Sunday, October 20, 2013

Casting Call: 'Master Class'

Kelsey Theater will be holding auditions for "Master Class" from 7-9:30 p.m. Nov. 20 and from 11-3 p.m. Nov. 23. Callbacks will be held from 7-9 p.m. Nov. 25.

"Master Class" is based on classes that Maria Callas taught at the Juilliard School.  Over two 6-week periods, Callas taught a master class called "The Lyric Tradition" for would-be professional singers. Included in this course was a series of semiweekly two-hour public working sessions with the variety of voices and repertoires in the class, intended to pass on Callas' knowledge and experience to the students and to the public at large. Callas died at age 54 in 1997.


Maria Callas (mid-50's)Has extensive monologues (20 out of 43 pages are exclusively this part's.) This is a tour-de-force for the actress playing the role; she is on stage the entire time. Auditionees for Callas must memorize these two monologues. They may also be asked to do a reading from the script.
Sophie De Palma (mid-20's, operatic soprano)Auditionees seeking to be cast in this part must prepare "Ah non credea mirarti" from Bellini's "La Sonnambula." Preparing "Vieni t'affretta" from Verdi's "Macbeth" as well is recommended, but not required.
Sharon Graham (mid-20's, operatic soprano)Auditionees seeking to be cast in this part must prepare "Vieni t'affretta" from Verdi's "Macbeth." Preparing "Ah non credea mirarti" from Bellini's "La Sonnambula" as well is recommended, but not required.
Anthony Candolino (mid—late 20's, operatic tenor)Auditionees seeking to be cast in this part must prepare "Recondita armonia" from Puccini's "Tosca."
  Other roles have already been cast.

The first read-through will be either on Nov. 30 or Dec. 2. Rehearsals with the actor cast as Maria Callas will begin in Dec. Most rehearsals will be Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Most of the early rehearsals will be with Maria Callas only, due to the significant amount of monologues and stage time. Rehearsals with the accompanist and the three singers will begin in Jan. The only two people with significant stage time are Maria and the accompanist.

The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays Feb. 21-March 2. Auditions will be held at the Communications Building next to Kelsey Theater on Mercer County College Campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. For more information, or to make an appointment, contact auditions@penningtonplayers.org. For directions, visit www.kelseyatmccc.org.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Casting Call: 'Les Misérables'

Auditions will be held at Kelsey Theater for "Les Misérables" Nov. 18, 19, and 20.

Auditionees will need to sing a complete song from a musical, and to bring sheet music in the correct key. An accompanist will be provided. All roles require solo singing and vocal stamina.

Audition appointments are highly encouraged.


Jean Valjean (tenor,
late 30smid-60s)
The protagonist of our story, a powerfully built but fundamentally gentle former convict. Need a singer with extended range to a high C and a comfortable falsetto.
Police Inspector Javert (bass-baritone,
late 30smid-60s)
Disciplined and driven police inspector defined by the prey he hunts, and by the Old Testament idea of justice that underlies that hunt. Though tightly controlled, Javert is not a robot, a martinet, nor lacking in cleverness or intelligence. Need a powerful singer with a rich, full sound, high range to a G.
Thenardier (baritone, early thirtiesearly fifties)An innkeeper, con artist, thief, and petty grifter; he rises above some of his peers through a combination of surprising charisma and just enough cleverness to survive. Thenardier is amoral, certainly closer to actual evil than any of the other characters in the play, and if it were not for his basic lack of ambition, he'd be truly dangerous.
Marius Pontmercy (baritone, mid-20s)A young and idealistic student, given to wild displays of emotion. More of a second-in-command than a leader. Music covers an extremely wide range and must be very well sung.
Enjolras
(tenor, mid-20s)
A student, and Marius' friend. Enjolras is a natural leader, and must be powerfully charismatic. He is also optimistic and extremely intelligent, albeit reckless.
Fantine
(mezzo-soprano,
late 20s)
An ordinary factory girl, driven by bad fortune and worse circumstances to utter desperation. Needs mezzo-soprano range with a very strong medium-to-high belt.
Cosette
(soprano, early 20s)
A young woman who has been raised under tight supervision and with great care; as a result she is confident, secure, well-mannered, and perhaps just the tiniest bit stir-crazy.
Eponine (belter, 18-25)A street girl, Thenardier's daughter; she is experienced, clever, and competent, outwardly cynical but secretly hopeful. Must be an excellent singer with a high belt and comfortable low range.
Madame Thenardier (alto or mezzo-soprano, early 30s-early 50s)Thenardier's wife, and his perfect match; she is more clever than her husband, though perhaps not quite so charming. Extremely forceful, memorable, and unsettling personality.
Gavroche (9-10)A young boy, without apparent home or family, who more or less runs the streets of Paris in his own way. Resourceful, precocious, aggressive, and impulsive. Needs a strong, unchanged male voice.
Young Cosette (9-10)A young girl, completely lost and vulnerable. Needs a light "little girl" voice with no belt.
EnsembleIncludes, among other characters, the Bishop of Digne, constables, student revolutionaries, soldiers, peasants, factory workers, convicts, laborers, prostitutes, aristocrats, and criminals. All roles require extensive solo singing, and actors of all ages and types are needed.

