IVORYTON PLAYHOUSE 2023 SEASON - CENTERBROOK, CT EPA
IVORYTON PLAYHOUSE FOUNDATION, INC.
Ivoryton Playhouse
103 Main St
Ivoryton, CT 06442-1101
Sat, Jan 21, 2023
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (EST)
(Break 1pm-2pm)
Please call 860 767 9520 ext.207, Monday - Friday, 9 AM – 4 PM to schedule an appointment or email Nathan at nathan@ivorytonplayhouse.org.
SPT
$650 weekly minimum (Tier 6)
Equity actors for roles in Ivoryton Playhouse 2023 Season (see breakdown).
Auditions for musicals – prepare a brief cut of a song in the style of the show. Auditions for plays – sides will be available on the Playhouse website.
https://www.ivorytonplayhouse.org/get-involved .
Please bring a picture and resume, stapled together.
Expected to attend:
Executive/Artistic Director: Jacqueline Hubbard
Associate Artistic Director: Todd Underwood
Director: Brian Feehan
Musical Director: Mark Ceppetelli
DATES
See production dates in breakdown.
Schedule for all shows: Wednesday, Sunday matinees; evening performances Wednesday – Saturday (except first week which has Thursday instead of Wednesday matinee and no Wednesday evening,).
http://www.ivorytonplayhouse.org
An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of audition.
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.
Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.
Equity encourages everyone participating in the auditions to wear a two-ply cloth face mask, surgical mask, singer’s mask or respirator (N95, KN95 or KF94). Single-ply face masks, gaiters and bandanas are not recommended. Singer’s masks can be found at www.broadwayreliefproject.com/singersmask.
Equity encourages members to prepare for their audition prior to arriving at the audition venue, to the extent that they can (e.g., get dressed, hair/make-up, etc.) to avoid crowding in bathrooms and dressing rooms.
Holding/Audition room information:
The audition room can accommodate no more than 30 individuals at a time.
The holding room can accommodate no more than 270 individuals at a time.
by Matthew Lopez
Director: Todd Underwood
First rehearsal - 3/21/2023
First performance - 4/6/2023
Close - 4/30/2023
Seeking:
CASEY: Male Identifying, 20’s, white. A charismatic and good-looking small-town high school football star turned Elvis impersonator, with the biggest of hearts. He loves his wife ferociously; dreams big, if not always practically; but his charm and optimism are infectious. Married to Jo. He becomes Georgia McBride, his new drag queen persona with Elvis/country/rock and roll roots; a force of nature; sexy, flirtatious, athletic, joyous, and fierce. NOTE: The role requires dancing in heels, lip-syncing, and singing. Playing guitar is a plus.
JO: Female Identifying, African American. She is Casey’s wife. A hardheaded realist who is prone to being fatalistic, insecure about her appearance, but still a striking young woman. Determined, quick-witted, tough without being bitchy. Loves Casey wholeheartedly; she is his grounding force. Supportive of Casey’s dreams, but aware of their financial hardships, and her newly discovered pregnancy.
MISS TRACY MILLS: Male Identifying or non-binary, 40s-59s, any ethnicity. A well-seasoned and very gifted Drag Queen, Professional, Confident, and very funny, with a heart of gold. Tracy’s bitchiness is of the harmless variety. Intelligent, kind, protective, resourceful, and nurturing. A natural mentor and drag mother to Casey. She combats strife with a razor wit and a steely determination. Equal parts inspiration and desperation. When she’s not embracing her drag persona, she is Bobby, Eddie’s cousin. NOTE: The role requires dancing in heels and lip-syncing.
REXY/JASON: Male Identifying or non-binary, 20s-30s, any ethnicity. Rexy: Fiery, Combative, Emotional, she’s a sharp-tongued drag queen with a dark past and destructive behavior; a trashy girl who fancies herself the most sophisticated lady in the room. A fellow drag performer of Miss Tracy Mills. Jason: Casey and Jo’s sweet-natured best friend and neighbor. Casey’s high school buddy and now Landlord. A young father, henpecked at home, surprises you with warmth and insight. NOTE: The role requires dancing in heels and lip-syncing.
