SLEEPING BEAUTY – PPP – 2007/08 – AUDITION DETAILS and AUDITION PIECES

 

AUDITIONS FOR PRINCIPALS / CHORUS : These will be held on SUNDAY AUGUST 12TH at 2.30pm (Please arrive by 2.15pm) at ST LUKES CHURCH HALL, TORQUAY.

 

AUDITIONS FOR DANCERS / JUNIORS / CHORUS. These will be held on SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 9TH at ST LUKES CHURCH HALL.  Dancers 10am – Juniors 11.30am  

 

Please note : If you are only interested in chorus, you need to audition on August 12th. If you interested in a principal role, but happy to be in chorus if not cast, then you audition on August 12th. If you want to be a dancer, but are happy to be in the chorus if not cast as a dancer, then you audition on September 9th. Anyone who wants to be in the chorus but really can’t make August 12th, should audition on September 9th.

 

AUDITIONING TIPS  :  Please do remember that you are hoping to convince the panel to cast you in the role you want. Come ready to impress. Make sure you look good. If possible learn the audition pieces. It isn’t essential to learn them by heart but doing so will give you an advantage because without the book in your hand you can concentrate on other aspects of the audition. If you don’t have time to learn it by heart, then please do be familiar with the audition pieces. Make sure you have read them over and over. Plan some moves. DON’T just stand there and deliver the dialogue. ACT the audition. You will audition either opposite a reader, or someone going for the other role speaking in the audition piece so you will have someone to react to. If you look like you haven’t really bothered to prepare, you are much less likely to get the role.

 

AUDITION SONGS FOR PRINCIPAL ROLES : We have stated some suggestions as to what to sing in audition if going for that role. We would prefer it if you sang that song. If you cant get hold of the music John may be able to help you. If you still cant get hold of the music we will allow you to audition with a similar style song. DO NOT use any songs from last year’s panto, Thoroughly Modern Millie, or a Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta. DO NOT use a tape as a backing track. You must audition with the piano as accompaniment.

 

AUDITION SONGS FOR THE CHORUS : Please choose a bright lively upbeat number to sing part of. You must bring the sheet music along or be prepared to quickly learn some music of the MD’s choice. Clearly the former is preferred. We just need to check the voice to ensure you can sing. WE suggest that you try to sing a bit of “Land of Make Believe” of you cant find anything else.

 

AUDITION DANCING FOR PRINCIPALS AND CHORUS : Anyone going for a principal role / chorus will be required to learn a short routine as a group. This will be relatively straightforward and is so that we can see that everyone can move in song and dance. If we have a situation where everyone auditioning for a role / chorus is known to the panel or has performed with us before this part might be dispensed with !!

 

AUDITIONING FOR DANCERS AND JUNIORS : Please ensure you come along dressed in suitable dance gear. Please ensure your hair is neat and tidy. Please bring your tap shoes, jazz shoes and if you have them your character/dance shoes. Please bring your biggest smiles.  The requirements are listed later on this sheet.

 

PLEASE DO REMEMBER : The casting panel have a difficult job slotting people into the right roles. What prospective cast members often forget is that the production team have to use the assets available to them to the best advantage. Therefore being as FLEXIBLE as possible is to your advantage. By stating that you are only interested in one particular role limits your chances of being cast. Try to consider that sometimes we have more than one person capable or right for a certain role, and only one person right for another role and that person might not necessarily want that role. It helps if you are flexible !! Also if you are auditioning to be a dancer, please also consider chorus if you are not chosen as a dancer. The chorus is as much fun and as much involvement.

 

DANCERS

We are looking for FEMALE and MALE dancers. For the females the minimum height must be 5ft. Although we do not state an age, the height dictates age to a degree. However we are looking for dancers with a good adult shape (if you see what I mean) and to be honest the slightly more mature the better. I.e. if you are 12 years old and over 5ft tall, you probably will not get chosen as you will look too young. Applicants MUST have good modern and jazz dance ability and preferably GOOD tap ability. We will be looking for girls with good style and technical ability. However if someone was very good in all aspects other than tap we might just not use them in the tap number. We also have to ensure the dance team looks good together as a group and that there isn’t too wide a range of heights. Also we have to look at “sizes” as costumiers tend to do dancers costumes in “sets” and need a fairly uniform sizing. For male dancers we are looking for young men with good jazz and modern ability. Tap is not essential. Dancers will be auditioned for singing in small groups. This year there will have to be a big change in the line up as some of our “regulars” will not be present in the line up this year. Now is your chance …. !!