Performances will be performed at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays March 28–13. Callbacks for the show will be held Nov. 23 or 24.

To make an appointment, contact (609)378-5515 or ptpauditions@gmail.com. Auditions will be held in the Communications Building next to the theater, which is on the Mercer County College Campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Volunteers Needed: Villagers Theater

Villagers Theater needs backstage workers for its upcoming production of "A Chorus Line."

Jobs needed to be filled include a spot operator for Friday nights and two crew to turn periactoids, which are three-sided set pieces. The show opens Nov. 8 and runs for three weeks. The selected volunteers will need to be present during tech week, which begins Nov. 3.

If you are interested, or for more information, contact marie@villagerstheatre.com.


"Agnes of God" at Villagers Theater

"Agnes of God" opens at Villagers Theater on Oct. 18.

Dr. Martha Livingstone, a court-appointed psychiatrist, is summoned to a convent to assess the sanity of a novice accused of murdering her own newborn child. When the Mother Superior persists in obstructing the examination of young Agnes, Dr. Livingstone's suspicions grow. Questions regarding Agnes' guilt and the identity of the father are not so easily answered. And Livingstone's investigation leads all involved to re-examine their beliefs and their faith in the power of love.

Directed by Judi Parrish, the show's cast features Megan Halvorsen as Agnes, Kelly Maizenaski as Dr. Livingstone and Laurie Hardy as the Mother Superior.

Showtimes will be from 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays Oct. 18 through 27. Tickets cost $15 each. To purchase tickets, go to villagerstheatre.com.

Casting Call Update

Actors who are cast in "The 39 Steps" at Kelsey Theater will be paid $250.

For more information, click here.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Upcoming Shows at Playhouse 22

This November, Playhouse 22 will hold performances of "Spamalot," one-night show "An Evening With Patsy Palma and Friends," and a free one-night show called "A Night of Scenes."

Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," "Spamalot" will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays Nov. 8-24. "Spamalot" retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French people.

Kick off the holidays with Patsy singing a medley of classic standards from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and modern singers like Michael Buble and others in the special one-night show "An Evening with Patsy Palma and Friends," which will be performed at 8 p.m. Nov. 30.

Performed by the Playhouse Acting Academy Adult Advanced Acting Class, the free show "A Night of Scenes" will run at 7:30 p.m. October 23. After the performance, the audience members may engage in a "talk-back" session with the actors and teachers. This show contains adult content. Not recommended for children 17 and under.

Tickets for "Spamalot" cost $22 per adult and $20 per senior or student; tickets for "An Evening with Patsy Palma and Friends" are $15 each. To purchase tickets, go to playhouse22.org/box-office/. Playhouse 22 is located at 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.

