Audition Requirements:
Please prepare 1 minute of an appropriate musical theatre song -- or a pop song from the 1950s or '60s -- that best showcases you, as well as the character's personality; bring a second selection as a backup. You may sing a song from the show; however, you are encouraged to familiarize yourself with the show's approach. Bring sheet music in your key; an accompanist will be provided. No a cappella auditions. You may be required to learn a short dance/movement combination, so please come prepared to move; there may also be cold reading from the script. Bring a résumé of onstage experience, as well as a list of all potential conflicts including travel, etc.
Character Breakdown:
BETTY JEAN (Female, Adult [to play 18 and 28]): Betty Jean is the self-anointed clown of the group, always vying for attention from her best friend Cindy Lou. Cindy Lou steals Betty Jean’s boyfriend away, causing a lot of the friction at the prom; she holds this grudge against Cindy Lou until they make up at the 10-year reunion. (Alto with strong low range)
CINDY LOU (Female, Adult [to play 18 and 28]): Cindy Lou is the bad girl of the group. It seems that things always go her way, making Betty Jean crazy. She makes the biggest change between Acts I and II, having learned the lessons of true love and loss. (Mezzo-Soprano with a belt; sings melody line on most songs)
MISSY (Female, Adult [to play 18 and 28]): Always the over-achiever of the group, Missy is the one to cover for mistakes and is always ready to jump in and save the day. Head of the prom decorations committee, and absolutely smitten with her music teacher. She has been best friends with Suzy since elementary school. (Soprano with a wide range and very high vocals; also needs the ability to belt/mix)
SUZY (Female, Adult [to play 18 and 28]): Gum-chewing Suzy is happy-go-lucky, a little giddy, and a little silly. She finds great pleasure in everything she does; the sillier it is, the more fun she finds it. Her best friend is Missy. (Please note: We are not looking for a stereotypical ditzy blonde.) (Mezzo Alto with a sweet, soulful sound, and big belts)
Plot / Synopsis
Act I
At the 1958 Springfield High School prom, the lights come up on the evening’ s special entertainment: The Marvelous Wonderettes (“ Mr. Sandman” ). These four best friends (Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy) launch into the Sugar & Spice Medley: Lollipop/Sugartime and we learn that the Wonderettes are also the trophy-winning varsity song leaders for Springfield High—Go Chipmunks! While Betty Jean excitedly runs out front to put their new trophy in the school’ s display case, her best friend, Cindy Lou, steals her solo (“ Allegheny Moon” ) and cracks in their friendship begin to appear.
After Missy and Suzy break up the squabble, we hear the real reason the girls are performing tonight: they are the replacement act for tonight’ s originally scheduled group, the Crooning Crab cakes. Billy Ray Patton, the lead Crab, got suspended from school for smoking behind the girls’ locker room. They reveal the theme of tonight’ s super senior prom (Marvelous Dreams Medley: “ All I Have to Do Is Dream” /” Dream Lover” ) and with the help of Missy's special dream catcher, each girl gets to dedicate a song to her very own dream lover. Suzy sings to her boyfriend, Richie, who is also running the lights (“ Stupid Cupid” ). Betty Jean sings to her boyfriend Johnny (“ Lipstick on Your Collar” ), discovering that Johnny and Cindy Lou have been making out behind her back, and Cindy Lou sings of her special talents in Lucky Lips. After Suzy squelches another fight between Cindy Lou and Betty Jean—L-O-V-E, that spells love...!
Missy reveals her own Secret Love, the girls’ music teacher (Man of My Dreams Medley: “ Mr. Lee” /” Born Too Late” /” Teacher’ s Pet” ). The talent competition is next, followed by the vote for the 1958 Queen of Your Dreams—That’ s the Prom Queen! The Wonderettes sing farewell (Goodnight & Goodbye Medley: “ Sincerely” /” Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight” ), followed by the crowning of the 1958 Queen of Your Dreams and her spotlight song (“ Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” )
Act II
A decade later, at the Springfield High School Class of ‘ 58 10-Year Reunion, the Marvelous Wonderettes take the stage with Heatwave. During the reunion, we learn about each girl and the different roads they’ ve traveled since graduation. Missy has been dating the same man for the past five years—Every Monday night, more pizza...—and needs to know exactly where it’ s headed (“ It’ s in His Kiss, Wedding Bell Blues” ). The girls try to help Missy stay strong and independent (“ You Don’ t Own Me” ) but she soon melts under the spell of a surprise on-stage proposal (“ With This Ring” ).
Betty Jean steps up and tells us about her love for Johnny (“ I Only Want to Be With You” ) and how their recent marriage has gone awry (“ That’ s When the Tears Start” ). She rebuffs Cindy Lou’ s attempt to restore their friendship with It’ s My Party. When Cindy Lou takes the spotlight, we learn she fled to Hollywood right after high school, only to return to Springfield years later to meet up with the lead singer of the Crooning Crabcakes (“ Son of a Preacher Man” ). Billy Ray indeed changed her life in many ways (“ Leader of the Pack” , “ Maybe” ) and Cindy Lou’ s journey brings about a heartfelt reconciliation with Betty Jean.
A very-pregnant Suzy must now tell her story, fraught with a philandering husband—Richie, once again running the lights—and raging hormones (“ Maybe I Know” ). The girls buoy her up (“ Needle in a Haystack” ) and with their unwavering support, Suzy finds much-needed strength and resolve with Rescue Me and Respect. With the reunion drawing to a close, the Marvelous Wonderettes thank everyone for an amazing evening of wonderful memories (“ Thank You and Goodnight” /” Sincerely” )
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