FARMERS ALLEY THEATRE 2018-19 SEASON AUDITIONS
Farmers Alley Theatre is seeking Male and female Actors/Singers for its upcoming 11th season.
Call Type: Equity Principal Auditions (Non-Equity WILL be seen)
Date of Audition: Saturday August 11 and Sunday August 12
Time: 11am to 7pm both days (with a one hour lunch break from 2 - 3pm both days)
Location: Farmers Alley Theatre (
221 FARMERS ALLEY, near the AMC Movie Theater), Click here for directions:
http://farmersalleytheatre.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=80
Contract: SPT Tier 3 - $344/week Equity minimum actor salary, Non-Equity salary: negotiable. Housing and travel provided for out of town talent.
Appointments:
Please contact Jeremy Koch, Artistic Director, at:
SUBMISSIONS@FARMERSALLEYTHEATRE.COM to schedule an appointment. EPA Rules are in effect. A monitor will be present and an accompanist will be provided.
VIDEO SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AS WELL
SEASON INFO:
BEYOND THE RAINBOW (a Judy Garland musical)
by William Randall Beard
Director: Kathy Mulay
Music Director: TBA
Rehearsals begin 9/4/18
Opens: 9/28/18
Closes: 10/14/18 (Possible holdover thru: 10/21/18)
A DOLLS HOUSE PART 2
by Lucas Hnath
Director: D. Terry Williams
Rehearsals begin 10/8/18
Opens: 11/2/18
Closes: 11/18/18 (Possible holdover thru: 11/25/18)
MARVELOUS WONDERETTES: DREAM ON
created by Roger Bean
Director: Sandra Bremer
Music Director: Jeremiah Downes
Rehearsals begin 11/12/18
Opens: 12/7/18
Closes: 12/30/18 (Possible holdover thru: 1/6/19)
DOUBT, A PARABLE
by John Patrick Shanley
Director: D. Terry Williams
Rehearsals begin 1/14/19
Opens: 2/8/19
Closes: 2/24/19 (Possible holdover thru: 3/3/19)
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME - 3/15 - 3/31 (Rehearsals begin 2/18/19) - DATES NOT SET IN STONE
Based on Novel by: Mark Haddon
Adapted for stage by: Simon Stephens
Director: TBA
Rehearsals begin 2/18/19
Opens: 3/15/19
Closes: 3/31/19 (Possible holdover thru: 4/7/19)
FUN HOME
Book and Lyrics by Lisa Kron
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Director: Kathy Mulay
Music Director: TBA
Rehearsals begin 5/13/19
Opens: 6/7/19
Closes: 6/23/19 (Possible holdover thru: 6/30/19)
AVENUE Q
Music/Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Book by Jeff Whitty
Director: Rob Weiner
Music Director: TBA
Rehearsals begin 6/24/19
Opens: 7/19/19
Closes: 8/4/19 (Possible holdover thru: 8/11/19)
Preparation:
Please prepare two contrasting songs, one minute in length (we may only ask for one). Please also prepare two monologues (one dramatic and one comedic) one minute in length (we may only ask for one.) Bring headshot and resume and legible music in correct key and please be prepared for cold readings and perhaps to sing from specific shows if asked.
Please visit
http://www.farmersalleytheatre.com/auditions for full character breakdowns and more info.
*Please note: We sometimes hold additional auditions and callbacks in Kalamazoo for each production during the year.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS:
BEYOND THE RAINBOW: The Judy Garland Musical
By William Randall Beard
GARLAND: female, 35-45, master singer/actress; portrays Judy Garland at age 38; a powerhouse actress, singer, and performer--a true tour-de-force role; she sings the bulk of the score; should sound like and somewhat look like Judy Garland without being an “impersonator”; contralto (D3-G5)
JUDY: female, 18 – 28, excellent actress and singer, should sound like and somewhat look like Judy Garland without being an “impersonator”; contralto (D3-G5)
SYNOPSIS: The time is April 23, 1961, when a 38-year-old Judy Garland performed at Carnegie Hall is what the New York Times called “the concert of the century”. Set both on the stage of Carnegie Hall and in Garland’s mind, Beyond the Rainbow simultaneously treats its audience to the famed concert while telling the life story of one of Hollywood’s most unforgettable icons. An unforgettable portrait of a child actor turned star who captivated the nation with her spectacular talent and tumultuous life. Featuring 24 of her hits songs including, “The Man That Got Away,” “That’s Entertainment,” and “Get Happy” just to name a few.
