Audition Notice: Music Man
The Music Man
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Meredith Willson
Based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey
Directed & Choreography by Vincent S. Ratsavong
Musical Direction by David Wright
Performance Dates: November 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 @ 8 PM; November 5, 12, 18 @ 2 PM
Tech Dates: October 29 - November 3
Rehearsals: Beginning late August (A tentative rehearsal schedule will be provided at auditions.)
Location: The Footlight Club, Eliot Hall, 7A Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain, MA
Audition Dates:
Kids (under 18)
Sunday, June 4 - 2 to 6 PM
Adults
Wednesday, June 7 - 7 to 10 PM
Thursday, June 8 - 7 to 10 PM
Callbacks (Adults and Kids):
Sunday, June 11 - 7 to 10 PM
Auditions will be by appointment, in one hour slots. Please sign up here.
Adults, please sign up for singing audition slot on 6/7 or 6/8 at 7-8 PM or 8-9 PM. All adults auditioning MUST also sign up for a DANCE slot from 8-9 PM on either 6/7 or 6/8.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
- Please be prepared to stay for the entire hour of your singing and dance slot.
- Provide a recent color head-shot and performance resume.
- Prepare one 32 bar cut of a classic/standard from the 1950s-1960s musical theatre repertoire. Be familiar with the score as you may be asked to sing selections from The Music Man.
- Wear dance or athletic clothing that you can move well in for the dance portion of the audition. Ladies, please wear character heels and men, wear jazz shoes for this portion of the audition. Please no loose or baggy clothing.
- Audition forms will be provided at auditions. Please arrive 10 minutes early to fill out an audition form.
If you have questions please email the producer, Carol Pyper.
The characters
Age ranges are relative; we are interested in building an ensemble, so don't type yourself out! We strongly encourage actors of any age or ethnicity to audition.
Harold Hill (Lead): Male, 21-50 Baritone B-high G. con man and traveling salesman who tries Iowa after saturating Illinois; falls for Marian.
Marian Paroo (Lead): Female, 21-45 low G to high A. Daughter of Mrs. Paroo, sister to Winthrop. Stuffy, conceited librarian and piano teacher in town. Very learned and defends the "questionable" books that are in the library.
Marcellus Washburn: Male, 25-40 tenor G to high A. Works in town and is dating Ethel Toffelmeir. Knows Harold from a long time ago. When they are reunited in River City, they become fast friends again. Comical character. Helps Harold in learning about the town, in setting up the con and in trying to help him get out of town before they figure it all out.
Mrs. Paroo: Female, 35-60 mezzo soprano A flat to E flat. Widowed, Irish mother to Marian and Winthrop. Sweet homemaker who wants the best for everyone. Gives Marian a lot of advice about finding a man.
Mayor Shinn: Male, 30-50 mayor of River City. Somewhat blustery, pompous, not terribly intelligent. Gets a lot of things wrong. Listens to wife. Protective of daughter, Zaneeta, who he thinks is dating the wrong boy in town.
Eulalie Shinn: Female, 30-50 alto D - D. Mayor Shinn's wife. Definitely a society lady. Knows everyone in town. Struts like a peacock. Somewhat snooty. Member of every auxiliary organization in town. Has some strange ideas and doesn't think she looks as ridiculous as she really is. Keeps husband in line.
Zaneeta Shinn: Female, 16-25 Mayor's & Eulalie's daffy teenage daughter. Has a crush on the "bad" boy in town, Tommy. Not rebellious but learning to stand up for herself.
Olin Britt: Male, 25-60 member of the School Board who does not get along with the other members. Quartet.
Ethel Toffelmier: Female, 25-40 plays the player piano. Is jolly and friendly. She is dating Marcellus. She does gossip, however, with the other ladies in town.
Oliver Hix: Male, 25-60 baritone. Member of the School Board who does not get along with the other members. Married to Alma. Quartet.
Alma Hix: Female, 25-55 wife to Oliver. Gossipy lady who is a buddy of Eulalie and other "hen/bird" women.
Ewart Dunlop: Male, 25-60 baritone. Member of the School Board who does not get along with the other members. Married to Maude. Quartet.
Maude Dunlop: Female, 25-55 wife to Ewart. Gossipy lady who is a buddy of Eulalie and other "hen/bird" women.
Jacey Squires: Male, 25-60 tenor. Member of the School Board who does not get along with the other members. Married to Mrs. Squires. Quartet.
Mrs. Squires: Female, 25-55 wife to Jacey. Gossipy lady who is a buddy of Eulalie and other "hen/bird" women.
Tommy Djilas: Male, 16-25 teenager who has a crush on Zaneeta. Wants to do the right thing but is shunned by all because he comes from the "other" side of town so he is considered the "bad" boy in town. Harold befriends him, makes him useful and gives Tommy self-confidence and trust.
Charlie Cowell: Male, 25-50 rival traveling anvil salesman. First seen on train at the start of the show. He returns to town to warn them about Harold and hopefully, make himself a hero and thus earn sales himself.
Winthrop Paroo: Age: 6-10 Alto: C - E flat Marian's lisping little brother. Cute as a button. Does not talk because he misses his deceased father. Learns to trust again and is a chatterbox by the end of the show.
Gracie Shinn: Age: 6-10 Mayor's and Eulalie's younger daughter. Somewhat of a tomboy and a bit devilish.
Constable Locke: Age: 30-60 Town policeman. Always ready to do as instructed. Cuffs Harold.
Amaryllis: Age: 8-12 Alto: C to E Young piano student of Marian's. Likes Winthrop.
Conductor: Age: 30-60 Conductor on train. Very business like. Intent on collecting tickets and doing job. Does not sing.
Traveling Salesmen Ages: Various Salesmen on train that warn each other about what they've heard about Harold Hill. None of them have ever met him but all know about his reputation. They do not realize that he is there among them and can hear everything they are saying. They have a syncopated song in the beginning of the show - no singing but patterned to sound like a moving train. Very clever. Script written for 5 in addition to Charlie Cowell.
River City Townspeople Ages: Various These are small town folks who are proud of their town. They consist of men and women, teenagers and children. All ages should be used.