'Jerry's Girls' at Edison Valley Playhouse

A musical revue celebrating the music of Jerry Herman, "Jerry's Girls" opens November 1. The show features songs from Hello Dolly, Mame, La Cage Aux Folles, Mack and Mable, and others.

The show times will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 1 to 16 and at 2 p.m. November 10. The revue's cast features Angela Dohl, Tracey Lynne Haskell, Amy Levine, Sandye Rudnitzky and Gabrielle Visser Trumbull.

Tickets cost $20 per adult and $15 per senior or student. To purchase tickets, call (908)755-4654 or visit http://edison-valley-playhouse-agent.ticketleap.com/jerrysgirls/#view=calendar. For more information, visit evplayhouse.com or facebook.com/groups/edisonvalleyplayhouse. Edison Valley Playhouse is located at 2196 Oak Tree Road, Edison.

'Anton in Show Business' at Edison Valley Playhouse

"Anton in Show Business" opens Oct. 11 at Edison Valley Playhouse.

This madcap comedy follows three actresses as they pursue their dream of performing "Chekhov" in Texas. The play's hilarious journey conveys all the joys, pains and absurdities of 'putting on a play' as it pokes fun of such issues as gender roles, multi-culturalism, arts funding and the tobacco industry.

The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 11 to 26 and Oct. 24, and at 2 p.m. October 20.

Tickets cost $20 per adult and $17 per senior or student. To purchase tickets, call (908)755-4654 or visit http://edison-valley-playhouse-agent.ticketleap.com/alliance-anton/#view=calendar. Edison Valley Playhouse is located at 2196 Oak Tree Road, Edison.

Casting Call: 'The Christopher Durang Lampoons Theater'

Edison Valley Playhouse will be holding open auditions from 1 to 3 p.m. October 12 for "The Christopher Durang Lampoons Theater," which consists of many one-act parodies. They are seeking an ensemble of four men and two women. To view the audition sides, click here and here. The first side is for all roles, the second side is for two characters named Laurence and Ginny.

Performances will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from Jan. 24 to Feb. 8, and at 2 p.m. Feb. 2. The show consists of "Mrs. Sorken," "Medea," "Desire, Desire, Desire," "Business Lunch in the Russian Tea Room," "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls" and "The Actor's Nightmare."

For more information, visit evplayhouse.com. Edison Valley Playhouse is located at 2196 Oak Tree Road, Edison.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Casting Call: 'Peter Pan the Musical'

Auditions for "Peter Pan the Musical" will be held at Kelsey Theater from 12-4 p.m. Nov. 16 and 17.

Auditionees will need to prepare a song from the show, and will need to participate in a dance audition. They will also need to read from the script. All auditions are by appointment only.

Rehearsals will be from 7-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and from 2-6 p.m. Sundays. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays March 8 through 23, as well as a show 10 a.m. March 14.