A DOLLS HOUSE PART 2
by Lucas Hnath
NORA: female, 40-49, an independent, intelligent and very successful author. All Ethnicities.
TORVALD: male, 50-59, Nora’s estranged husband; mild-mannered, keeps his feelings and emotions close to the vest, though he has many. All Ethnicities.
ANNE MARIE: female, 65-75, the Helmer’s nanny; honest, blunt and big-hearted. All Ethnicities.
EMMY: female, 18-25, Nora’s and Torvald’s daughter; an old soul and a romantic; wise and mature in some ways, but still 18. All Ethnicities.
SYNOPSIS: Obie Award-winning Obie-playwright and Humana Festival alumnus, Lucas Hnath's work A Doll’s House, Part 2, imagines Nora's return 15 years after the final, iconic moments of Henrik Ibsen's seminal masterpiece A Doll's House. Nora's return sparks an endlessly open debate about the value of the institution of marriage, the nature of true partnership, and the possibilities of societal progress.
MARVELOUS WONDERETTES: DREAM ON
created by Roger Bean
Betty Jean, female, 29 – 38, is the class clown and tomboy of the group, best friends with Cindy Lou. Always quick with a comeback, red-headed Betty Jean has a loving heart that is easy to break. She finally leaves her philandering husband, and discovers the inner strength to survive on her own. (Alto with strong low range.)
Cindy Lou, female, 29 – 38, was always the prettiest girl at Springfield High. While her hopes were previously shattered, this raven-haired beauty takes one final chance to make her childhood dreams of stardom come true. Sassy, wicked, with a heart of gold. (Mezzo Soprano with belt–sings lead on many songs.)
Missy, female, 29 – 38, is the over-achiever of the group, keeping control of everything in her path as the group’s organizing force. With her new husband Mr. Lee watching from the front row, this mousy-haired type-A personality reveals that she has a baby on the way, and all bets are off as she prepares for the adventure of a lifetime. (Soprano with wide range and very high vocals.)
Suzy, female, 29 – 38, is giddy, happy-go-lucky, slightly ditzy, and best friends with Missy. Forever in love with her childhood sweetheart (now husband), this fearless blonde worries that her marriage might be on the rocks as the Matchbox plant in town closes and husband Ritchie is forced to look for work out of town. (Mezzo Alto with a sweet, soulful sound and big belts.)
SYNOPSIS: It’s 1969 and The Marvelous Wonderettes are back at Springfield High (Go Chipmunks!) to throw a retirement party for their favorite homeroom teacher. As the girls sing their way through the greatest girl-group hits of the 60s and bid Ms. McPherson a fond farewell, one of the Wonderettes reveals she’ll also be saying goodbye to search for success and happiness on her own. Act two finds the girls back together as the class of 1958 celebrates their 20-year reunion. The classic pop and rock hits of the seventies provide the perfect soundtrack for these old friends to catch up on the places life has led them, all performed with their own marvelous spin!
DOUBT, A PARABLE
by John Patrick Shanley
Sister Aloysius, female, 50 – 69, watchful, reserved, unsentimental, means well but tends to be judgmental and opinionated, stern, suspicious. All Ethnicities.
Father Flynn, male, 35 – 45, Northeast working class, thoughtful, careful, appears to be trying to do good work for the parish and the boys. All Ethnicities.
Sister James, female, 19 – 29, new teacher, conscientious, innocent at some level, sunshine in her heart, though also reserved. All Ethnicities.
Mrs. Muller, 30 – 39, female, mother, cautious, on red alert. African American.
SYNOPSIS: The play takes place at St. Nicholas, a Catholic Church and school in the Bronx, New York. The time is 1964. A nun suspects a priest of molesting an altar boy.
