Casting Call: 'The Light in the Piazza'

Villagers Theatre will hold auditions this week for its June production of "The Light In The Piazza."

Directed by Tom Martini and musically directed by Timothy Walton, the passion and beauty of Italy abound in this six-time Tony Award-winning musical.  The story is set in the summer of 1953 and tells the story of a mother and daughter traveling through Italy, the daughter's romance with a handsome,  high-spirited Florentine and the mother's determination to keep the two apart.

Auditions will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. Callbacks will be held March 14.

For the audition, please prepare 32 bars of a classic musical theater piece, operetta or a song in the style of the show. Actors also may be asked to read from the script. Sides will be provided. Many of the characters speak in Italian, so familiarity with the language is a plus.

There will be no dance audition.

Performances will run from June 7-23, with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays.


CAST OF CHARACTERS

Margaret Johnson	Soprano, low G to high G-sharp	An elegant, self-possessed, practical and attractive woman in her mid-40s to 50s. Warm and appealing, with a self-deprecating sense of humor. She is overprotective of Clara and speaks with a Southern accent.
Clara Johnson	Soprano low A to high A	Margaret's beautiful, charming but challenged daughter, 26. She appears younger than she is. Clara is utterly open and childlike. She has the emotional skills of a 12-year-old as the result of a childhood accident. She is composed, spontaneous, ladylike and playfully wry at times. She speaks with a Southern accent.
Roy Johnson	Nonsinging role.	Margaret's husband and Clara's father, in his mid 40s-50s. He is an executive with a tobacco company in Winston Salem, N.C. He is emotionally unavailable and cool. He speaks with a Southern accent.
Signor Naccarelli	Baritone - Low A to high G	Fabrizio's father, in his mid-40s to 50s. He is an elegant Italian who owns a clothing shop in Florence. He is very smooth and speaks English very well, but with an Italian accent.
Signora Naccarelli	Soprano - to high C	Fabrizio's mother, in her mid-40s to 50s. An elegant, patrician woman. She speaks primarily Italian.
Fabrizio Naccarelli	Tenor - to high B	A handsome Italian man in his early 20s who is smitten with Clara. He is any young American girl's dream of what the perfect Italian man should be. Most of his dialogue is in Italian and broken English.
Giuseppe	Baritone- to high G	Fabrizio's brother, in his mid-20s to mid-30s. He is married to Franca but has a wandering eye and pursues other women. He is not terribly bright but certainly manages the dolce vita. He speaks only Italian.
Franca	Soprano - to high F	Giuseppe's passionate, high-spirited, sexy wife, in her mid-20s to 30s. She loves Guiseppe, but is frustrated with his ladies man behavior. She speaks Italian and some English.

There will be an ensemble of eight of various ages and vocal ranges, with some small roles: a priest and a tour guide; and the people of Florence: tourists, townspeople and wedding guests.

For more information, please contact Joe Buz at joe@villagerstheatre.com