BEAUTIFUL and MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET - Chicago EPA Saugatuck Center for the Arts | Saugatuck, MI
Notice: Audition Call Type: EPA
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (C)
Lunch 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
SPT
$818 weekly minimum (SPT 9)
Equity actors for roles in BEAUTIFUL and MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET (See breakdown).
Please prepare two short songs (verse and chorus) in the style of the shows. Also, bring your headshot and resume stapled together.
Actors' Equity Association - Chicago Member Center
557 W Randolph St
1st Fl
Chicago, IL 60661
Artistic Director: Kurt Stamm
Producer: Maribeth Van Hecke
Casting Director: JohnMichael Mitchell
Expected to attend:
Kurt Stamm, Artistic Director
Maribeth Van Hecke, Producer
Andrew Blenderman, Accompanist
See breakdown for production specific personnel.
Callbacks: January 26th, 2024
See breakdown for production specific dates
OTHER
EPA Procedures are in effect for this audition. An Equity Monitor will be provided.
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.
BEAUTIFUL and MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
CASTING NOTE: Most characters described below are written with the pronouns of he/him or she/her. However limiting the descriptions are, our intent in finding performers is to be as inclusive as possible as we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, and non-binary actors to submit for the roles with which they most identify.
Artistic Director / Director – Kurt Stamm
Choreographer – Jay Gamboa
Musical Director – Tom Vendafreddo
Book – Douglas McGrath
Music and Lyrics – Gerry Goffin & Carole King and Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
First Rehearsal: May 28, 2023
Open: June 22, 2023
Close: July 14, 2023
7 total weeks - 22 total performances
CAROLE KING (Female identifying: age 20-35) An aspiring singer/songwriter. A unique, appealing, funny and vulnerable girl from a Jewish family in Brooklyn. Talented, good natured, unassuming, and often the peacemaker in difficult situations. A reluctant star with no pretense and a passion for music. A powerful, distinctive voice in the styling of Carole King. Piano skills preferred but not required.
GERRY GOFFIN (Male identifying: age 20-35) Carole’s boyfriend, songwriting partner and eventual husband. He is smoldering, dark & handsome with a rebel vibe. Although sexy, he is innately sympathetic, wounded and tortured. An ambitious artist always striving for more. Sings well. Baritone/tenor.
CYNTHIA WEIL (Female identifying: age 20-35) A songwriter who becomes romantically involved with Barry Mann. Carole’s best friend. She is sophisticated, smart & chic with a quick wit. Although self confident and sarcastic, she is also extremely likable. Strong comic timing who sings extremely well. High Belt.
BARRY MANN (Male identifying: age 20-35) A songwriter who becomes romantically involved with Cynthia Weil. He is good natured, appealing & neurotic. Ambitious, but likable. Comedic with a great voice. He is a strong high tenor comfortable with pop & rock style singing.
DON KIRSCHNER (Male identifying: age 30-40) An influential music publisher and producer. He is a fast talking, energetic force of nature. Powerful, direct & sometimes intimidating, but he has a real affinity for his writers and artists. A hit maker. Sings well.
GENIE KLEIN (Female identifying: age 40-50) Carole’s Jewish mother. Once an aspiring playwright, she has been broken down by life & her husband’s infidelity. Protective of Carole and unforgiving of her husband’s mistakes. Sings well.
ENSEMBLE: A multitalented ensemble who will portray members of Carole’s inner circle as well as famous musical groups that Carole, Gerry, Cynthia, and Barry wrote for. Must sing and dance extremely well. Roles listed below:
NEIL SEDAKA | HIGH RIGHTEOUS BROTHER | LOU ADLER | ENSEMBLE | u/s Barry (Male identifying: age 20-35) Able to play a variety of characters. Neil Sedaka, performer/songwriter; Bobby Hatfield, one of the Righteous Brothers; Lou Adler, a record producer. Tenor.
