Audition Information

SIGNATURE THEATRE OPEN CALL FOR 2012/13 SEASON MUSICALS/PLAYS

Artistic Director: Eric Schaeffer
Associate Artistic Director:  Matthew Gardiner

Arena Stage and Signature Theatre’s Joint Seasonal Equity Performer (Principal and Chorus) Auditions

March 19th & 20th at Arena Stage 1101 6th Street SW Washington DC 20024
10am – 6pm

No Appointment necessary, AEA members will be seen on a first come first serve basis.

Prepare either 1) a short monologue or 2) a short song or 3) a short monologue and a short song. Bring sheet music in correct key, accompanist provided but may not transpose. Bring 2 headshots and resumes, stapled together.

Arena Stage and Signature Theatre’s Joint Seasonal Non Equity Performer Auditions

March 21st at Arena Stage 1101 6th Street SW Washington DC 20024
10am – 5pm

No Appointment necessary, Sign up begins at 9:30am.

Prepare either 1) a short monologue or 2) a short song or 3) a short monologue and a short song. 90 seconds max. Bring sheet music in correct key, accompanist provided but may not transpose. Bring 2 headshots and resumes, stapled together.

2012/13 SEASON MUSICALS:

THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS
Book by Larry L King and Peter Masterson
Music & Lyrics by Carol Hall
Directed by Eric Schaeffer
1st rehearsal: July 17, 2012. Runs: August 14 – October 7, 2012

  • Miss Mona Stangley – 35-55. Alto. Owner of The Chicken Ranch. Business woman and maternal figure to the girls who work for her. Confident, but with unfulfilled dreams.
  • Sheriff Earl Dodd – 40-55. Baritone. Gruff, handsome sheriff with a fondness for Miss Mona.
  • Melvin P. Thorpe – 40-60. Baritone. Preacher with show business instincts parading around as a news reporter.
  • Mayor Rufus/Senator Winwoah – 35-65. Spoken. Mayor Rufus is a local car salesman and mayor of town. Probably never imagined he’d actually have to make a decision. Senator Winwoah is a patron of the whorehouse and a former Aggie.
  • CJ Shruggs/Governor – 40-65. Tenor. CJ is the sidekick to the mayor and opinionated on how the town should be run. The Governor will “sidestep” any issue to keep the public happy.
  • Angel – 25-35. Mezzo. A city prostitute with a son. Been through the ringer and looking to get out.
  • Shy – 18-25. Mezzo. A sweet and shy, inexperienced farm girl, who’s looking to start her life at The Chicken Ranch.
  • Jewel – 30-55. Mezzo. Housekeeper and confidant to Miss Mona.
  • Doatsy Mae – 30-50. Alto. A wise cracking waitress, who has no faith in the men in the town to get things done correctly.
  • Edsel Mackey – 30-55. Spoken. Editor of the town newspaper. Liberal minded, but conforms to the ways of the town as to not rock the boat too much.
  • The Girls of The Chicken Ranch – 20-40. Lina Loou, Dawn, Ruby Rae, Beatrice, Taddy Jo, Ginger, Eloise. Great singers and dancers.
  • Aggie Football Players – 20-25. Great singers and dancers. High testosterone jocks.

DREAMGIRLS
Book & Lyrics by Tom Eyen
Music by Henry Krieger
Directed & Choreographed by Matthew Gardiner
1st rehearsal: October 16, 2012. Runs: November 13, 2012 – January 6, 2013

  • Curtis Taylor, Jr – 30-45, African-American. Tenor. Slick businessman who becomes Dreams’ manager. Seduces both Effie & Deena.
  • Effie Melody White – 20-35, African-American. Gospel Belt. Full-figured. Lead singer of Dreams. Amazing voice and must move very well.
  • Deena Jones – 20-35, African-American. Mezzo, Full Belt. Young, thin & beautiful member of Dreams. The Diana Ross figure. Must move very well.
  • James “Thunder” Early – 30-45, African-American. Rock Tenor. James Brown-like star who takes on Dreamettes as backup singers. Must move very well.
  • Marty – 30-45, African-American. Baritone. Veteran Music Agent.
  • Lorrell Robinson – 20-35, African-American. Soprano/Belt. 3rd member of Dreams. Must move very well.
  • CC White – 20-30, African-American. Tenor. Effie’s songwriting brother. Endearing and earnest.
  • Michelle Morris – 20-35, African-American. Alto. Effie’s replacement. Must move very well.
  • Wayne – 30-40, African-American. Works for Curtis. Good singer and mover.
  • Dave – 20-25, White. Tenor. Sings “Cadillac Car.”
  • Ensemble Men – 20-40. Play multiple smaller roles. Excellent singers and dancers.
  • Ensemble Women – 20-40. Play multiple smaller roles. Excellent singers and dancers.

