Auditions
This notice was posted on auditionsfree.com
location: Metro Detroit
Category: Theater
Auditions Weekend November 2, 3 & 4 at Grosse Pointe Theatre – Casting for Doubt (drama) and Big River (musical)
Grosse Pointe Theatre announces auditions for two shows, a drama and a musical. Both auditions will be held at Grosse Pointe Theatre’s rehearsal studio, 315 Fisher Road, Grosse Pointe, MI 48230.
DRAMA – Doubt
On Friday, November 2 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 3 from 5:00 to7:00 pm, director Lois Bendler will hold auditions for the drama, Doubt by John Patrick Shanley. The play is a stunning parable of suspicion and uncertainty, set at the fictional St. NIcholas School in the Bronx, New York in the fall of 1964. The Sisters of Charity, dressed in their veiled habits, run the school. They believe in eternal punishment for mortal sins. They obey their male counterparts and they educate the children. Trust is the order of the day, which leaves the children vulnerable to predators. The play raises possibilities, suspicions, questions, and inevitably, doubt.
Performance dates for Doubt will be February 21-24, February 28 and March 1-3, 2013. The show is being produced through GPT’s Purdon Studio Theatre and will be staged at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Visitor Center. Rehearsals are generally scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with occasional Friday evening rehearsals. The director will work around actors’ schedules.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS for Doubt
• Sister Aloysius Beauvier: (50s/60s) The sister superior and principal of St Nicholas School. She is rigid, conservative and cynical.
• Father Brendan Flynn: (late 30s) The parish priest. He is articulate and personable.
• Sister James: (20s) A young nun. She is an enthusiastic, compassionate but inexperienced teacher.
• Mrs. Muller: (African American, mid 30s) The mother of Donald Muller, the first African-American student ever admitted to the school.
Scripts are available at Grosse Pointe Theatre. There is a refundable $20 deposit to borrow a script.
Call the Grosse Pointe Theatre ticket and information line at 313-881-4004.
MUSICAL COMEDY – Big River
On Saturday, November 3, from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 4, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., director Kathleen Lietz, with musical director Stan Harr, and choreographer John Luther, will hold auditions for Big River (book by William Hauptman, music & lyrics by Roger Miller). The musical depicts the great American adventure tale of Huckleberry Finn and his good buddy, Tom Sawyer (based on the story by Mark Twain).
Twain’s timeless classic tale sweeps us down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their adventures along the way are hilarious, suspenseful and heart-warming, bringing to life favorite characters from the novel: the Widow Douglas and her stern sister, Miss Watson; the uproarious King and Duke, who may or may not be as harmless as they seem; Huck’s partner in crime, Tom Sawyer, and their rowdy gang of pals; Huck’s drunken father, the sinister Pap Finn; the lovely Mary Jane Wilkes and her trusting family. Propelled by the award winning score by country music great, Roger Miller, this jaunty journey provides a brilliant theatrical celebration of pure Americana.
Performance dates for Big River are January 20, 24-27, 31, and February 1 & 2, 2013, at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. Evening rehearsals will generally be Monday through Thursday evenings and a few Saturdays.
BIG RIVER CHARACTERS
There are 12 principal characters (8 men, 4 women) and 8 to15 ensemble members of all ages. Scripts and song cuts are available at Grosse Pointe Theatre. There is a refundable $20 deposit to borrow a script.
The director is open to casting against type and age. Due to the nature of the play, she will not cast against the race as scripted, however, she is open to casting all ethnicities. Actors are asked to wear comfortable clothing and shoes to learn some simple movement from the show.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
• Jim Bradley: male, age: 25–45, baritone, lead. A runaway slave who joins Huck in his flight down the river. Audition songs: Free At Last and Worlds Apart
• Huckleberry Finn: male, age: 16–25, high baritone, lead. Young, adventurous and a little bit naïve, Huck is the narrator of the story and the voice of Mark Twain. Audtion songs: Waitin’ for the Light to Shine and Worlds Apart
• King: male, age:35–55, baritone, support. The older of two con men who claims to be the disappeared heir to the French throne and takes control of Huck and Jim’s raft. A larger than life vaudeville type. Audition song: When the Sun Goes Down
• Duke: male, 35–55, tenor, support. The younger of two con men who claims to be the Duke of Bridgewater and takes control of Huck and Jim’s raft. A larger than life vaudeville type. Audition song: When the Sun Goes Down
• Pap Finn: male, 38–50, baritone support. Huck’s drunk, abusive father who tries to steal his son’s reward money. Audition song: Guv’ment
• Tom Sawyer: male, age: 16–25, tenor, support. Huck’s best friend who enjoys schemes and extravagant stories. Audition song: Hand for the Hog
• Young Fool: male, age 16–25, tenor, featured. A friendly person who inadvertently mistakes the King, the Duke and Huck as someone else. Audition song: Arkansas
• Alice: female 30 – 60 soprano featured. The Wilkes Slave. Audition song: Waitin’ for the Light to Shine (Reprise)
• Alice’s daughter: female, age 12–30, soprano/alto (low G to high C ), featured. The daughter of the Wilkes slave, Alice. Audition song: How Blest We Are (Arkansas M.100-end)
• Mary Jane Wilkes: female, 16–25, mezzo, support. Love interest to Huck. Peter Wilkes’ beautiful daughter who is tricked by the Duke and the King. Audition song: You Oughta Be Here with Me.
• Judge Thatcher: male, 45–75, baritone, featured. Kindly town judge who watches over Huck and his reward money. Audition song: Do You Wanna Go to Heaven.
• Widow Douglas: female 50–70, soprano/alto, (moderate range), featured. Town widow who takes care of Huck and tries to civilize him through religion and kindness. Audition song: Do You Wanna Go to Heaven.
• Miss Watson female 40–60, soprano/alto (moderate range), featured. Widow Douglas’ sister, who also tried to civilize Huck through religion and manners. Audition song: Do You Wanna Go to Heaven.
• 8-15 Ensemble Roles: Non-featured. Can be any age, female, male, teens or children. The ensemble will play townspeople, hired hands, slaves, Mark Twain & Tom Sawyer’s “band of robbers,” mourners, movers, tarts, etc. Audition song: Do You Wanna Go to Heaven or How Blest We Are (Arkansas meas. 76)
For more information, contact producer Deborah Martell at djmcce@yahoo.com.
These are community theatre productions. Actors are unpaid, but head shots, costumes, makeup and refreshments are provided. Actors must be members of Grosse Pointe Theatre to perform in either show. Membership in Grosse Pointe Theatre is open to all persons over age 18 with an interest in theatre. The annual membership fee is $45. Actors under age 18 must have a parent who is a member of Grosse Pointe Theatre.
Grosse Pointe Theatre is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. See the Grosse Pointe Theatre website at www.gpt.org for more information. (end)
Job type: Non Paid
Casting Location: Metro Detroit
