CHICAGO - Piedmont Players Theatre Non Equity Auditions

Piedmont Players Theatre announces AUDITIONS for Tony Award Winning Musical

Auditions: Dancers/Singers

When: Monday, Feb 17 & Tuesday & Feb 18, 2014 at 7pm

(To sign up call
704-633-5471. Walk ups will only be seen if space and time permit)

Where: Meroney Theater (3rd Floor), 213 S. Main St., Salisbury, NC

ABOUT AUDITIONS

Piedmont Players Theatre is holding Auditions for the Tony Award Winning Musical, CHICAGO on Monday, February 17 and Tuesday, February 18 at 7:00PM. Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, February 19 at 7pm. Rehearsals begin on February 20, and performances run from April 3-12, 2014. Seeking strong male and female singers and dancers with great personality and presence. Women: Vegas showgirl type Men: Athletic/Acrobatic type

Dance experience a plus. Performers of all ethnic and racial backgrounds are encouraged to sign up. Performers should prepare 16 bars from a song in the style of the show. Please wear fitted clothing and bring character shoes if you have them.

Available roles and character descriptions are included below.

Note: Auditions are by appointment. Walk-ups will only be seen if time permits.

For more information call
704-633-5471 or email
md@piedmontplayers.com.

Director & Choreographer: Tod A. Kubo

Director & Designer: Reid Leonard

Musical Director: Michael Wilkins

Book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse

Music by John Kander

Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins

Begins rehearsal – Feb 20, 2014

Show opens –April 3, 2014

Show closes – April 12, 2014

ABOUT THE SHOW

Set in Prohibition-era Chicago, the musical is based on a 1926 play of the same name by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins about actual criminals and crimes she reported on. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the celebrity criminal. Set in the roaring “jazz hot” twenties, this is the story of two rival vaudevillian murderesses locked up in Cook County Jail. Aspiration-al chorus girl Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband Amos to take the rap...until he finds out he's been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie joins Nightclub star Velma Kelly who is serving time for killing her husband and sister after finding the two in bed together. With the help of a slick attorney named Billy Flynn, both vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of fame, fortune and acquittal.

One of the most popular musicals of all time, CHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy and thousands of standing ovations. The Broadway revival holds the record for longest-running musical revival and the longest-runningAmerican musical in Broadway history. The Academy Award-winning film version of the musical starred Reneìe Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, John C. Reilly, and Queen Latifah.

AVAILABLE ROLES

Roxie Hart: Innocent, sexy, desperate, selfish. Roxie is not very bright and never thinks about the consequences of her actions before she says or does things. All Roxie cares about is getting into Vaudeville. Needs to be a strong actress, singer and dancer.

Velma Kelly: Sarcastic, sexy, tough, funny. A former vaudeville performer who also serves as the hostess. She killed her husband and her sister after finding them together. Needs to be a strong actress, singer and dancer.

Billy Flynn: Persuasive, manipulative, masculine. Billy is a suave, educated lawyer who can persuade anyone to do anything. Billy will take any case as long as it is sure to put money in his pocket. Needs to be a strong character actor who can sing and dance well.

Amos Hart: Charming, funny, vulnerable, timid man. Amos is an average guy, not very smart. Manipulated easily, Amos is the only character in Chicago whose motives are entirely pure. Strong character actor who can sing well.

Matron “Mama” Morton: Sexy, funny, powerful and tough. The matron of the Cook County Jail who believes that all favors she gives should be reciprocated or paid for. Needs to be strong character actor who can sing well.

Mary Sunshine: A good natured talk show hostess who is actually a high powered gossip columnist. Must be a good comedian and soprano.

Female/Male Chorus: Ages 16+. Strong male and female singers/dancers. Looking for men and women with great personality and presence.

The chorus contains several featured acting roles including:

Hunyak: Accused of chopping off her husband’s head. She is actually innocent, but because she only speaks Hungarian and refuses to plead guilty, she is found guilty and hanged.

Liz: Killed her husband with a shotgun because he “popped” his gum.

Annie: Found out her husband had several wives and killed him with Arsenic.

June: Killed her husband with a carving knife after he found out she cheated on him.

Mona: Killed her boyfriend after she found out he was sleeping around.

Go-to-Hell Kitty: Kills her boyfriend in her apartment after coming home and finding him with two girls. She is wealthy and goes crazy telling everyone to go-to-hell.

Master of Ceremonies: This person is responsible for introducing all the “Vaudeville Acts.” Must have strong speaking ability, lots of energy and presence.

Fred Casley: Sleeping with Roxie Hart and is shot and killed. Must play a “regular guy” in the first scene but play an overly dramatic version of himself in the courtroom scene.

Sergeant Fogarty: Police detective who interviews Amos after Roxie kills Fred. Typical “Chicago” cop who has been through this kind of thing many times. Aaron: Court appointed lawyer who tries to defend the Hunyak.

Harrison: District Attorney who is prosecuting Roxie.

Piedmont Players Theatre Inc.

213 S. Main St

Salisbury, NC 28144