HELLO, DOLLY!
Book by Michael Stewart
Music & Lyrics by Jerry Herman
Directed by Eric Schaeffer
Music Directed by James Moore
Choreography by Karma Camp
Co-Production with Ford’s Theatre, Produced at Ford’s Theatre
1st rehearsal: February 12, 2013 Runs: March 15 – May 18, 2013.

  • Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi – 40-60. Mezzo. An indefatigable meddling matchmaker of strikingly dramatic appearance; a widow in her middle years.
  • Ernestina – 25-45. A girl in need of Mrs. Levi’s services.
  • Ambrose Kemper – 17-25. A young artist seeking to marry Ermengarde.
  • Horace Vandergelder – 40-65. Baritone. Proprietor of a Hay & Feed Store in Yonkers, N.Y. and a client of Mrs. Levi’s. A widower of some means.
  • Ermengardge – 17-20. The niece of Horace Vandergelder.
  • Cornelius Hackl – 30-35. Baritone. Vandergelder’s chief clerk.
  • Barnaby Tucker – 17-20. Tenor. An assistant to Cornelius.
  • Minnie Fay – 18-20. Mezzo Soprano. A young girl who works in Irene’s shop.
  • Irene Malloy – 30-35. Soprano. A milliner with a hat shop near 14th Street in New York City. Mrs. Levi has introduced her to Mr. Vandergelder.
  • Ensemble Man – 40-60. Rudolph Reisenweber, Judge and various parts.
  • Male Ensemble – 20-30. 5’9” – 6’; strong actors/singers/dancers. Should be a strong tapper and be able to play various roles.

COMPANY
Book by George Furth
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Directed by Eric Schaeffer
1st rehearsal: April 23, 2013. Runs: May 21 – June 30, 2012

  • Robert – 35. Baritone. Central character. Quiet observer.
  • April – 25-35. Mezzo. Flight attendant. A bit of an air-head.
  • Harry – 30-45. Baritone. An alcoholic with control issues.
  • Susan – 25-35. Mezzo. Southern belle.
  • Kathy – 30-40. Mezzo. Small town girl, sweet and very much in need of love.
  • Marta – 25-35. Mezzo. Driven young woman who loves New York City.
  • Peter – 25-35. Baritone. Husband with homosexual tendencies.
  • Jenny – 30-45. Soprano. Quietly manipulative. Wise.
  • David – 30-45. Tenor. Pot-smoker. Relaxed and in control.
  • Amy – 25-40. Alto. Frantic and neurotic bride to be.
  • Paul – 25-40. Tenor. Madly in love with Amy.
  • Larry – 40-60. Tenor. Stoic, centered.
  • Sarah – 30-45. Alto. Crisply critical. Karate learner. Over eater.
  • Joanne – 40-60. Alto. Acerbic, funny and demanding.

2012/13 SEASON PLAYS

DYING CITY
By Christopher Shinn
Directed by Matthew Gardiner
1st rehearsal: September 10, 2012. Runs October 2 – November 25, 2012.

  • Kelly – 25-35. A young therapist who is dealing with the loss of her husband, both emotionally and physically.
  • Peter/Craig – 25-35. Twin brothers played by the same actor. Handsome and versatile actor. One twin is a gay Hollywood actor; the other is a Harvard graduate who serves in the military.

SHAKESPEARE’S R&J
Adapted & Directed by Joe Calarco
1st rehearsal: January 8, 2013. Runs February 5- March 3, 2013.

  • Four Males – 20-30. Strong understanding of Shakespeare’s text, able to play multiple characters.

CRIMES OF THE HEART
By Beth Henley
Directed by Aaron Posner
1st rehearsal: March 5, 2013. Runs April 2 – April 28, 2013.

  • Lenny Magrath – 30s-40s. The oldest sister. A dutiful and caring, lonely dreamer.
  • Chick Boyle – 20s-30s. Sisters’ cousin. A drama queen who is flamboyant and slightly vulgar.
  • Meg Mcgrath – 20s-30s. The middle sister. Artistic and wild. Unbalanced.
  • Babe Mcgrath – 20s. Youngest sister. Angelic, volatile.
  • Doc Porter – 20s to 40s. Meg’s old boyfriend. Handsome. Sensitive and seductive.
  • Barnette Lloyd – 20s to 30s. Babe’s lawyer. Smart and practical.