TheatreZone announces Season 9 auditions
Equity and non-equity adult roles and 15 children’s roles available
“Never work with children or animals,” has long been attributed to comedic actor W.C. Fields dislike of children, although the actor was actually quite fond of children and a father himself.
Not heeding Fields’s advice, TheatreZone artistic director Mark Danni and father of three, is seeking out children. Today, he announced a special “kid’s-only” audition specifically for casting more than 15 children’s roles in the Equity theatre group’s season opening musical Whistle Down the Wind. The “kid’s-only” auditions are by appointment and will take place on Friday, Sept. 13 from 3 pm until 6 pm.
“Children (ages 7-13) are essential to this production, but it is a professional production and will attract a very talented and committed group of children who take their performances very seriously,” explains Danni. “At this level, we hold children to the same high standards as the adults,” he adds.
Equity and non-equity performer auditions (principal/chorus) for TheatreZone’s Season 9 “Year of the Composers” will be held by appointment from 10 am until 6 pm, Saturday, Sept. 14 and Sunday, Sept. 15, adds Danni.
All auditions will be held at the TheatreZone’s home -- the G&L Theatre – located on the campus of The Community School, at 13275 Livingston Road in Naples.
According to Danni, more than 100 professional actors from across the country will audition in Naples, traveling as far away as New York City and Chicago and as nearby as Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando, seeking one or more of 50 available roles.
“Actors Equity Association (AEA) actors may only work in AEA theatres so they must travel frequently to find work,” explains Danni. “TheatreZone provides national exposure through the acting communities’ trade magazines and papers as well as in the regional theatre trade magazines that circulate in key theatre locations such as New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago and cities in Canada to attract actors to Naples,” he continues.
Eight Equity actor contracts are available for Whistle Down the Wind, including Swallow (aged 19-24), a pop belt singer and the young girl questioning her beliefs and approaching womanhood; pop-rock tenor The Man (aged 26-36), a possible fugitive hiding in the barn that the town youths believe is Jesus; Amos (aged 19-26) – the motorcycle riding town “bad boy;” Candy (aged 19-26) -- a pop belt African American singer and girlfriend of Amos; Boone (aged 38-48) -- a pop baritone singer and widowed father to children Swallow, Brat and Poor Baby; and pop baritone singing Edward (aged 38-48) -- an African American and Boone’s best friend. In addition, several ensemble men and women pop belt singers and dancers (aged 25-55) will be cast as townspeople. Whistle Down the Wind’s first rehearsal isDecember 30. The production runs January 9 through January 18, 2014.
Rehearsals for High Society begin January 27, 2014. Eight Equity contracts are open including the lead, soprano Tracy Lord (aged 35-45) -- a feisty woman about to marry her second husband; Dexter Haven (aged 35-45) -- a high baritone singer who is Tracy’s clever and witty first husband; ultra-charming journalist Mike Connor (aged 35-45) -- a tenor baritone; mezzo singer Liz Imbrie (aged 35-45) -- a sharp and sophisticated photographer who has a crush on fellow reporter Mike; George Ketteridge (aged 35-48) -- Tracy’s fiancé, an uptight and stuffy baritone singer; Margaret Lord (aged 55-65) -- Tracy’s mother and a mezzo singer; soprano Dinah Lord (aged 14-16) is Tracy’s younger sister; baritone Seth Lord (aged 55-65) is Tracy and Dinah’s father; and Uncle Willie (aged 50-65) is a baritone singer and favorite uncle who loves his drinks and the ladies. Five male and female servants (aged 25-55) will also be cast to sing and dance. High Society performs February 6 through February 16, 2014.
The roles of Florence, Freddie, Anatoly, Svetlana and Gregor Vasy inChess have been cast although five Equity actor contracts are available as follows: bass Molokov (aged 35-55) -- an intellectual formidable Russian; Walter (aged 30-55) -- a rock baritone and a seemingly respectable and trustworthy marketing agent; Arbiter (aged 25-50) -- a rock tenor international businessman with a smooth but quick temper. Two female ensemble roles (aged 25-45) for rock singers will also be cast. Chess rehearsals beginFebruary 24 with the 10-performance run March 6 through March 16, 2014.
The season finale is Forever Plaid, an affectionate homage to the close-harmony male singers of the 1950’s. Equity actor contracts available as follows: Frankie (aged 23-38) is the confident second tenor-lyric baritone and the leader and caretaker of the group; Sparky (aged 23-28) is a baritone singer and the comic engine of the show always looking for ways to crack jokes, perform and tell stories; Jinx (aged 23-29) is a shy and terrified tenor who doesn’t always remember what songs comes next or what his next move should be as he occasionally gets a nosebleed when he sings above an A; and Smudge (aged 23-38) is a bass singer. He’s a worrier with a chronic nervous stomach and reluctant to perform, always concerned about what was coming up and regretting what has passed while living with dyslexia. Rehearsals start on April 21, 2014 for the production run May 1 – 11, 2014.
Actors are asked to prepare 32 bars of a song and a contrasting selection ready, if requested. An accompanist will be provided, but actors must bring own sheet music and be prepared to dance. Sides (copy dialogue that director Mark Danni has chosen from the script) will be posted on the website at
www.theatrezone-florida.com and will be provided at the audition. A current photo and resume is also required.
To secure an appointment, email
markdanni@theatrezone-florida.com(preferred) or call
(239) 449-2323. Equity members without appointments will be seen throughout the audition day as time permits.
About TheatreZone
In 2005, non-profit TheatreZone was born on two concepts: an affinity and nostalgia for the stage, and for the intimacy of live audiences. Co-founders artistic director Mark Danni and his wife, actress/choreographer Karen Molnar shared a vision and a passion to bring equity professional actors, and produce talented and innovative productions of classic “lost treasures of Broadway” and original, commissioned new plays and musicals with an eye towards future Broadway, Off Broadway and regional productions.
TheatreZone 2014 season tickets (four shows) cost $182 and individual seats costs $43 - $48 plus a $2 per ticket fee. A mini series (3 shows) and group rates are also available.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call TheatreZone at 1-888-ZONE-FLA,
1-888-966-3352 or purchase online at:
www.theatrezone-florida.com.
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