Gallery Theater Announces Auditions for THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, 6/10-13

Gallery Theater is holding auditions for The Will Rogers Follies, June 10-13. With book by Peter Stone, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and winner of Six Tony Awards, this production will be directed by Rich Pratt.

Auditions will be held Sunday, June 10, 2012, Vocals, 6-9:00 p.m.; Monday, June 11, 2012, Vocals 7-9:00 p.m.; Tuesday, June 12, 2012, Vocals 7-8:00 p.m., *Dance 8-9:30 p.m.; Wednesday, June 13, 2012 Callbacks, 6-9:30 p.m.

Auditions are by appointment only. Call the box office at 472-2227 to schedule.

The Gallery Theater is located at 210 N Ford Street, McMinnville, Ore.

The Will Rogers Follies is an upbeat musical show full of big splashy dance numbers, catchy music and humor of the life of the famous Will Rogers. Rogers chronicles his leaving home at 19 to become a cowboy in Argentina, meeting his wife Betty Blake and performing on the vaudeville stage. Rogers gets his big break when he is invited to join the Ziegfeld Follies at the height of his popularity and becomes the country’s biggest and highest paid star of every medium of his time; stage, screen, radio, newspaper and public appearances. He’s even asked to run for president.

Cast of Characters:

Will Rogers, the American humorist age (30-50), also plays guitar and harmonica

Betty Blake, Will’s wife age 30’s, mezzo-belter to E flat

Clem Rogers, Will’s father-also doubles as an angel, priest & Blues piano player

Ziegfeld’s favorite, a beautiful chorus girl, belter to B flat

Mr. Ziegfeld (voice) a voice heard from above

Wiley Post, an airplane pilot who is seated in the audience

Will Rogers, Jr., Will and Betty’s son age 9-12

Mary Rogers, Will and Betty’s daughter age 9-12

James Rogers, Will and Betty’s son age 9-12

Freddy Rogers, Will and Betty’s son age 9-12

The Will Rogers Wranglers, a male quartet

The Ziegfeld Chorus girls-excellent singers and dancers, tap age 16+ required, Las Vegas showgirl types, heels!

Roper, a professional rope spinner

Stage Manager

Chorus (possible other singers and dancers)

What to prepare and bring to the audition:

1. 32 bars of a musical theater song in the style of the show

2. Sheet music or a karaoke CD or music on an iPod

Monologues and script readings may be required at callbacks.

*Everyone must attend the dance audition. We are looking for very strong dancers with tap skills a plus.

We will be looking for: a backstage crew, rehearsal and audition piano player, live band, professional rope spinner, costumers, set builders, a trained dog act for the Wild West Show section. The set will consist mostly of a very grand Ziegfeld-style staircase.

Eleven performances: September 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 ~ 2012. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Sunday performances at 3 p.m.

For more information regarding these auditions, contact Gallery Theater at 503-472-2227 or go to www.gallerytheater.org.

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