Kentwood Players announces open auditions for
A musical by Jason Howland, Mindi Dickstein and Allan Knee
Based upon the classic story by Louisa May Alcott
Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15, 2019
At the Westchester Playhouse
Kentwood Players will hold open auditions for
LITTLE WOMEN, a musical by Jason Howland, Mindi Dickstein and Allan Knee based upon Louisa May Alcott’s classic story,
on Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 11:00am to 3:00pm and Sunday, September 15 from 6:00 to 9:00pm. Call backs will be Monday, September 16 beginning at 7:00pm by appointment only.
Performance dates are November 15 through December 21, 2019 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Auditions and performances take place at the Westchester Playhouse, located at
8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045, home of the Kentwood Players.
This is a non-equity, non-paid production directed by Jennifer Richardson, music directed by Mike Walker, choreographed by Christopher Albrecht, and produced by Rocky and Vicki Miller and Jeremy Palmer for Kentwood Players with rights secured from Music Theatre International. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI,
www.MTIShows.com
Louisa May Alcott’s classic story of the adventures of the four March sisters is brought to vivid musical life in
LITTLE WOMEN. The story follows the lives, loves and tribulations of the sisters growing up during the American Civil War. Meg, Jo, Beth & Amy live in Concord, Massachusetts with their Marmee while their father is on the battlefield. Filled with adventure (both lived and imagined), heartbreak, and a deep sense of hope, the struggle of these “Little Women” to find their own voices mirrors the growing pains of a young America. With buoyant, joyful melodies, memorable characters, and a big-hearted message, LITTLE WOMEN reminds us that “sometimes when you dream, your dreams come true.”
Please allow time to sign-in and complete paperwork during scheduled audition times. Please bring a current headshot and resume as well as your calendar as a rehearsal schedule will be posted at auditions and you will be asked to note any conflicts. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the production team at
LittleWomen@kentwoodplayers.org
READING AUDITIONS
Those auditioning should become familiar with the characters by reading the play or the book before auditions. We will have sides available for the auditions.
VOCAL AUDITIONS
- Your audition song (or a cut from a song) should be approximately 1 minute in length.
- Please do not sing from LITTLE WOMEN.
- Please do not sing a ballad as your primary audition song. However, you may have a ballad as a second song if we need one.
- When choosing a song in the style of the show, please do not select something written before 1967.
- Please make sure that your song is in the correct key, and have your music properly prepared for the accompanist at auditions. There will be no a cappella auditions, or auditions with cell phone or tablet accompaniment.
DANCE / MOVEMENT AUDITIONS
Wear or bring something that will allow you to move freely.
Kentwood Players is committed to diverse, inclusive casting. Performers of all ethnicities, races, gender identities and ages are encouraged to audition.
LITTLE WOMEN is a memory play, so while the March sisters and Laurie are in their teens and early twenties, we will also consider actors in their twenties-thirties for those roles.
Meg March – age 21-30
The oldest March sister. She works as a governess. Meg is world-weary, yet hopeful, and she yearns for a great life. She falls in love with and marries Mr. John Brooke. Moderate dancing. Strong singer, able to hold harmonies with a vocal range top: Gb5 to bottom: A#3.
Jo March – age 18-28
The protagonist and driving force of LITTLE WOMEN. The second oldest sister, Jo is passionate, adventurous, and brave. She loves her family deeply, and yet is fiercely independent and ambitious. She rebels against having to wear dresses and “behave” like women and girls of her time. She dreams of becoming a famous writer. Jo is based on the author of the classic novel Little Women, Louisa May Alcott. She eventually falls in love with Professor Bhaer, who sees her and wants her to be herself. Moderate dancing. Powerhouse singer with a vocal range top: A5 to bottom: E3
Beth March – age 17-25
The second youngest sister who tragically dies of Scarlet Fever. She is a sweet and kind peace-maker and optimist who always encourages her sisters to dream. She loves music and plays the piano. (The actor who plays Beth does not have to know how to play piano.) Moderate dancing. Strong singer, able to hold harmonies with a vocal range top: G5 to bottom: A3
Amy March – age 16-21
The youngest sister – Amy is energetic with a rather pompous air about her. She is a passionate artist who enjoys visual beauty and is given to fits of pouting, temper and vanity. She ends up falling in love with and marrying Laurie. Moderate dancing. Strong singer, able to hold harmonies with a vocal range top: Gb5 to bottom: Cb4.
Marmee March – age 40-55
The girls’ mother. She is the strong backbone of the family who is bravely and lovingly raising her four daughters and generously helping poor neighbors while her husband is at war. Strong singer, able to hold harmonies with a vocal range top:: Eb5 to bottom: Eb3
Aunt March – age 60-80
The girls’ grand-aunt. She is a formidable, overbearing, wealthy socialite who wants to make Jo conform to societies expectations of her. She eventually takes Amy under her wing. Though crotchety and impatient, she loves her nieces and wants the best for them. Strong singer with a vocal range top: F5 to bottom: E3
Professor Bhaer – age 30-35
A German Professor who lives in Mrs. Kirk’s boarding house and eventually falls in love with Jo, accepting her for all of who she is. Strong singer, baritone with a vocal range top: F#4 to bottom: G2
Laurie Laurence – age 18-23
The bright-eyed, optimistic boy next door who is the same age as Jo. Laurie is charming, but initially shy and becomes like a brother to the March sisters. He has a big heart and initially loves Jo, but later falls in love with Amy. Moderate dancing. Strong singer, able to hold harmonies with a vocal range top: Bb4 to bottom: Bb2
Mr. Laurence – age 55-75
Laurie’s grandfather and the Marches’ next-door neighbor. Mr. Laurence is seen as a stiff and stern elderly man, but he eventually reveals his softer side in a sweet, Grandfatherly relationship with Beth. Baritone.
Mr. John Brooke – age 25-35
Laurie’s tutor and a stiff man who initially shows very little emotion but is capable of showing great emotion. He falls in love with and marries Meg. Strong singer, able to hold harmonies with a vocal range top: F#4 to bottom: C#3
Mrs. Kirk
A middle-aged Irish woman who runs the boarding house in NYC where Jo and Professor Bhaer live. (May be played by the actor who plays Aunt March.)
Ensemble
There are two plays-within-a-play where Jo describes her book, An Operatic Tragedy to Professor Bhaer and Mrs. Kirk. We will cast an ensemble for these roles. This group will be integral to telling the rest of our story, too, as they will help move it along in key moments as dancers, skaters, party-goers, beach-goers, etc. All are singing roles.
Clarissa- the ingenue heroine
Braxton – the villain
Roderigo – the hero
Roderigo 2 – Clarissa’s sister who is disguised as Roderigo
Troll
Hag
Knight
For more information about Kentwood Players including our current production and upcoming auditions, please visit the Kentwood Players website at
www.kentwoodplayers.org. You can also find Kentwood Players information on Facebook and Twitter.
To meet the LITTLE WOMEN production team and learn more about Kentwood Players, a 70-years old and going strong, all-volunteer community theater group, the public is invited to attend our general membership meetings, which are free and held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located two blocks west of the San Diego Freeway and two blocks north of Manchester at
8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045.
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