Performance Dates: May 31 – June 16, 2024
12-13 shows (5/31, 6/1, 6/2, 6/5 TBD, 6/6, 6/7, 6/8, 6/9, 6/12, 6/13, 6/14, 6/15, 6/16)
Shows on Weds – Sat evenings and Sun matinees
THE ALCHEMY THEATRE has a NEW OPPORTUNITY in 2024 and all performances of KING OF HEARTS will be at The Whisenhunt at ZACH Theatre.
Rehearsals and Tech Week: Rehearsals will begin April 1 with Tech Week scheduled for May 25 to May 30, 2024.
Exact rehearsal dates and times during April and May will be determined by cast availability AND, there will be a required, heavier commitment to our Tech Week dates.
AUDITIONS WILL BEGIN WITH ONLINE SUBMISSIONS:
If you are interested in a particular role, please let us know by submitting the following:
YOUR HEADSHOT AND RESUME, and
SELF-TAPE VIDEO OF A VOCAL SELECTION – 32 bars of a song of your choice – one that best shows your vocal capabilities and represents the character you are auditioning for.If submitting for the role of DEMOSTHENES, please submit headshot, resume and short video highlighting your mime or physical actor skills.
Please send to the attention of Michael Cooper, Director at:
mcooper@thealchemytheatre.org and we will be happy to review and consider your request.
PLEASE SUBMIT BY THE DEADLINE OF MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2024. Both your headshot and resume should be in PDF format and as attachments along with your video. Requests should be sent to the above address with a valid email address included for the purpose of return correspondence.
IN-PERSON CALL-BACKS WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 4 AND MONDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2024. Call-backs to include singing from the score, reading from character specific sides, and a short dance combination taught by the choreographer.
PAY:
There is pay.
STORY SYNOPSIS:
KING OF HEARTS – music by Peter Link, lyrics by Jacob Brackman, book by Steve Tesich and based on the popular film directed by Philippe de Broca – is a musical love story set in the fictional French village of DuTemps in September 1918, just at the end of World War I. This story follows Private Johnny Able, a young American soldier whose mission is to defuse a bomb intended to destroy the entire village. The residents have fled, leaving behind only the inmates of the local insane asylum, who happily take over the town and proclaim Johnny their King of Hearts. The musical is a marvel in its reach and in its moods, speaking to lost dreams, self-purpose, and the joy of living far removed from the craziness of the outside world. It is a romantic escape into the fantastic to discover the redemptive power of love while raising the question of who is more insane, the asylum’s patients or those who wage war.
PERFORMANCE STYLE:
The tone of the show encompasses both character comedy and genuine/truthful heartfelt emotion. Many of the characters may seem quite “quirky”, but the comedy is character-driven and based in truth, rather than broad or farcical. As with all Alchemy productions, emphasis will be placed on the “realness” in the storytelling.
CASTING FOR:
PVT. JOHNNY ABLE – Lead. Male. 20s. Strong singer. Moderate to strong dancer. Tap a plus.
A farm boy from Kentucky with dreams of making his mark on the world by joining the army. Naïve. Vulnerable. Gullible to a point. A virgin. Not at all worldly, and often misunderstood.
JEUNEFILLE – Lead. Female. 20-30. Strong singer. Moderate to strong dancer.
A patient since childhood of the local mental institution. Suffers from anxiety disorder due to traumatic bereavement of the loss of her parents as a young girl. Innocent. Vulnerable. A virgin. A dreamer — she believes she is a danseuse.
GENEVIEVE – Lead. Male. 30-60. Strong singer. Moderate to strong dancer.
A patient of the local mental institution. Big-hearted and endearing. The “adopted” father figure of Jeunefille. Former ringmaster of a traveling circus. Victim of a frozen heart due to uncontrollable grief over his wife’s death.
MADAME MADELINE – Lead. Female. 40-60. Strong singer. Moderate to strong dancer.
A patient of the local mental institution. Former owner of the local brothel. Refuses to let men control her. Sexual. Strong. Craves the terrific and fabulous. Prone to sudden, unprovoked explosions of rage.
DEMOSTHENES – Supporting. Male. 20s. Must be an excellent Mime. Moderate to strong dancer.
A patient of the local mental institution. Aphonic. Close to Jeunefille. Intelligent. Courageous. Frustrated at not being able to verbalize words and feelings.
BISHOP – Supporting. Male. 40-60. Strong singer. Moderate to strong dancer.
A patient of the local mental institution. Former Catholic Bishop of the village in a relationship with the village Barber for many years. Embraces his sexual nature. Authoritative. Pious. A man of God and believer in paradise, but questions why things are so bad on earth.
BARBER – Supporting. Male. 40-60. Strong singer. Moderate to strong dancer.
A patient of the local mental institution. Takes pride in never hurting anyone. Formerly the village barber and now believes he is a great revolutionary. In a relationship with the Bishop for many years. Flirty. Prim. Sad at growing old.
DUKE / GERMAN GENERAL – Supporting. Male. 40-60. Strong singer. Moderate to strong dancer.
A patient of the local mental institution. Not a Duke, but thinks he is. Seeks approval of the worldly and bemoans the decline of class. Believes he is married to another patient – the Duchess. Also plays a no-nonsense German General.
DUCHESS / VILLAGE WOMAN – Supporting. Female. 40-60. Strong singer. Moderate to strong dancer.
A patient of the local mental institution. Not a Duchess, but thinks she is. Easily assimilates the cultured and elite. Believes she is married to a fellow patient – the Duke. Also plays a French village woman.
LT. COOPER / PATIENT – Supporting. Male. 30-40. Strong singer. Moderate to strong dancer.
An American soldier. Authoritative and ordered. Also plays a patient of the local mental institution.
PATIENT / AMERICAN SOLDIER – Ensemble. Female. 20-40. Strong singer. Moderate to strong dancer.
A patient of the local mental institution. Also plays an American soldier.
COMMANDANT KOST / PATIENT – Ensemble. Male. 30-40. Strong singer. Moderate to strong dancer.
A patient of the local mental institution. Also plays a German Commandant.
FRENCH UNDERGROUND BARBER / PATIENT / GERMAN SOLDIER – Ensemble. Male. 30-40. Strong singer. Moderate to strong dancer.
A French agent undercover as the barber in the village. Also plays a patient of the local mental institution, and a German soldier.
THE ALCHEMY THEATRE:
The Alchemy Theatre is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. It is the policy of The Alchemy Theatre to provide full and equal employment opportunities to all artists without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, marital status, veteran status, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability or any other legally protected status. We are committed to building a creative and dynamic workplace that celebrates individual differences and diversity, treating everyone with fairness and respect.
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