WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC THEATRE, MORGANTOWN WEST VIRGINIA

2008 SUMMER SEASON

RON IANNONE, FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

EQUITY AUDITIONS AND NON EQUITY AUDITIONS

AEA CONTRACT: LOA REFERENCED TO CORST

ALL PRODUCTIONS ARE HELD AT THE LYELL B. CLAY CONCERT THEATRE AT THE WVU CREATIVE ARTS CENTER

Send Resume & Headshot, or other inquiries to:
casting@wvpublictheatre.com

PITTSBURGH AUDITIONS  WILL TAKE PLACE ON  SATURDAY FEBRUARY 23rd,   FROM 12:00-8:00 AND SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24th,   FROM 9AM to 5PM AT THE JAMES CENTER (AKA. PITTSBURGH MUSICAL THEATRE),
FOR AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL  (304) 291-4117.
Audition appointments will be made starting February 11th .

Please prepare a brief song in the style of the show and role for which you would like to be considered. Actors wishing to be considered for STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE should prepare a brief monologue.

NEW YORK EPA  TUESDAY MARCH 18th FROM 9:30- 5:30 AT THE AEA AUDITION CENTER 165 WEST 46TH STREET 2ND FLOOR, NEW YORK CITY
EPA RULES ARE IN EFFECT

NEW YORK ECC WEDNESDAY MARCH 19th AEA MALE AND FEMALE SINGERS WHO DANCE AT 9 AM. AEA DANCERS WHO SING AT 12PM (BE PREPARED TO TAP)

MORGANTOWN AUDITIONS:  SUNDAY, APRIL 6TH FROM 1 PM – 6 PM AT THE MONONGALIA ARTS CENTER.

Please prepare a brief song in the style of the show and role for which you would like to be considered. Actors wishing to be considered for STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE should prepare a brief monologue.
FOR AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL  (304) 291-4117.
Audition appointments will be made starting March 17th .

DREAMGIRLS

Music: Henry Krieger. Book/Lyrics: Tom Eyen.
Director/Choreographer:  Stephen Nachamie
Music Director: Andrew Austin
Rehearsals:  6/16
Opens: 6/24
Closes:6/29

Experience with the material is a plus due to the short rehearsal schedule.

Curtis Taylor, Jr.: 25-45, African American. Charismatic, Slick manager of  the Dreams. Seduces both Effie & Deena. Tenor. Dances.

Effie Melody White: 18-28 African American. Full-figured. Strong minded and soulful lead singer of  the Dreamettes. Huge gospel belt voice.  Strong charismatic Actress  , Must move very well. 

Deena Jones: 18-27, African American. Glamorous, slender and beautiful. Develops from an eager teenager into a star. Mezzo, full belt.  Strong Actress. Must move very well.

James “Thunder” Early:
25-40, African American. James Brown-like star who takes on Dreamettes as backup singers. Rock tenor. Singing lead riffs & vocal gymnastics required. Comedic - Ator Must move well/ Dance, very physical role.

Marty: 25-45, African American. Sensible veteran music agent. Baritone. Moves well.

Lorrell Robinson: 18-30, African American. 3rd “Dream”, who enters into chaotic relationship with/Jimmy Early Soprano, full belt. Grows from a wide eyed naive young girl into a self assured woman. Great comedic actress Must move very well.

C.C. White: 18-25, African American. Effie's songwriter brother. Very endearing & earnest. Beautiful ballad voice. Must move well.

Michelle Morris: 18-30, African American. Effie's replacement. Thin, attractive. Good, full belt; good with harmony singing.  Must move very well.  (will also be in earlier ensemble scenes)

FOREVER PLAID

Written and originally Directed and Choreographed by Stuart Ross
Director: Bob Durkin
Musical Director: Brian Moats
Rehearsals: June 23, 2008
Opens July 1, 2008
Closes: July 6, 2008

PLEASE NOTE. ACTORS SHOULD HAVE EXPERENCE AND BE HIGHLY SKILLED IN FOUR PART HARMONY SINGING. THEY SHOULD ALSO MOVE VERY WELL. SIGHT SINGING IS ALSO HELPFUL.
(All age ranges early to late 20’s)

FRANCIS :The leader and caretaker of the group. He has the most confidence Crooner.  Charismatic. Strong actor/Comedienne. Vocal Range: Second Tenor-Lyric Baritone

SPARKY: The clown-the imp-the scamp. The "cut-up" of the group.  Strong actor/singer/comedienne.  Must move well. Must sight read music well and be comfortable with tight harmonies. Vocal Range: Baritone

JINX : The shy, terrified, sensitive one. Strong  actor/singer/comedienne.. Vocal Range: Tenor

SMUDGE:The worrier. Transforms from ugly duckling into a handsome prince. Strong/actor/singer/commediene.  Although he’s the klutz of the group, this actor must move well to  in order to time those moments correctly. Strong actor/singer/comedienne. Vocal Range: Bass

WEST SIDE STORY

Based on the  Conception of Jerome Robbins
Book by: Arthur Laurents
Lyrics by: Stephen Sondheim
Music by: Leonard Bernstein
Director: Michael Licata
Choreographer: Vic DiMonda
Music Director: RJ Nestor
Rehearsals begin: 6/30/2008
Opens: 7/8/2008
Closes:7/13/2008

PRINCIPAL ROLES

PLEASE NOTE: ALL ROLES EXCEPT TONY, MARIA AND THE ADULTS MUST BE STRONG DANCERS WHO SING VERY WELL.

THE GANG MEMBERS AND THEIR GIRLS SHOULD READ IN THE 16-20 YEAR OLD AGE RANGE.

TONY: Good looking, co founder of the Jets who is beginning to grow out of his gang roots. Tenor to high B flat.

