SF FOLLIES Auditions 12/6, Opens at Actors Theatre 2/9

Bay Area theatre director and producer John Bisceglie, known for his elaborate and colorful musical productions, will be producing and directing his SF Follies musical revue at the Actors Theatre in San Francisco, opening February 6th, 2009.

The SF Follies takes a wicked wink at San Francisco's past, present and future.The show lampoons the City's popular landmarks, attractions, personalities, neighborhoods, institutions and events, making it the one show the San Francisco Board of Supervisors doesn't want you to see.With hippies, flappers, rabid sea lions, earthquakes, and a nearly naked gold miner, the SF Follies is as unique and zany as the city itself. 300 years of San Francisco history, secrets, scandals and urban folklore are revealed in this 75-minute, hilarious, jaw-dropping musical revue that's brimming with singing, dancing and great local laughs.

The show features over 120 custom-built period costumes spanning the 1700’s to the modern day for its diverse cast of 12 performers (6 men & 6 women). The show has a Las Vegas revue feel, while retaining a local SF edge. It has big production value with glittery and electric sets of San Francisco famed landmarks and institutions combined with video projection. The show is set to a hit parade of popular and upbeat rock, pop, blues and show tunes. Listen to a sample of the singing and comedy at www.sffollies.com/preview.

Bisceglie (38) a San Jose native, is no stranger to the Follies. In 1995, he created and produced the long running San Jose Follies and San Jose Follies Strikes Back that played at both Bella Mia Restaurant and the Victory Theater in Downtown San Jose for two years.

For years Bisceglie had always wanted to create a Follies production for San Francisco. Over the past 12 months he has been busy developing SF’s own Follies with coauthor and friend Jason Tarshis. Tarshis also co-wrote both of the San Jose productions. Says Tarshis, "Although working on the San Jose Follies was great fun, we always felt that the show was bigger and ballsier than San Jose and that it screamed out for San Francisco. Only a San Francisco setting could do the Follies justice!"

Although the show is risqué at times with definite attitude, it is by no means mean-spirited, and in fact celebrates San Francisco. Included in the SF Follies "Hit List," are over 300 SF and California personalities, businesses, landmarks and institutions. See who’s named or portrayed in the show at www.sffollies.com/hitlist.

A favorite for both locals and visitors, BISCEGLIE'S SF FOLLIES takes a wicked wink at San Francisco's past, present and future. The show pokes fun at the City's popular landmarks, attractions, personalities, neighborhoods and events.

With hippies, flappers, rabid sea lions, earthquakes, and a nearly naked gold miner, Bisceglie's SF Follies is as unique and zany as the city itself.

BISCEGLIE'S SF FOLLIES invites people to discover 300 years of San Francisco's history, secrets, scandals and urban folklore as they are revealed in this 90 minute hilarious, jaw-dropping musical revue overflowing with singing, dancing and outrageous comedy.

BISCEGLIE'S SF FOLLIES opens February 6th, 2009 at The Actors Theatre at 855 Bush at Taylor in San Francisco.

TICKET INFORMATION

SF Follies Tickets are $20-$40. Buy before January 18th 2009 for only $20. Limited Supply. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 1-800-838-3006. Due to limited seating, advance ticket purchases are strongly recommended as most performances sell out in advance. Cash only at the door.

Performances are on Thursday, Friday & Saturday Evenings at 8pm and Sunday Matinees at 2pm. Doors open ½ prior to curtain. General Seating. The SF Follies runs approximately 90 minutes and is performed without an intermission.  PG13.

For more information, visit http://www.sffollies.com.

AUDITION INFORMATION

In addition to directing and producing the show, Bisceglie has created the marketing collateral, made the set and costume designs and secured a location for the show. Says Bisceglie, "Finding the right location in San Francisco was a bit of a challenge. I literally hit the streets with my presentation folder and laptop with a demo of the show, and pitched the concept to nearly 50 locations. Making cold calls to banquet managers and meeting with hotel and restaurant managers who don’t know much about theater is rough. Most of them thought it was a good idea, but their meeting room and banquet spaces were too valuable to give up for a 9-13 week run."

“We needed a theater that wasn’t too big or too small, and the stage needed to have a large enough area for our sets and costumes. After seriously considering about 10 venues, we decided to go with the Actors Theatre at 855 Bush Street (at Taylor.) The space is a perfect location for both locals and visitors to get to.  It’s large enough for our set and technical needs, but still has the intimacy and perks of a 90-seat house.”