EDDIE: Male Identifying, 50s-60s, any ethnicity. The no-frills owner of Cleo’s Bar on the beach in Panama City, Florida, and Bobby’s (aka/Miss Tracy) older cousin. Easily flustered, rough around the edges, a walking ulcer, but a huge heart. His curmudgeon exterior shields his open-hearted generosity and empathy. He starts off as the world’s worst emcee but transforms into an amateur showman who secretly loves the spotlight.
by Ernest Thompson
Director: Brian Feehan
First rehearsal - 5/2/2023
First performance - 5/18/2023
Close - 6/11/2023
Seeking:
Norman Thayer, Jr.: Nearing his eightieth birthday, Norman is flirting with senility and is aware of it enough to use it to his advantage, usually with sarcastic humor. A former professor of English, he is a curmudgeon, as he feels his age entitles him to be. He is very much in love with Ethel, his wife, but doesn’t quite know what to do about their daughter, Chelsea. CAST
Ethel Thayer: Ten years younger than Norman, Ethel is a spritely, active woman who loves her husband completely and who is in love with simply being alive. She is a caregiver, sweetheart, and friend to Norman. Decisive, loving, and sociable. CAST
Charlie Martin: The local delivery-by-boat mailman, Charlie is a long-time family friend and a typical Maine down-Easterner. Still single, he has had a life-long crush on Chelsea.
Chelsea Thayer Wayne: Attractive, divorced, and in her forties, Chelsea is still dealing with the lack of closeness between her and Norman. She is engaged to Bill Ray, whom she brings to meet her parents.
Billy Ray: The fourteen-year-old son of Bill Ray, he is a typical California teenager who comes to spend a month with Norman and Ethel on Golden Pond while his father and Chelsea are in Europe. He masks his self-doubt with overconfidence.
Bill Ray: A dentist, Chelsea’s fiancé, and Billy’s father, Bill is definitely not the outdoors type. He is trying his best to make a good impression on Norman and Ethel. Honest and straightforward, he stands up to Norman.
by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
Director: Jacqueline Hubbard
Choreographer: Francesca Webster; Musical Director: Mark Ceppetelli
First rehearsal- 6/13/2023
First performance- 6/29/2023
Close - 7/30/2023
Seeking:
Maria Rainer (Lead): Female, Adult - Soprano. A postulant at Nonnberg Abbey – Maria is a headstrong, free-spirited young woman. She is spunky, opinionated, warm, resourceful, youthful, gentle and kind with much determination. CAST
Captain Georg von Trapp (Lead): Male, Adult – Bass Baritone. A retired Austrian naval captain. He is a widower. He’s polished, yet very military in the way he runs his life; underneath, he is warm, understanding and determined. Regimented, dignified, commanding, manly, polished, noble, intelligent. CAST
Max Detweiler (Lead): Male, Adult - Tenor. A theatrical agent and First Secretary of Education and Culture – a personal friend of Von Trapp and a sort of uncle to his children. He is clever at his job, charming, witty, and quite pushy to get what he wants. He has a humorous personality. He enjoys the good life and those that live the good life. CAST
The Mother Abbess (Lead): Female, Mature Adult - Soprano. The Mother Abbess is an inspirational leader for all the nuns at the Abby. She is a true big-hearted mother figure, loved, adored and respected. She has a bit of hidden spunk. CAST
Baroness Elsa Schraeder (Lead): Female, Adult – Mezzo Soprano. A very wealthy widow, who is president of her late husband’s corporation. Elegant, sophisticated city person. Clever and canny, she has begun a flirtation with Captain Von Trapp. She is very much into making a good social arrangement. Age: 30-45; Vocal range: F5 to D4; Vocal Technique: Legit. Dancing: Good dancing skills
Liesl Von Trapp (Lead): Female, Late Teen – Mezzo Soprano. At age 16, Liesl is the eldest of the Von Trapp siblings. She is innocent, naïve, coy, flirtatious, headstrong and infatuated with Rolf. She is pretty but unsophisticated and tends to think everything is wonderful. She has a maternal edge to her and cares very deeply and lovingly for her younger siblings. Age: 16. Vocal range: E5 to B3; Vocal Technique: Legit; Dancing: Good dancing skills.
Friedrich Von Trapp (Supporting): Male, Early Teen – Tenor. Frederich is 14 and is proud to be a boy. He has a tough exterior and is very much trying to be “the man” of the family; desperately needs his father. Age: 14; Vocal range: G5 to C4; Vocal Technique: Legit. Dancing: Able to move.
Louisa Von Trapp (Supporting): Female, Early Teen – Mezzo Soprano. Louisa is 13, clever, and full of mischief. She is the master of pranks and enjoys pulling them on others. She is quite a tomboy, has a rebellious attitude, and misses her mother a great deal. Age: 13; Vocal range: G5 to C4. Vocal Technique: Legit; Dancing: Able to move.
Kurt Von Trapp (Supporting): Male, Child – Countertenor/falsetto. Kurt is 10. He wants to be 11 and introduces himself as “11-almost”. He is the second boy and the middle of the children. He often tries to act manly and is outspoken against the previous governesses. He is gentle and a peacemaker. Age: 10; Vocal range: G5 to C4; Vocal Technique: Falsetto, Yodeling, Legit. Dancing: Able to move.
