NEWSIES and AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' - LA EPA/ECC Singers Musical Theatre West | Long Beach, CA
Notice: Audition Call Type: EPA
Saturday, April 13, 2024
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (P)
Lunch 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
COST
$956.37 weekly minimum (Tier 2+)
Equity actors for roles in NEWSIES and AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' (See breakdown).
Local Los Angeles / Orange County area actors are encouraged to audition.
Musical Theatre West strives to reflect its community and welcomes and encourages all performers of any gender identity, age, religion, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, language, physical ability or diverse viewpoints to audition.
Please prepare a short vocal selection in the style of the show. Singing from the show is welcomed. Callback material can be found at musical.org/auditions one week prior to callbacks. Also, please bring your headshot and resume stapled together.
Musical Theatre West
4350 East 7th Street
Long Beach, CA 90804
NEWSIES
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
Book by Murray Horwitz & Richard Maltby Jr. Music by Fats Waller
Music Direction by William McDaniels
Expected to attend:
Executive Director/Producer: Paul Garman Associate Producer: Bren Thor
Director/Choreographer NEWSIES: Jeffry Denman
Music Director NEWSIES: Ryan O’Connell Director/Choreographer AIN'T MISBEHAVIN': Ron Kellum
Audition Accompanist: Ben Van Deipen
Disney’s NEWSIES
Principal callback dates: Monday, April 15th, 2024
First rehearsal: Monday, June 24th, 2024
Preview: Friday, July 12th, 2024
Opening: Saturday, July 13th, 2024
Closing: Sunday, July 28th, 2024
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
First rehearsal: Monday, October 7th, 2024
Preview: Friday, October 18th, 2024
Opening: Saturday, October 19th, 2024
Closing: Sunday, November 3rd, 2024
OTHER
For additional questions, please contact mtwauditions@musical.org. MTW operates under the guidance of an Infection Control Policy which has been filed with Equity. All company members must be Fully Vaccinated for COVID-19 or have a Bona Fide Health or Religious exemption.
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.
All roles (except Les & the Student Ensemble) will be cast 18+ to play the ages listed.
Jack Kelly: Male, Age 16-20, The charismatic leader of the Manhattan newsies, is an orphaned dreamer and artist who yearns to get out of the crowded streets of New York and make a better life for himself out West. Fiercely protective of his best friend, Crutchie, and strongly loyal, Jack isn’t afraid to use his voice to attain better conditions for the working kids of New York City. Though living on the streets has given him a tough-guy exterior, Jack has a big heart and can demonstrate a sweet vulnerability – especially when it comes to bantering with a certain female reporter. Has a great pop tenor voice and sense of physicality. (Vocal Range Bb2-A4)
Crutchie: Male, Age 13-17, A dedicated newsie with a bum leg that’s painful, but helps sell more papes. Though he walks with the assistance of a crutch, Crutchie doesn’t let it define him; when in a jam, Jack Kelly’s best friend relies on a goofy-sweet sense of humor and optimistic resilience. Crutchie is the heart of the resistance. Though his movement will suggest his bum leg, Crutchie should still be included in the dance numbers. (Vocal Range C3-A4)
Davey: Male, Age 15-20, Les’s straight-laced, bright big brother starts selling newspapers to help his family earn a living, but becomes swept up in the fervor of the strike. A leader in his own right who is learning to use his voice to uplift others, Davey is the brains of the resistance. (Vocal Range D3-A4)
Les: Male, Age 10-15, Davey’s cheeky younger brother, is inspired by the freedom of the newsies and loves their independent lifestyle. A precocious and natural newsie, Les is an intuitive salesboy and a pint-sized charmer. He should present as younger than the other newsies. (Vocal Range Db3-Bb3)
Katherine Plumber: Female, Age 17-20, An ambitious young reporter, works hard to make a name for herself as a legitimate journalist in a time when women aren’t taken seriously. Quick, funny, and resourceful, she boldly captures the voice of a new generation rising in her coverage of the newsies’ strike. While she generally has no time for cocky, streetwise young men, she makes an exception for Jack Kelly. Though she only has a brief dance solo in “King of New York,” Has a great contemporary pop voice with a high belt – diction is key. (Vocal Range A3-F5)
Medda Larkin: Female, Age 25-45, Inspired by vaudeville performer Aida Overton Walker, this big voiced saloon singer and star of the Bowery offers her theater as a safe haven for the newsies. An astute entertainer with great comic delivery, she’s a good friend to Jack and stands firmly behind the newsies in their fight for justice. (Vocal Range F3-E5)
Joseph Pulitzer: Male, 35-50, A pompous businessman through and through, owns the World and is concerned solely with the bottom line. Katherine’s no-nonsense father, Pulitzer doesn’t sympathize with the strikers, but he does eventually – and grudgingly – respect Jack. (Vocal Range F4-C3)
Newsies: Ages 10-20, Vocal ranges vary but generally sit in the tenor range. If high notes are in your repertoire (A4-C5), please be ready to show them. Including Albert, Buttons, Elmer, Finch, Henry, Ike, Jo Jo, Mike, Mush, Race, Romeo, Specs, Splasher, and Tommy Boy, are some of the hard-working kids of New York City that go on strike for a livable wage. Any gender.