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME
Based on Novel by: Mark Haddon / Adapted for stage by: Simon Stephens
Christopher Boone, male, must appear to be approximately 15; an English teenager who is an outsider due to his unique perception of the world, which he sees in surprising and revealing ways. He notices things in minute detail yet has difficulty understanding social and emotional cues and difficulty empathizing with others. This lack of understanding often makes the world seem frustrating and frightening to him, and he can become agitated and even violent when he has to deal with too many overwhelming external stimuli. Incredibly intelligent but shy and mistrusting of strangers, Christopher feels things deeply but doesn't know how to express or articulate them. He has a brilliant mind, can be fixated on certain topics, and thinks in a highly logical way, which makes him excel in math and science, but because he perceives language literally, he does not understand sarcasm or metaphors. From a diagnostic point of view, he is probably on the autism spectrum and exhibits some behavior that might be characterized as having Aspergers Syndrome, though what is most important is that he is different; must be physically very fit and agile; English accent. All Ethnicities.
Ed Boone/others, male, 35-55, Christopher’s father; estranged from his wife, Judy and struggling as a single parent trying to raise his son the best he can. A working class man. Proud, gruff, and brusque, he is unable to convey his emotions and feelings but loves his son deeply. He is a good man but there is a lot on Ed's shoulders when he first enters the play in pain and near breaking point, though he does not openly express it. He has trouble communicating with Christopher, who often frustrates him. And though he's naturally practical and much more patient in dealing with Christopher than Judy, a difficult situation can make him lose it, sometimes violently. A plumber and heating engineer by trade, naturally good with his hands; English accent appropriate to working middle class. All Ethnicities.
Judy Boone/others, female, 35-55, Christopher's mother; estranged from her husband, Ed after having an affair with her neighbor Roger. She works as a secretary and is a working class woman with a tough exterior who has no support system to raise her son and blames herself for her inability to cope with him effectively. She has had a hard life and had to fight for things, which she is ready to do, as she is feisty and doesn't take anything lying down. Loving, yet impatient, she has felt very alone in her situation with Christopher and it frustrates her to a point of absolute desperation. She wishes she knew how to truly reach and care for Christopher. Independent, lonely and proud, she doesn't easily ask for help and has never had the proper social resources to help her. English accent appropriate to working middle class; should be physically trim. All Ethnicities.
Siobhan/others, female, 25-49, Christopher's teacher and mentor, the only person in Christopher's life with an understanding of his situation. She strives to teach Christopher how society works and how to behave within its guidelines. Constantly negotiating around Christopher’s anger, she is professional, warm, caring, calm, gentle and self-possessed and also sensitive to his strained relationship with his father. She often serves as the narrator of Christopher’s story and of his feelings; English or Irish or Welsh or Scottish accent. All Ethnicities.
Mrs. Shears/Gascoyne/others, female, 35-55, Mrs. Shears is Roger's ex-wife and Christopher’s neighbor, she is rough around the edges. She is furious at the world as a result of being betrayed and abandoned by her husband. Worn out by life, disappointed, haggard. It is her dog, Wellington that was found killed in the night. Mrs. Gascoyne is the headmistress of the school for special needs children that Christopher attends; condescending and lacking in sensitivity, nuance and imagination. English accents appropriate to class. All Ethnicities.
Roger Shears/Duty Sergeant/others, male, 35-55: Roger Shears is Mrs. Shears ex-husband, a middle class man who works at a bank. Has left his wife as a result of his relationship with Judy, which not built on sturdy ground. Doesn't have a clue or any interest in understanding Christopher. Duty Sergeant is a local Swindon desk sergeant (policeman) who releases Christopher to Ed’s custody after Christopher’s been arrested. Firm, experienced, tough but fair-minded; English accents appropriate to class; must be strong, fit and agile. All Ethnicities.
Mrs. Alexander/others, female, 60-79, one of Christopher's neighbors who has probably lived in Swindon her entire life. May be middle class or middle working class. She is a lonely older woman without a lot of means. She is kind, and so hungry for a connection with Christopher that she tries to help him and ultimately reveals information to him about his mother that he did not know. English accents appropriate to class. All Ethnicities.
Reverend Peters/Station Policeman/others, male, 40-59, Reverend Peters is a vicar; pleasant enough, tries to answer Christopher's questions about religion and is later tasked with supervising Christopher during a test. Station Policeman is a Swindon policeman who gets stuck on a train to London while trying to convince Christopher to get off the train. Easily outsmarted by Christopher; English accents appropriate to class; must be strong, fit and agile. All Ethnicities.