Brigitta Von Trapp (Supporting): Female, Child – Mezzo Soprano. Brigitta is 9. She is smart as a whip, very perceptive and always tells the truth whether you like it or not. She’s an avid reader and suspicious of “Uncle Max”. Age: 9; Vocal range: G5 to C4; Vocal Technique: Legit. Dancing: Able to move.
Marta Von Trapp (Supporting): Female, Child – Mezzo Soprano. Marta is 7. She is one of the quietest Von Trapps. She loves the color pink, is very inquisitive, smart and gentle. Age: 7; Vocal range: G5 to C4. Vocal Technique: Legit; Dancing: Able to move.
Gretl Von Trapp (Supporting): Female, Child – Mezzo Soprano. Gretl is 5. She is the youngest Von Trapp. She is very quiet when first introduced by her father. She is sweet, loving and wants attention. She must have the cute, adorable and endearing factor. Age to be played as: 5; Vocal range: G5 to C4. Vocal Technique: Legit; Dancing: Able to move.
Rolf Gruber (Supporting): Male, Late Teen – Baritone. Rolf is 17 and is the telegram delivery boy friend of Liesl. He is self important, boasting, a very pleasant young man, and somewhat aggressive but in a gentle way. Rolf has Hitler as his paternal role model and the Nazi regime as a future goal. He seems to know an enormous amount of what is going on because of his job and seems to relish his spying tactics. Age: 17; Vocal range: E5 to C4. Vocal Technique: Legit; Dancing: Good dancing skills.
Sister Berthe (Supporting): Female, Adult/Mature – Mezzo Soprano. A nun who is the Mistress of Novices. She does not think that headstrong, free-spirited postulants belong at the Abby. She is a no-nonsense type, officious and very strict. She is not a supporter of Maria. She is a killjoy, self-righteous, strait-laced, prim and a bit of a prude. Age: 30+; Vocal range: E5 to C4; Dancing: Able to move.
Sister Margaretta (Supporting): Female, Young Adult/Adult – Mezzo Soprano. A nun who is the Mistress of Postulants. She is kind and understanding. A supporter of Maria. She is positive, encouraging, concerned and has a sense of humor. Age: 20+; Vocal range: E5 to B3; Vocal Technique: Legit. Dancing: Able to move.
Sister Sophia (Featured): Female, Adult – Mezzo Soprano. Sister Sophia is a nun who always stays in line. She is very dutiful and kind. She would rather take the middle road to avoid controversy. Age: 30+. Vocal range: E5 to B3; Vocal Technique: Legit; Dancing: Able to move.
Franz (Featured): Male, Adult/Mature Adult – Non-singing. Originally a sort of protector to Captain Von Trapp in the Navy, he is now retired into his position as valet, which he carries out with somber efficiency. He is humorless and appears harmless but underneath we discover he is secretly plotting with the Nazi party Anschluss. Age: 30+; Voice: Spoken. Dancing: Non dancer.
Frau Schmidt (Featured): Female, Mature Adult – Non-singing. The Von Trapp family housekeeper, Frau Schmidt does her job efficiently but without affection. She is strong and somewhat dominating. She has been around a long time and hates the way she is treated with whistles by the Baron. It affects her dignity. She appears to be a thoroughly reliable member of the staff and respected by all. Age: 40+; Voice: Spoken; Dancing: Non dancer.
Herr Zeller (Featured): Male, Adult – Non-singing. A sort of district governor appointed by the Nazi Regime to prepare the Anschluss. He is overbearing, arrogant and autocratic, self-important and pompous. Stern and unsmiling, a typical Nazi official whose primary concern is to see that everyone toes the line. Age: 40; Voice: Spoken Dancing: Non dancer.
Baron Elberfeld (Featured): Male, Adult – Non-singing. A neighbor of the Von Trapps and one of the “Old Guards” of Austria - violently opposed to the takeover of his beloved country by Nazi Germany. Can double with other roles in the ensemble. The baron attends the ball thrown by Captain Von Trapp in Elsa’s honor. Age: 30+; Voice: Spoken; Dancing: Able to move.
Baroness Elberfeld (Featured): Female, Adult – Non-singing A neighbor of Captain Von Trapp and wife to the Baron Elberfeld. Age: 30+; Voice: Spoken; Dancing: Able to move.