JUNIORS

We are looking for 2 teams of little girls who will each play 4 performances of the 8-performance schedule. We are not stating a maximum height but clearly they must not be taller than the smallest senior dancer (i.e. not taller than 5ft) and ideally there should be a gap between the juniors and the dancers so the height we will go up to very much depends on the height of the smallest senior dancers chosen earlier that day. Girls must have tap and modern dance ability. Must also be able to sing and dance with big wide smiles and lots of personality. Juniors will be auditioned for singing in small groups.

CHORUS

We are looking for an adult chorus of males and females. We are not looking for children but teenagers will be fine. An upper age limit isn’t stated, but we will look at the team as a whole. Ability to move in song and dance is essential. You will be auditioned as a group for dance ability and individually for singing ability.

 

PRINCESS ROSE  The Sleeping Beauty. Young, Innocent and pretty. We first meet her properly as a school girl in pig tails, then we move forward to the eve of her 18th Birthday. Same actress to play both ages so must be able to play younger, then very quickly age up. Upset at being “kept in cotton wool” as a result of the spell so must be able to get quite angry at one point. Must have good singing voice and be capable actress. Must have a bright open personality. Dancing ability a definite plus. Must be able to look between 13 and 18 !! (Mostly 18). Has one big solo, one duet, and sings in a number of other numbers.

Dialogue audition pages 25-27 (with Prince) + song “There Must be an Angel Playing with my Heart” or “Land of Make Believe”

 

PRINCE ALEXIS 2 roles in one. Doesn’t appear until last scene of act 1. Then after 100 years have passed, he plays his own great grandson. Typical dashing principal boy role. For a male performer. Must have good singing voice with good range. Dance ability a definite plus. Must have that royal “arrogance and charm” but without coming across as slimey !! Young – aged between early 20’s and early 30’s. Has one big solo, one duet, and sings in some company numbers.

Dialogue audition pages 25-27 (with Princess) + song “Aint No Mountain High Enough”

 

NURSE DOTTIE DETTOL Typical Dame character. Nursemaid to the Princess. Not anyone’s mother so could be younger if needs be. Aged anywhere between early 20’s and 60’s !!! Has one short solo song, and sings in quite a few of the company numbers.

Dialogue auditions Page 3 and Pages 16-18 (with muddles) + comic song of choice

 

MUDDLES. Typical comedy character. MUST have good comic timing and be able to relate to the kids in the audience and get them on his side. Not easy to do. Simple, but loveable. Leads opening number, then sings in a number of company songs. Aged from late teens to 30’s. 

Dialogue auditions Page 3 and Pages 16-18 (with muddles) + “Aint no Mountain High Enough” or song of choice

 

KING CACTUS. Typical comical King character. Pref. older. No solo singing, but sings in a number of the company songs. A fair bit of dialogue. Quite a large role.

Dialogue auditions Pages 4-6 (with queen) + comic song of choice

 

QUEEN MARIGOLD. Typical comic queen character. Pref older. No solo singing, but sings in a number of the company songs. A Fair bit of dialogue. Not very worldy and no good with the baby princess – hence the nurse !!

Dialogue auditions Page 4-6 (with queen) + comic song of choice

 

FETCH AND CARRY The comic pair. Court Heralds. Could be 2 men, 2 females, or 1 of each !!! Plenty of options there then !!! They are responsible for confiscating sharp object. MUST have good comic timing and be able to work well together as they have 2 large comic scenes which rely on good timing and comic ability. No songs, but sing with a number of company songs. Could be any ages from late teens to 60’s !! Could have one a bit older than the other.

Dialogue auditions Pages 6-9 (look at 12-13) + comic song of choice

 

GOOD FAIRY LILAC – Good Fairy. Has one big solo. Appears on and off throughout and must be able to get the audience with her. Strong voice and nice bright personality. Aged anything from late teens to 40’s. I would prefer her to be younger.

Dialogue auditions page 1 and page 14 + song “There Must be an angel playing with my heart” or “Land of make believe”

 

BAD WITCH HAZEL Evil witch. Has a big solo. Must have strong dominant voice. A fair amount if dialogue. Must be able to elicit the boos of the audience but mustn’t turn them totally against her. Must be good foil and contrast for Fairy. Aged anything from 20’s to 50’s.

Dialogue auditions page 1 and page 32 + song “There Must be an angel playing with my heart” or “Land of make believe”