Policeman 1/ Mr. Thompson/ Man with Socks/others, male, 20-36, Policeman 1 is a Swindon policeman who arrests Christopher after Christopher hits him while being questioned about the death of Wellington, the dog. He has no patience or understanding of Christopher's way of thinking. Mr. Thompson is a neighbor that Christopher interviews during his investigation of who killed Wellington, the dog. Doesn't have patience for Christopher's line of questioning. Man with Socks is a guy waiting for the tube in London who suddenly has to help convince Christopher to get up from the train tracks; English accents appropriate to class; must be strong, fit and agile. All Ethnicities.
“No. 40”/”Information”/Punk Girl, female, 20-36, “No. 40” is a woman who is a neighbor of Christopher's who he interviews during his investigation of who killed Wellington the dog. She tries to gently suggest to Christopher that he should talk to his father before asking these questions. “Information” is a busy information clerk in a London Railroad Station who Christopher asks for directions. Punk Girl is a young woman in the tube station who tries to help Christopher; English accents appropriate to class; must be strong, fit and agile. All Ethnicities.
SYNOPSIS: Winner of the 2015 Tony Award for Best New Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a “dazzling, pulse-pounding and remarkable” (Time Out New York) adaptation of Mark Haddon’s internationally best-selling novel. Fifteen-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain and is very gifted at math. He is exceptionally intelligent, but unfortunately ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing the neighbor’s dog, Christopher is determined to identify the culprit in true Sherlock Holmes style, which leads him on a thrilling journey across London that will change his life forever. ZACH’s production will immerse you inside Christopher’s world with physical storytelling and an extraordinary video design. A theatrical event for the entire family.
FUN HOME
Book and Lyrics by Lisa Kron /Music by Jeanine Tesori
Older Alison: female, 30-49, narrator; now a self-aware adult, she is able to reflect insightfully on her own life and her relationship with her father before his tragic death; must be a strong singer who can move seamlessly in vocal quality from speech to song; range = low E to light belt C sharp. All Ethnicities.
Bruce: male, 40-49, high-school English teacher, funeral home director, spends his spare time on the historic restoration of his home; complex man with a hot temper as a result of years of repression; can be caring and attentive to his children but is also quick to anger; must be a strong singer who can move seamlessly in vocal quality from speech to song; range: B to G. All Ethnicities.
Medium Alison: female, 16-20, a freshman at Oberlin College, discovering her sexuality; an incredibly well-read, hyper-intelligent teenager; her uncertainty about who she is makes her socially awkward at times; must be a strong singer who can move seamlessly in vocal quality from speech to song; strong mix-belt to C and effortless mix to E. All Ethnicities
Christian: male, 10-15, Alison’s older brother; oldest of the three children; strives to be the leader, but is sometimes overshadowed by Alison’s strong personality; seeking a singer (pre-pubescent) with a natural sound, good sense of harmony and pitch. All Ethnicities.
Helen: female, 35-45, Alison’s mother; frustrated, exhausted by her tumultuous marriage; has spent her life trying to be a good mother and wife while turning a blind eye to the irreverent activities of her husband; must be a strong singer who can move seamlessly in vocal quality from speech to song; range = A flat to strong mixed E. All Ethnicities.
Joan: female, 18-20, student at Oberlin; exudes a confident, sexual energy, with a dry sense of humor; unlike Alison, Joan is very comfortable in her skin and openly identifies as a lesbian; must be comfortable with harmony singing, alto lines. All Ethnicities.
Small Alison: Alison Bechdel as a child; precocious and opinionated; on the cusp of finding herself and forming her own views on how a girl her age should behave and dress; confident and intelligent; strong singer who can move seamlessly in vocal quality from speech to song, natural sound, B to B. All Ethnicities.
Roy/Pete/Mark/Bobby: Roy, a young man Bruce hires to do yard work; Pete, a mourner who visits the funeral home; Mark, a high school junior; Bobby Jeremy, the lead singer of a band in Alison’s imagination; tenor with a strong clean 70s pop sound - to a High B. All Ethnicities.
John: male, 6-9, Alison’s younger brother; like most boys his age, he is full of energy with a quirky imagination; looks up to his siblings; seeking a singer with a natural sound, good sense of harmony and pitch. All Ethnicities.
SYNOPSIS: Fun Home is a musical adapted by Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori from Alison Bechdel's 2006 graphic memoir of the same name. The story concerns Bechdel's discovery of her own sexuality, her relationship with her gay father, and her attempts to unlock the mysteries surrounding his life.