Spot Conlon: Male or Female, Age 17-20, The proud leader of the Brooklyn newsies, boasts an intimidating reputation and a short singing solo in “Brooklyn’s Here.”
Darcy: Male or Female, Age 15-20, The upper-class kid of a publisher who sides with the newsies. Can double as a newsie.
Bill: Male, Age 15-25, The son of William Randolph Hearst who joins the newsies' cause. Can double as a newsie.
Wiesel: Male, Age 35-50, Or “Weasel,” runs the distribution window for the World and knows most of the newsies by name. Assisted by the intimidating Delancey brothers, who keep order by any means necessary, Wiesel is Pulitzer’s disgruntled paper-pusher.
Oscar and Morris Delancey: Male, Age 15-20, Tough brothers who work at the distribution window for the World, take the side of the publishers in the strike and are known to use their fists to make a point.
Pulitzer’s Staff:
Seitz - Male or Female, Editor, advises Pulitzer, but ultimately admires the kids’ newspaper Bunsen - Male or Female, Age 35-50, Pulitzer’s bookkeeper, comes up with the ideas to raise the newsies’ price per paper
Hannah - Female, Age 20-40, Pulitzer’s practical and insightful secretary
Nunzio - Male, Age 30-50, Pulitzer’s barber.
Snyder: Male or Female, Age 45-65, The crooked and sinister warden of The Refuge, a filthy and horrible orphanage, is concerned only with catching enough kids to keep his government checks coming.
Mr. Jacobi: Male or Female, Age 35-55, Allows the newsies to congregate in his restaurant to plan their strike – when he doesn’t have any paying customers, that is.
Governor Teddy Roosevelt: Male, Age 50-65, A well-respected lifelong public servant, inspires Jack to stand up to Pulitzer.
Female Ensemble: Newsies, Nuns, The Bowery Beauties, Scabs, Stage Manager, Photographer, Customers
Male Ensemble: Newsies, Guards, Policemen, Mayor, Goons, Scabs
Student Ensemble: Age 10-18, Newsies, Scabs, Nuns
André: An unrepentant party hound. A flirt and a bit of a seducer. Gender: Male, Ethnicity: Black, Age: 25 to 45, Vocal range top: E6, Vocal range bottom: G2
Armelia: A strong-willed woman who is unafraid to share her thoughts. She is confident and at ease in her body. Gender: Female, Ethnicity: Black, Age: 25 to 45, Vocal range top: C6, Vocal range bottom: G3
Charlaine: A sweet, young lady. Very innocent. Gender: Female, Ethnicity: Black, Age: 18 to 25, Vocal range top: G5, Vocal range bottom: G3
Ken: Jovial, cheerful, and loud. Larger than life. Gender: Male, Ethnicity: Black, Age: 25 to 45, Vocal range top: C6, Vocal range bottom: D3
Nell: Confident and charming. A knowledgeable woman of the world. Gender: Female, Ethnicity: Black, Age: 30 to 45, Vocal range top: F5, Vocal range bottom: F3
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