Now that Bisceglie has the location, he's turning his attention to securing a talented cast of 6 men and 6 women to bring his story to life.

“These shows are tons of fun, and great showcases for local non-union talent looking for quality productions,” he says.

in addition to being a part of an exciting and unique experience, all cast and crew will be paid a stipend of $500 to $1300 for the run to help cover transportation and parking expenses. In addition to the stipend, actors will receive professional color headshots to be used in the program and press shots.

“We are always hoping for that triple threat, those performers who can really sing, dance and act.” We seek actors ages 18-60 of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities. After all, the show is about San Francisco, and we hope for a diverse cast.

Each actor will play 10-13 different characters in a tour de force of quick costume and wig changes. The characters are silly, larger than life stereotypes.

At the audition, actors will be asked to sing 16 bars (30 seconds) of two songs a cappella (no piano or karaoke music). One song should really show off their voice and another song that shows that they can be funny and larger than life.

Candidates may also be asked to improvise a variety of extreme SF characters such as: Mayor Gavin Newsom, flapper, Spanish explorer, hippie, gold miner, rabid sea lion to a scary thug on MUNI.

Callbacks will be held on Sunday, December 7th from 12:00PM to 4:00PM. At this time we will dance, read and sing selections from the show.

Although rehearsals won’t start until January 2009, Bisceglie and his team will be holding auditions on December 6th at the SF Dance Center, located at 26 7th St. in SF.

Adds Bisceglie, "We really need to line the cast up prior to the holidays, so we can start building the 120+ costumes.”

Auditions will be held on Saturday, December 6th at the SF Dance Center for Bisceglie’s SF Follies, an irreverent musical revue that takes a wicked wink at SF's past, present and future. History, secrets, scandals & urban folklore are revealed in this hilarious & glitzy jaw-dropping revue.

We are seeking 12 non-union men & women, ages 18-65, who sing, dance, and act to play dozens of roles. Great showcase for local talent! In addition to being a part of an exciting and unique experience, all cast and crew will be paid a stipend of $500 to $1300 for the run to help cover transportation and parking expenses. In addition to the stipend, actors will receive professional color headshots to be used in the program and press shots. (Photos will be used in our full color show program, and to promote the show in the press)
                      
All 120 costumes & wigs provided (other than shoes, tights and undergarments.) The SF Follies is a great showcase for local talent who are looking to be a part of a high quality production. Written by John Bisceglie and Jason Tarshis. Directed & produced by John Bisceglie. Choreographed by Kayvon Kordestani.

Before you set up your audition appointment, please make sure you can meet our show and rehearsal commitments.

Rehearsal Info:

Only 19 rehearsals between January 6th-February 5th:  Wednesday evenings: 7-10:30 PM; Saturday afternoons: 1 PM-5:30 PM;  Sunday evenings: 5:30 PM-8:30PM. Hell week: Jan 31st& Feb 1st. 11 AM-6 PM & Feb. 2, 3, 4 & 5 from 7-11pm.

Performances:

The show will be performed in the Actors Theatre at 855 Bush St. (@ Taylor) for 9 weeks: February 6th through April 5th. Thur-Fri-Sat 8 PM; Sun, 2:00 PM. (Possible extension through April 26th.)

If this sounds good and you are available for both our rehearsal and show dates, please read on to prepare for the audition, and to make your appointment to attend.

Audition Prep:

1. Please bring a photo/resume stapled together.

2. Prepare to sing 16 bars (30 seconds) of two songs a cappella (no piano or karaoke music). One song should really show off your voice and another song should be funny and larger than life.

3. You will be asked to improvise a variety of extreme SF characters such as: Mayor Gavin Newsom, flapper, Spanish explorer, hippie, gold miner, rabid sea lion to a scary thug on muni.

Audition Date:

Saturday, December 6th, 2008

All Men at 1:30 PM
All Women at 3:00 PM

Call Backs:

If needed, you may be asked to return for a callback on Sunday, December 7th from 12:00PM noon to 4:00PM. (At this time we will dance, read and sing selections from the show)

PLEASE EMAIL US AT sffolliesauds@gmail.com. TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TO ATTEND.
Feel free to send us your photo and resume.

Please do not call the Actors Theatre or SF Dance Center for audition or show information.

Audition Location:

San Francisco Dance Center
26 Seventh Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

For complete audition and show info, please visit http://www.sffollies.com/auditions.html.

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