rehearsal scheduling, conflicts are not permitted: for Smoke from September 24 through the end of the run and for Spirit from October 16 through end of run.

Smoke is directed by Anna Filippo (Director, 2014 production), and will be in its fifth production year. The cast is an ensemble of at least 7, including 5 men, 1 woman and 1 young boy (approx age 6-9). Seeking primarily professional actors, both Equity and Non-equity. Sliding pay scale.

Now in its fourteenth season, Spirit will once again be directed by Nashville theatre favorite Derek Whittaker, who helmed last year's exciting new take on the classic tale. Seeking up to ten (10) men and up to ten (10) women of ALL ages, physical types and levels of experience to help tell this enchanting story. Actors will portray both Bell family members and various members of the Adams community during the early 1800s. Seeking professional actors, both Equity and non-Equity, as well as amateur, community and student actors. All roles are available. Sliding pay scale. Specifically seeking two (2) boys, ages five through twelve, to play the roles of Williams and Joel Bell, as well as one (1) African-American male, age twenty to sixty, to play the role of Dean, the Bell Family slave.

For SMOKE general auditions: 2 minute monologue; can be from the show, or in the vein of The Kentucky Cycle, Getting Out, Dark of the Moon, To Kill a Mockingbird, plus 16 bars of a song (see below).

For SPIRIT general auditions: monologue of no more than two minutes. This may be EITHER a dramatic or comedic theatrical monologue OR a short ghost story from an existing source or a personal experience. All audition pieces should be memorized. As SPIRIT is an evening of theatrical storytelling, actors are encouraged to be playful, bold, honest and expressive. To be considered for both shows, prepare one 2 minute package (may be 2 contrasting monologues), plus a song.

As Smoke is a musical and Spirit is a play with music, ALL auditionees are asked to prepare sixteen bars of an audition song EITHER from musical theatre (in the vein of Big River, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Robber Bridegroom, Smoke on the Mountain OR from a classic country/western, bluegrass, gospel/hymn or American folk song. Accompanist will be provided. Bring sheet music in the correct key. Please, NO charts, NO a capella and NO recorded accompaniment.

Actors who play musical instruments (drums, guitar, autoharp, violin/fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, etc.) are strongly encouraged to attend, as SPIRIT features live music. If you play an instrument, please bring it and be prepared to play a piece of your choosing that reflects the region (country/western, bluegrass, gospel/hymn or classic American folk).

Bring 3 copies of an updated headshot/resume. Be prepared to provide a list of ALL schedules (work, school, etc.) as well as ALL POSSIBLE CONFLICTS between August 24-October 10 for SMOKE, and September 26-October 31 for SPIRIT. Callback auditions will consist of selections from the script.

Questions about Smoke? Contact Director Anna Filippo (annafilippo@att.net); Questions about Spirit? Contact Director Derek Whittaker (dman4drama@comcast.net)

June 20

Heathers The Musical by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O'Keefe

Presented by Street Theatre Company, Nashville

Directed by Martha Wilkinson

ABOUT THE SHOW: Based on the iconic 1989 dark comedy, three shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing Heathers are the hottest and cruelest girls in school, but a misfit rejects them for the dark sexy stranger who plans to put them in their place - six feet under.

ABOUT AUDITIONS: Street Theatre Company will be holding auditions for the local premiere of the musical HEATHERS on Saturday, June 20th, 10am-4pm. Please bring your headshot and resume and prepare a 16 bar cut in the appropriate show style and a comic monologue no more than one minute long. Bring sheet music in appropriate key (an accompanist will be provided; no CDs please). Please be prepared to provide weekend and evening rehearsal availability beginning July 26. All ethnicities are encouraged. Auditions are by appointment only.

AUDITION LOCATION: Auditions will be held at Bailey Middle School, 2000 Greenwood Ave, Nashville

PERFORMANCES: Performances are August 28-September 13.

QUESTIONS? Please email auditions@streettheatrecompany.org with any questions and to schedule an appointment and visit www.streettheatrecompany.org for character descriptions. This show is Rated R for adult content and language.

June 22

The Music Man by Meredith Willson

Presented by The Roxy Regional Theatre, Clarksville

ABOUT AUDITIONS: Auditions for ensemble roles in Roxy Regional Theatre's summer production of The Music Man are scheduled for Monday, June 22, at 5:00 p.m. Children ages 8 and up, as well as adult men and women are encouraged to audition. Auditionees should come prepared with 16 bars of a song. Children should also be dressed to move in comfortable clothing and shoes. Boys interested in the role of Winthrop should be prepared to sing "Gary, Indiana.") Please bring any sheet music, as piano accompaniment will be provided.

AUDITION LOCATION: The Roxy Regional Theatre, 100 Franklin Street, Clarksville

PERFORMANCES: July 17 through August 22.

QUESTIONS? Call (931) 646-7699 or visit the website at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org

The Big Bad Musical at Street Theatre Company

Looking for two more talented kids to round out our summer musical!

If interested, please email erica@streettheatrecompany.org

Rehearsals will be June 15-July 3, from 9am to 12pm Monday thru Friday, and July 3-10th, from 9am to 2pm, with performances July 10-18, Fridays at 7 and Saturdays at 2 & 7. If cast, there is a participation fee of $150 (scholarships may be available based on financial need). Rehearsals and performances will be held at Bailey Middle School in East Nashville.

ABOUT THE SHOW:
A courtroom has never been more lively and fun! In this smart and wickedly funny musical, the jury - the audience - must decide the outcome of the biggest trial ever in the fairy-tale world! The notorious Big Bad Wolf is being slapped with a class-action lawsuit by storybooks of quirky characters who want to get even: Little Red Riding Hood, her Grandmother, the Three Little Pigs and the Shepherd in charge of the Boy Who Cried Wolf. With Sydney Grimm as the commentator on live Court TV, the two greatest legal minds in the Enchanted Forest - the Evil Stepmother and the Fairy Godmother - clash in a trial that will be remembered forever after.

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