OPEN AUDITIONS FOR HAIRSRAY
SATURDAY, March 4th 12:00-5:00pm
and MONDAY, MARCH 6th 7:00-10:00pm
Anyone auditioning for any role including chorus & dancers must perform a vocal audition at one of the open calls.
- Please prepare a musical number for your audition that will represent you and your vocal ability for this type of show. An accompanist will be provided. No a cappella singing please.
- Please bring your selection of music for the accompanist to play. Please cut your song to 32 bars.
- Please bring a photo to assist us in keeping track of new faces, a headshot or small photo of any kind will do.
- Selected candidates will be asked to come for dance, music, and acting call backs.
AUDITION DATES: AUDITION LOCATION:
Saturday, March 4 – 12:00-5:00pm - OPEN CAL Campus Theater
Mon., March 6 – 7:00-10:00pm - OPEN CALL Campus Theater Tues., March 7 - 7:00-10:00pm - DANCE CALL BACKS Campus Theater Weds. March 8 – 7:00-10:00pm - FINAL CALLBACKS Campus Theatre
PRELIMINARY AUDITIONS: Only attend ONE of the open calls, either Sat March 4th or Mon. March 6th - your choice. No appointments necessary. Candidates will be seen on a “first come, first served” basis. Please prepare a number from the show or a number from another Broadway musical. Bring music in the key in which you wish to sing. Selected candidates will be called back for dance, acting, or vocal callbacks. If you are called back to dance on Tues., please dress to move.
PERFORMANCE DATES: Sat. May 6 @ 8 pm, Sun. May 7 @ 3 pm, Fri, May 12 @ 8 pm, Sat May 13 @ 8 pm, Sun. May 14 @ 3 pm, Fri. May 19 @ 8 pm, Sat., May 20 @ 8 pm and Sun., May 21 @ 3 pm. (Brush-up rehearsal on Thurs. May 11th from 7-10 pm.)
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE: Rehearsals will be on a Monday through Thursday schedule from 7- 10pm with Saturday rehearsals from 10am to 5pm. The first rehearsal will be on Monday, March 13th at 7:00 pm in Haag Rehearsal Hall. There may also be some Friday evening rehearsals and one Sunday rehearsal on April 30th.
PLEASE NOTE:
Because this is a strong, ensemble show, the majority of the cast will be needed at every rehearsal.
CREW: Openings in all areas including lights, scenery, sound, make-up and costumes. No experience needed. Contact Bill Georges, Faculty Technical Instructor: William.j.georges@gte.net
LOCATION and PARKING: El Camino College Campus Theater, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506. All vehicles that park in the El Camino lots require a parking permit ($3.00/day).
ENROLLMENT: All performers and crew must register in a production workshop in order to participate. Registration will be handled at the first rehearsal. Note: Students who are not enrolled at El Camino College will need to apply, take a basic assessment test, and meet with an ECC counselor before registering for the course. Note: Current high school students who are cast will not have to take a test or meet with a counselor.
QUESTIONS: If you have questions, contact Luke Yankee, the director, via email: luke@lukeyankee.net
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
While all ethnicities are encouraged and welcome to audition, given that the story line deals with the fight for racial equality, there are certain characters that must appear to be of a certain race or physical type.