NICK | LOW RIGHTEOUS BROTHER | ENSEMBLE | u/s Don & Gerry (Male identifying: age 20-35) Able to play a variety of characters. Nick, Carol’s love interest, Bill Medley (Righteous Brother), Dick Clark, and a variety of other characters. Baritone.
BETTY/ENSEMBLE/ u/s Cynthia (Female identifying: age 20-30) Able to play a variety of characters. Carole’s childhood friend and other ensemble rolls as well as cover the Cynthia Weil track.
MARILYN WALD/”BUXOM BLONDE”/CONNIE FRANCIS/ENSEMBLE | u/s Carole (Female identifying: age 20-30) Able to play a variety of characters. Marilyn Wald is a singer based on Marilyn Powell; Gerry’s girlfriend; and recording artist Connie Francis as well as other ensemble tracks. Will also cover the Carole King track.
DRIFTER #1 /ENSEMBLE- (Male identifying: age 20-30) Black, Member of the doo-wop group The Drifters.
DRIFTER # 2/ENSEMBLE- (Male identifying: age 20-30) Black, Member of the doo-wop group The Drifters.
DRIFTER # 3/ENSEMBLE- (Male identifying: age 20-30) Black, Member of the doo-wop group The Drifters.
DRIFTER # 4/ENSEMBLE- (Male identifying: age 20-30) Black, Member of the doo-wop group The Drifters.
SHIRELLE #1/LITTLE EVA/ENSEMBLE- (Female identifying: age 20-30) Black, Member of the pop group The Shirelles, Pop Singer of “Locomotion”.
SHIRELLE #2/ JANELLE WOODS- (Female identifying: age 20-30) Black, Member of the pop group The Shirelles.
SHIRELLE #3/ UPTOWN SOLOIST- (Female identifying: age 20-30) Black, Member of the pop group The Shirelles.
SHIRELLE #4/ LUCILLE- (Female identifying: age 20-30) Black, Member of the pop group The Shirelles, Don Kirshner’s Secretary.
SWING 1 – (Male Identifying: Age 20-35) will cover all the Drifter tracks.
SWING 2 – (Male Identifying: Age 20-35) will cover the two Righteous Brothers tracks as well as second covers for Barry and Gerry.
SWING 3 – (Female Identifying: Age 20-35) will cover all the Shirelle tracks.
SWING 4 – (Female Identifying: Age 20-35) will cover the Betty and Marilyn tracks as well as second covers for Carole and Cynthia.
Director: Trey Compton
Musical Director: Chris Blisset
First Rehearsal: July 23, 2023
Open: August 10, 2023
Close: September 1, 2023
6 total weeks - 22 total performances
Sam Phillips (30-40 male) – The Father of Rock-n-Roll and founder of Sun Records in Memphis, TN. Discovered Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and countless other music greats. A towering and charismatic figure in American Music. Also, a bit of a wheeler-dealer.
Elvis Presley (20-25 male) – The undisputed king of Rock-n-Roll. Looks and sounds like Elvis Presley and play guitar. Also moves extremely well in order to replicate Elvis’ style of movement. Range: A below middle C to high C.
Johnny Cash (20-30 male) – The man in black at the start of his career. Looks and sounds like Johnny Cash and play guitar. One of the most famous singers in American Musical history. Range: D below middle C to high A.
Carl Perkins (20-30 male) – The first poet of Rock-n-Roll. Has had a career but is struggling a bit. Takes exception with the others being a part of his recording session. Looks and sounds like Carl Perkins and play lead guitar extremely well. Vocal range: D above middle C to High C.
Jerry Lee Lewis (20-25 male) – Rock-n-Rolls piano prodigy. The youngest of the group and is newly discovered by Sam Phillips. Arrogant, unfocused and a bit of a hot head. Plays flashy piano exceptionally well and is a piano trickster. Looks and sounds like Jerry Lee Lewis. Vocal range: D above middle C to High D.
Dyan (20-30 female) – An aspiring singer. Sexy, alluring and sings extremely well. She is Elvis Presley’s girlfriend. Able to sing in the style of 1950’s Rock and Roll. Vocal range: A below middle C to high D.
Videos