RIFF: Leader of the Jets; driving, intelligent, and charismatic

BERNARDO: Leader of the Sharks; suave, good-looking, Full of rage.

MARIA: Bernardo’s sister, lovely, enthusiastic naïve young girl who is new to America. Sweet, with a stubborn and strong temperament. Lyric soprano.

ANITA: Bernardo’s girl,  who processes a sharp, fiery Latin sexuality. Strong belt.

ACTION: Aggressive, always looking for a fight, explosive personality
.
A-RAB: Wheeler-dealer with a big brother nature.

BABY JOHN: The youngest of the Jets very naïve.

ANYBODYS: A tomboy who wants to be a member of the Jets.

CHINO: Shy, gentle, sweet-faced boy who Maria was brought to America to marry
 
THE ADULTS (All non-singing roles)

DOC: The kindly owner of the drugstore on the Jets turf.

LT.SCHRANK:  Acerbic NYPD detective

OFFICER KRUPKE:  Goon-like beat cop.

GLADHAND: Square, cheery teacher and chaperone for the dance at the gym.

STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

By Tennessee Williams
Director:  Geoffrey Hitch
Rehearsals: July 7, 2008
Opens: July 15, 2008
Closes: July 20, 2008

Stanley Kowalski: Early 30’s.  Hard, earthy, forceful very direct, often crude and brutish. He lacks ideals and imagination, but is very practical and street-smart.

Blanche DuBois: An aging Southern belle, around 30. Delicate, refined, sensitive, and also cultured and intelligent. Insecure and panicked about her fading beauty.  Even though she dependents on male sexual admiration for her self-esteem, she maintains a degree of innocence and purity.

Stella Kowalski: Mid twenties. Blanche's younger sister and Stanley’s wife who is pregnant with their child. Devoted to her  sister but madly in love with her husband.

Mitch: One of Stanley's friends. Mitch is as tough and "unrefined" as Stanley. An imposing precense, but he is also a deeply sensitive and compassionate.

Steve: Stanley’s poker buddy who lives upstairs with his wife. Brutish, hot-blooded, fit male and an abusive husband.

EUNICE: Steve’s wife, Stella’s upstairs neighbor.. A hot tempered but devoted wife.

Doctor: The perfect chivalric Southern gentleman. Age range: 40+

URBAN COWBOY

Music/Lyrics by various artists.

Book: Aaron Latham, Phillip Oesterman. Adaptation: Paul Bartz and Aaron Latham.
Director: Bob Durkin.
Choreographer,Paula Sloan,
 Musical Director , Andrew H Austin 
Rehearsals  7/14
Opens:7/22-
Closes:7/27

Sissy- (Debra Winger's role in the film) attractive young tomboy, rough and tumble, sexy. Texas earthy appeal. Must be a strong singer/actress. Must have a wide vocal range with a good chest to head blend. Must have a strong belt voice and be comfortable with country music styles.  Must dance and move well. Sexy body under her cowboy veneer. Emancipated woman.

Bud - (John Travolta role in film) Young, masculine cowboy. Must sing and act very well. Great physique. Simple guy with a tough exterior and an inner sensitivity. Must move and dance well. Some partial nudity required. Stage combat experience a plus. Must have a strong baritone/high baritone/falsetto mix.  Comfortable with country music style

Wes - Ex Con. Hardened cowboy. Scary and unpredictable. Threat to Bud's marriage and his life. Strong body. Rugged Good Looks. Must sing and act well, and stage combat experience would be a plus. Strong baritone voice.

Pam - Spoiled rotten rich girl. Paris Hilton in many ways. Sexy, manicured, girly, manipulative. Everything Sissy is not. Must sing, act, and dance well. Must have a good chest to head mix. Strong belt. Partial nudity required.

Aunt Corrine - Strong middle-aged Texas gal. Was a real looker in her time and still is for her age. Must be a strong actress and must sing, and dance well. Must have a sweet country sound as well as a Dolly Parton belt. Comfortable with country music style. Uncle Bob's wife.

Uncle Bob - Cowboy, and father figure to Bud. Salt of the earth guy. Cowboy with a heart of a lamb. Strong actor/singer, and must move well. Strong baritone voice.  Comfortable with country music style. Very likeable character.

THE PRODUCERS

Music and Lyrics: Mel Brooks
Book: Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
REHEARSALS: 7/21
OPENS: 7/29
CLOSES:8/3
Director: Michael Licata
Choreographer:: TBA
Music Director: Brian Moats

MAX BIALYSTOCK: Broadway Producer whose career is on the decline. Could have a “portly’  build. A strong actor with an exception comic ability. Sings and moves very well. Age range is 40 +.

LEO BLOOM: Meek mannered accountant. Excellent actor who is comfortable with comedy as a “straight man” Age range is late 20’s early 30’s

FRANTZ  LIEBKIND Eccentric intense German playwright.  Speaks with a German accent. Sings and moves well. Age range mid thirties and up.

ROGER DEBRIS :Flamboyant, rapidly approaching middle age, gay Broadway director. Projects the aura of a creative genius. Sings and Dances well.

ULLA   Tall, leggy, sexy Swedish blond. Early 20’s. Sings and Dances extremely well.

ALL OTHER ROLES WILL BE CAST FOR THE ENSEMBLE WHO MUST BE VERY STRONG DANCERS WHO SING WITH A STRONG TAP SKILL.

Although we strongly urge actors to attend auditions, actors unable to attend auditions may submit materials by mail to: West Virginia Public Theatre, PO Box 4270, Morgantown, WV 26504-4270. or e-mail: casting@wvpublictheatre.com

Send Resume & Headshot, or other inquiries to:
casting@wvpublictheatre.com