AUDITION NOTICE SPRING 2019 SEASON
Production name: Mary Poppins
Rehearsals start: February 2019
Performances: April 5 - May 13, 2019
Audition date: January 16, 18
Callback dates: January 22-23
Deadline to submit: January 15
All roles are paid, non-equity.
Rehearsals are part time through until opening. Performances are four to six shows per week Thursday through Sunday.
All applicants will be considered for both productions of the spring season, and only need to submit one application to be seen for Mary Poppins & 9 to 5 the Musical.
Lower Ossington Theatre is committed to gender equity and cultural diversity in all of our practices. We invite gender non-conforming actors to apply for the role with which they most identify.
Disney & Cameron Mackintosh?s Mary Poppins A Musical based on the stories of P. L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film
Original Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman
Book by Julian Fellowes
New Songs and Additional Music and Lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe Co-Created by Cameron Mackintosh
Director: Alan Kinsella
Choreographer: Greg Carruthers
Musical Director: Aaron Erye
Producer: Joseph Patrick
SHOW DESCRIPTIONOne of the most popular Disney movies of all time is capturing hearts in a whole new way: as a practically perfect musical! Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins delighted Broadway audiences for over 2,500 performances and received nominations for nine Olivier and seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.The jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that Anything can happen if you let it.
ROLE DESCRIPTION (All performers may be asked to play multiple roles)
Bert The narrator of the story, is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including hurdy-gurdy player, sidewalk artist and chimney sweep. Bert watches over the children as well as the goings on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent and is a song-and-dance man.Age as portrayed: 30Vocal range top: F#4Vocal range bottom: B2
George Banks The father to Jane and Michael Banks, is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding precision and order in his household, he is a pipe-and-slippers man who doesn't have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armor, however, conceals a sensitive soul. A baritone, George may speak-sing as necessary.Age as portrayed: 40 Vocal range top: Eb4Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Winifred Banks George's wife and Jane and Michael's mother. A former actress, she is loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband's desire to only associate with the best people as well as be the model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she's not up to the job of being Mrs. Banks, yet, she is, and more. She has great warmth and simplicity to her tone.Age as portrayed: 30Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: A3
Jane Banks The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Banks, is bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness.Age as portrayed: 11 Vocal range top: F#5 Vocal range bottom: A3
Michael Banks The cute and cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Excitable and naughty, he adores his father and tries to be like him. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents.Age as portrayed: 9 Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: A3
Katie Nanna Jane and Michael's nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children. Age as portrayed: 30
Policeman A neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of households on his beat.Age as portrayed: 30
Miss Lark The haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if her were child. Age as portrayed: 30
Admiral Boom A retired Royal Navy man and neighbor of the Banks family. A physically large man with a loud and booming voice, he speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbor, Miss Lark. Can be any vocal range as needed. If Admiral Bloom doubles as the Banks Chairman, he can be a baritone. Age as portrayed: 50
Mrs. Brill The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harassed, she's always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn't have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular. She does not have to be a strong singer.Gender: Female Age as portrayed: 50 Vocal range top: D#5 Vocal range bottom: F#3
Robertson Ay The houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. He doesn't do a lot of singing, but his Spoonful solo can be a fun surprise.Age as portrayed: 20Vocal range top: G#4Vocal range bottom: F3
Mary Poppins Jane and Michael Banks's new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet particular, and sometimes a little frightening but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. A mezzo soprano with strong top notes, she should be able to move well. She can have a more traditional soprano sound, but precision and diction is the key. Age as portrayed: 20 Vocal range top: C6 Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Park Keeper Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood.Age as portrayed: 40
Neleus The statue of a young boy posed with a dolphin in the park. Neleus was separated from his father, Poseidon, and misses him very much. A small and lonely being, he is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael. This role is a wonderful opportunity to feature one of the strong dancers in your ensemble.Age as portrayed: 16
Queen Victoria A statue in the park.Age as portrayed: 40
Bank Chairman The head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt. He can speak/sing his lines if necessary. Age as portrayed: 50 to 60 Vocal range top: D4 Vocal range bottom: C3
Miss Smythe The Bank Chairman's humorless secretary.Gender: Female Age as portrayed: 40 to 40
Ensemble Annie, Fannie, Valentine, Teddy Bear, Mr. Punch, Doll, Chimney Sweeps, Toys, Parkgoers.Von Hussler A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent. Age as portrayed: 30 John Northbrook An honest business man seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. He speaks with an accent from Northern England. Age as portrayed: 30 Bird Woman Covered in a patchwork of old shawls, and her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs to passersby, who ignore her as if she doesn't exist. Sings Feed the Birds. There can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life.Age as portrayed: 50 Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: Gb3 Mrs. Corry Owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman of great age who speaks with a Caribbean accent (or any accent that would make her seem exotic).Age as portrayed: 40 Miss Andrew George's overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nasty-tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things - her way. A soprano with an alto belt, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with range.Age as portrayed: 40 Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: Gb3
General Information The Lower Ossington Theatre is committed to supporting developing professionals by creating a space that enables them to refine their craft and to surprise, delight, challenge and inspire audiences. Lower Ossington Theatre provides great roles for great performers. Our professional teams set high expectations for cast members.Lower Ossington Theatre does not consider personal measurements as part of the audition process.All shows in our season feature strong roles for strong dancers, in addition to character roles. All roles require excellent ability in singing, acting, and dancing.EMAIL SUBMISSIONS ONLY. NO PHONE CALLS.Please submit a headshot and resume (in PDF format only) by January 15, 2019 to: lotheatreauditions@gmail.com Only one submission is required to be seen for 9 to 5 the musical and Mary Poppins.Only those granted an audition time will be contacted.Video submissions may be accepted by request ONLY. Please contact us if you cannot attend, and wish to make a video submission.
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