Tracy Turnblad ? A pleasantly plump teenager with a big heart who has dreams of being a dancing star. She must be friendly, relentless, and goodhearted with a vibrant, lovable personality and love to sing and dance. Tracy is on stage for a LOT of the show so she must have stamina and talent – she performs in 10+ numbers. It is truly a BIG role! Mezzo?Belt Stage Age is 18+
Edna Turnblad ? Tracy’s kind, plus?sized mother; runs a laundry business. out of her home but hasn't been out in a while. Played by Harvey Fierstein on Broadway, and John Travolta in the movie, this drag role requires a strong comic male performer. Performs in 5+ numbers. Tenor. Stage Age: 40+
Wilbur Turnblad ? Tracy’s goofy father. He encourages Tracy to follow her dreams. Performs in 2+ numbers. Baritone. Stage Age: 40+
Velma Von Tussle - Aging beauty queen - believes that thin and white is beautiful. A pushy, ruthless stage mother. Strong, comedic character actress with good vocal & dance ability. Alto belt. Performs in 3+ numbers, Stage age: 40+
Corny Collins ? the exciting, confident dancing and singing host of his own TV dance show (think American Bandstand at its inception). Performs in 4+ numbers. Tenor. Stage Age: 25+
Penny Pingleton ? Tracy's slightly dorky, but lovable best friend. Performs in 4+ numbers. Belt.
Stage Age: 16?19
Amber Von Tussle ? Bratty, selfish resident princess of The Corny Collins Show. Council Member. Performs in 7+ numbers. Belt. Stage Age: 16?19
Link Larkin ? Teenage heartthrob, aspiring young Elvis, and male lead dancer on The Corny Collins Show. Council Member. Performs in 7+ numbers. Crooning Baritone. Stage Age: 16?21
Seaweed J. Stubbs ? Motormouth Maybelle’s son and a talented dancer on The Corny Collins Show. Performs in 4+ numbers. Tenor. Stage Age: 16?19
Motormouth Maybelle ? the sassy Corny Collins “Negro Day” DJ. Owner of a record store and mother to Seaweed and Little Inez. Plus?sized. Performs in 3+ numbers. Soulful Alto. Stage age 40+
Little Inez – Seaweed's little sister and just as talented a dancer. Performs in 3+ numbers. Belt. Stage Age: 13?15
The Dynamites ? Judine, Kamilah, and Shayna – Talented black vocal trio a la The Supremes. Featured in many numbers together and usually in tight harmony. MUST double for other ensemble roles like 'Cindy Watkins,' etc. Stage Age: 25+
Council Members ? Tammy, Brad, Fender, Brenda, Sketch, Shelley, IQ, Lou Ann – Dancers and singers on The Corny Collins Show. Perform in 5+ numbers. Stage Age: 16?19
Other Students ? Gilbert, Duane, Lorraine, Stooie, Thad – Kids we find in detention, and most in Motormouth Maybelle's record shop. Perform in 4+ numbers Stage Age: 16?19
Female Authority Figure – The roles of Prudy Pingleton (Penny's uptight mother), the sadistic gym teacher, and the prison matron are often played by one cameo performer. Stage Age: 40+
Male Authority Figure – The roles of Harriman F. Spritzer (President of Ultra Clutch cosmetics, Corny Collins show sponsor), the high?blood pressure principal, and Mr. Pinky (owner of a plus?sized dress shop) are often played by one cameo performer. Stage Age: 40+
CHARACTERS THAT APPEAR WHITE:
Tracy and Edna Turnblad, Penny Pingleton, Velma and Amber von Tussle, Corny Collins, Council Members
Male and Female Authority Figures
CHARACTERS THAT APPEAR BLACK:
Seaweed J. Stubbs, Motormouth Maybelle, Little Inez, The Dynamites (Judine, Kamila, Shayna), Gilbert,
Cindy Watkins, Duane, Lorraine
CREATIVE TEAM:
LUKE YANKEE, Director
MIKE WALKER, Music Director
JOANNA NACHEF, Vocal Director
CANDICE M. CLASBY, Choreographer
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:
Guest director, Luke Yankee, has run two regional theatres and assistant directed six Broadway shows. Some of the people he has worked with in the course of his career include Alec Baldwin, Cynthia Nixon, Quincy Jones, Annette Bening, Ben Vereen & Bryan Cranston. He has an MFA from UC Riverside and a BA from NYU. He also studied at the Juilliard School of Drama, Northwestern and Circle in the Square. He is also an award-winning playwright and author and he has toured internationally with two one-man shows.
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