Wendy
(13-18, soprano)
On the verge of adolescence, Wendy is conflicted by her desire to grow up and her fears about the unknown aspects of adulthood. She is a very pleasant and charming girl who takes on the role of "mother" to the Lost Boys. Meeting Peter awakens romantic feelings within her and she is forced to reconcile the various facets of her emerging womanhood.
Captain Hook (20s-50s, baritone)Outwardly, Hook is a classic villain. However, underneath this delightfully evil exterior lies a weak, washed up coward who hides behind an unemotional and controlling façade. Hook is Peter's nemesis and detests Peter's confidence and natural charisma.
Mr. Darling (40s-50s)A stern and unimaginative but loving father. This role is a wonderful opportunity for a featured acting role with no singing ability required. This role may be doubled with a pirate.
John Darling (10-14, Tenor)John is the loyal, bookish middle child of the Darling family. He has always dreamed of being in a big adventure.
Michael Darling (6-10, Tenor)The youngest Darling child. He is a sweet, bubbly, and likeable boy who is full of fun.
Tiger Lily
(13-18, Mezzo)
The beautiful princess of the Indian tribe. Tiger Lily is brave, "coquettish, cold, and amorous by turns."Actor must be a skilled dancer.
Smee (40s-60s, Baritone/Tenor)Smee is Captain Hook's right hand man. He is a jovial, simple, and loveable sidekick. He is a comedic character in direct contrast to Hook in appearance and physical stature. We will consider women for this role, but it must be played on stage as a male.
Liza (30s-40s)The pleasant Darling family maid. She travels to Neverland, and represents the ability to grow up and still maintain a youthful spirit. The actor playing Liza must be a skilled dancer.
Nana/CrocodileThese non-speaking roles will be played by actors who are agile and able to express animal emotions with their bodies.
Lost Boys (7-15)The adventurous gang of misfit boys who have been abandoned by or have run away from their mothers. They live with Peter in Neverland and originally share his desire to never grow up. They are a group of distinct and unique personalities, including Tootles (the sweet one,) Slightly Soiled (the conceited one,) and Nibs (the cheerful one.) These strong personalities demand strong actors who are able to move and have stage presence and energy. All Lost Boys are male, but some can be played by girls.
Pirates (15 & up)Captain Hook's henchmen. These men believe they are sinister and cunning, but are actually a comical band of buffoons. They are continuously out-smarted and out-maneuvered by the Lost Boys and resort to dance to spark their creative juices. The actors playing these roles need strong comedic timing.
IndiansThe Indians are the featured dancers of the show. They must be very strong and agile dancers who can convey character and emotion through movement. Gymnastic ability a plus.
Neverland AnimalsMust be very skilled dancers. Dancers must be agile and will need to express animal emotions with their bodies.

Some of the above-mentioned roles, such as Wendy, John, and Michael, will be required to 'fly' via a harness system. These actors will need to select two people to maneuver them. These people must be able to attend all the tech rehearsals and all the performances. Peter Pan and Mrs. Darling have already been cast.

To make an appointment, contact ayaco21@verizon.net.

Casting Call Update

Kelsey Theater will hold auditions for "The 39 Steps" at Mercer County College Communications Building, which is behind the theater. Auditions will be from 7-10 p.m. October 27 and 28. The show will run from Jan. 31 to February 9. To view the audition notice, click here.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Casting Call: ''Twas the Night Before Christmas'

Kelsey Theater will hold auditions for its annual homegrown musical "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" on October 20.

It's 1822, and Clement Moore is having trouble writing his annual Christmas poem. This is especially troubling because his youngest daughter Charity is ill, and he thinks that if he writes an especially good poem, it would help her feel better. Some sugar plum fairies, Diana Mouse, and St. Nick himself help him along in a story that will engage young children like modern Sesame Street.

Auditionees will need to prepare a minute-long monologue or Christmas poem, a short Christmas carol with sheet music, a resumé and photo if you have them, and a list of all conflicts between October 22 and December 9. They should also be prepared for a dance audition. All auditionees must be at least 7 years old.

Auditions will be from 12 to 3 p.m. Oct. 20 and from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 21. Appointments are required. Performances will be at 9:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. December 6 and December 9, at 7p.m. December 6; at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. December 7; and at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. December 8.

To make an audition appointment, or if you have any questions, contact KelseyTwas@gmail.com. Auditions will be held in the Communications Building behind Kelsey Theater, which is located on the MCC campus at 1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor.

Casting Call: 'Love! Valour! Compassion!'

Kelsey Theater will hold auditions for "Love! Valour! Compassion!,"directed by Terrence McNally, from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 7 and 8.

Auditionees will need to prepare a brief monologue and bring a resumé and photo. Rehearsals will start in late October. The show will open on Jan. 10.


The roles are Gregory Mitchell, in early 40s; Perry Sellars, in late 30s-early 40s; Buzz Hauser, in mid-30s; Ramon Fornos, in early 20s; Arthur Pape, in late 30s-early 40s; Bobby Brahms, in early 20s; and John Jeckyll and his twin  James Jeckyll, who are played by the same actor, in late 40s.

To make an appointment, or if you have any questions, contact kelseyLVC@gmail.com.