Admiral Von Schreiber (Featured): Male, Adult – Non-singing. An important figure in the Austrian Navy and appears to be much respected by Captain Von Trapp. He has obviously agreed to be part of the new regime with Germany. He arrives to collect Captain Von Trapp and bring him to Berlin. Age: 30+;Voice: Spoken; Dancing: Non dancer.
by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
Music by Bob Gaudio
Lyrics by Bob Crewe
Director/Choreographer – Todd Underwood
Musical Director – Michael Morris
First rehearsal- 7/25/2023
First performance- 8/10/2023
Close - 9/10/2023
Seeking:
Frankie Valli - a strong tenor with sweet and strong falsetto and be able to sing in the style of Frankie Valli; strong tenor to high A or Bb plus strong falsetto up to treble G; charismatic and charming; comfortable with narrative text and has a gritty side as well as a polished veneer; very comfortable with traditional four-part harmonies.
Nick Massi - a strong bass/baritone voice; very comfortable with traditional four-part harmonies; comfortable with narrative text; a quiet dreamer who longs for life after The Four Seasons.
Bob Gaudio - a strong tenor/baritenor voice; very comfortable with traditional four-part harmonies; comfortable with narrative text; an intelligent, sensitive, and introspective musical prodigy.
Tommy DeVito - a strong tenor/baritenor voice; very comfortable with traditional four-part harmonies; comfortable with narrative text; ability to play guitar a very strong plus; a natural-born leader with an appealing, bad-boy quality.
Joe Pesci - young, energetic; a strong singer.
Bob Crewe - intelligent and flamboyant; genius music producer and lyricist; an integral part of creating the magic of The Four Seasons.
Gyp DeCarlo - tough, mafioso type; a strong singer.
Mary Delgado - a strong singer and dancer; Frankie’s wife; tough, seen it all, Italian, Jersey girl; she’s got a killer sense of humor; a variety of other roles, including member of a 60s style girl group; strong belt useful; high straight tone soprano also useful but not required.
Lorraine and Francie - versatile singer and dancer with flexible vocal registers to play a variety of roles (the many girlfriends of The Four Seasons, etc); should fit well together a la 60s band Shangri-las and be believable as tough-as-nails Jersey girls; very comfortable with traditional four-part harmonies; has a strong belt.
by Marsha Norman
Music and Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray
Director/Choreographer – Todd Underwood
Musical Director - Nygel D. Robinson
First rehearsal – 9/12/2023
First performance – 9/28/2023
Close – 10/22/2023
Seeking:
Celie: (African-American, 20s-early 30s): Drives the story. Vulnerable, spirited, introverted, mischievous, seemingly passive but really not, has a deep, hard soul, believes that she is ugly, has a sense of humor which is sometimes wicked. She is an observer. Has a great belt singing voice with lots of soul.
Shug: (African-American, 30s-40s): A popular singer, we meet her at death’s door. Attractive, confident, dynamic, powerful, irresistible, but has a frailty, like a wounded animal. Her vulnerability is shocking later on. She is loved by both Celie and Mister. Has a knockout, Bessie Smith-style, bluesy singing voice.
Mister: (African-American, 30s-40s. Also known as ALBERT): Like Celie, a deep well. Handsome, big, masculine, strong presence, dominating, capable of brutal behavior but also a victim in his own way. Gets his power for free. Married to Celie, he abuses her. He is in love with Shug. He transforms into a kind man by the end of the story. Has a great singing voice.
Sofia: (African-American, 30s): Powerful warrior woman. Physically bigger but beautiful. Comfortable being large, great sense of humor, touching, vulnerable. Married to Harpo, she does not let anyone mistreat her. Has comic chops. Has a great belt singing voice.
Harpo: (African-American, 20s): Mister’s vulnerable, confused, good-hearted son. Represents the new generation. He marries the independent Sofia. He spends much time trying to get Sofia to obey him the way Celie obeys his father, but he is unsuccessful, as Sofia is considerably stronger than he is. Harpo eventually establishes a juke joint in his first house and becomes Squeak’s lover. Later, he and Sofia reconcile. Through his love of Sofia, he learns how to love a woman. Has a great tenor singing voice.
Nettie: (African-American, 20s): Celie’s younger sister. Attractive, adventuresome, feisty spirit, maternal, more educated and knowledgeable than Celie. She has a powerful bond with Celie. Forced by Mister to leave Celie, she starts a new life in Africa. Has a great belt singing voice with African influence.
Squeak: (African-American, 20s): Harpo’s lover after Sofia leaves him. Although she is mistreated, she eventually undergoes a transformation, demanding to be called by her actual name, Mary Agnes, and starting a new life. She is of mixed ancestry. Attractive, sassy, fiery, strong-willed, unafraid to take anybody on, has a caring heart. Has comic chops. Has a great singing voice with belt and soprano capability.
Ensemble Adult Singers: Males and females, 20s – 50s, African-American. All types and singing ranges. Have fantastic singing voices and dynamic personalities. V arious roles in the ensemble. The ensemble includes a trio known as Church Ladies, busybody types who are featured throughout the show.
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