AVENUE Q
Music/Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx / Book by Jeff Whitty
Princeton/Rod: male, 20-29, Princeton is a sweet, charming, cute, and sincere. Has recently moved to Avenue Q where he learns life lessons the hard way from puppets and humans alike; loveable and appealing. Rod is a conservative, uptight investment banker who is a closeted homosexual. Trying to come to terms with his sexuality with the help of Nicky, his best friend and roommate. Must be a strong singer/actor with great comedic timing and the ability to differentiate these characters with specific voices and physicalities. Vocal style: contemporary musical theatre with a pop flair. Must be able to sustain a High G comfortably. Puppeteer skills required. All Ethnicities.
Nicky/Trekkie Monster/Bad Idea Bear: male, 25-35, Nicky is an unemployed, cute twenty-something slacker who is Rod’s roommate. Charming and undeniably cute, he has no problems with Rod being gay. Trekkie Monster lives on Avenue Q in the same building that Princeton moves into; an odd monster who has a big heart, he invested in the internet and is secretly a millionaire. Bear is a cute and charming little boy bear who, with the help of his counterpart, Girl Bear, is a very bad influence on Princeton. Must be a strong singer/ actor with great comedic timing and the ability to differentiate these characters with specific voices and physicalities. Vocal style: contemporary musical theatre with a pop flair. Must be able to sustain a High A comfortably. Strong puppeteer skills preferred. All Ethnicities.
Kate Monster/Lucy The Slut: female, 25-35, Kate Monster is a kindergarten teaching assistant who dreams about eventually opening a school for monsters. She may look sweet, put together and conservative, but has a very feisty and opinionated Monster side; quickly falls for the new guy on the block, Princeton. Lucy T. Slut is a vixenish vamp with a dangerous side who sings at a local café. The star of Girls Gone Wild Parts two, five, and seven. She sees other women as obstacles to men. Must be a strong singer/actress with great comedic timing and the ability to differentiate these characters with specific voices and physicalities. Vocal style: contemporary musical theatre with a pop flair. A mezzo-soprano/belt who can comfortably sing up to a D in a pop voice. Strong puppeteer skills required. All Ethnicities.
Mrs. T/Bad Idea Bear/others: female, 25-35, Mrs. T is an old spinster teacher who is bitter and conservative. She is Kate Monster's boss. Bad Idea Bear is a cute and charming little girl bear who, with the help of her counterpart, Boy Bear, is a very bad influence on Princeton. Must be a strong singer/ actress with great comedic timing and the ability to differentiate these characters with specific voices and physicalities. Can be any physical type. Vocal style: contemporary musical theatre with a pop flair. A mezzo-soprano/belt who can comfortably sing up to a D in a pop voice. Strong puppeteer skills preferred. All Ethnicities.
Christmas Eve: Asian female, 25-35, wants to be a therapist and lives on Avenue Q with her Jewish husband Brian. She is smart, blunt and edgy, but also nurturing and kind. Must be a strong singer/ actress with great comedic timing. Vocal style: Must have a strong belt to an E flat in the style of a torch song.
Brian: male, 25-35, chubby, laid-back, wannabe comedian who doesn’t mind being unemployed. A good guy with a relaxed attitude who everyone always likes. Easy to be around. Married to Christmas Eve, who is constantly badgering him to get a job. Must be a strong singer/actor with great comedic timing. Vocal style: contemporary musical theatre with a pop flair. All Ethnicities.
Gary Coleman: black female, 25-49, former celebrity and now lives/works on Avenue Q; funny and sardonic, with a unique and vivid presence. Has lived life. Must be a strong singer/actress with great comedic timing. She can be any physical type. Vocal style: contemporary musical theatre with a pop flair. An alto who can sing a Low D and belt to a B flat. Must explore low register.
SYNOPSIS: Avenue Q, is the story of Princeton, a recent college graduate with no money, no job, and no love of his own. He finds an apartment on Avenue Q and together along with his new found friends struggles to find a job, a date, and his purpose in life. Note: Production has strong language and adult themes along with onstage puppet sex.
Other:
Performers of all ethnic and racial backgrounds are encouraged to attend. Please bring your Equity Membership Card to auditions, if applicable.
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