"Rent" is a rock opera with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera "La Bohème." It tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City under the shadow of AIDS.
Auditions and performances will take place at Playhouse 22, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. Rehearsal time may be split between Playhouse 22 and a rented space at a location in Rahway. Auditions will take place from 7-10 p.m. March 2-3, with callbacks from 7-11 p.m. March 5. Performances will run May 2-18.
Prepare a 32-bar selection from a rock musical song that best showcases your vocal range and dynamics; your ability to communicate clearly and effectively through; and your ability to fully envision a character, inhabit it, and bring it to life by making clear, creative, and confident choices. Please bring piano sheet music in the correct key for the accompanist. Alternatively, you may bring a guitar and accompany yourself. Auditioning acapella for this show is not recommended.
Color-blind casting will be applied except where a specific ethnicity is called for in the script. Auditions are held on first-come, first-served basis. Appointments are not needed.
Character breakdown:
| Mark Cohen | (C#3-G4) | Male, baritenor. An aspiring filmmaker who narrates the show as he films the lives of his friends. Spirited, artistic, quirky, and isolated by the guilt of his good health while many of his friends have AIDS. |
| Roger Davis | (B2-A4) | Male, rock tenor. A former junkie and rockstar. Struggling with the guilt of his ex-girlfriend's suicide, the seeming loss of his creative edge, and his impending death due to the AIDS virus. Haunted, worn, powerful, and edgy. Ability to play the guitar strongly preferred. |
| Mimi Marquez | (F#3-E5) | Female, mezzo. A free-spirited 19-year-old girl who has remained optimistic in the face of a difficult life, a heroin addiction, and her contraction of AIDS as a result of it. Sexy, playful, and smart with an undercurrent of suppressed pain, secrets, and a genuine longing for affection. |
| Benny Coffin III | (Eb3-F4) | Male, tenor. Mark and Roger's former roommate before his marriage to the wealthy Alison Grey. Benny is now their landlord and is considered by Mark and Roger to be a "yuppy" corporate sellout. Smooth, charming, and confident. |
| Maureen Johnson | (C4-F5) | Female, mezzo. A free-thinking bisexual performing artist. She isn't afraid to speak her mind, take on the establishment, and go to any lengths to fight for what she believes in. Sassy, funny, strong-willed, and flirtatious with a great passion for her art and the rights of all artists. |
| Joanne Jefferson | (Bb3-E5) | Female, mezzo. A lesbian Ivy League-educated lawyer and activist. Although raised in an affluent, political family, she is committed to helping the underserved. Empowered, caring, professional, and strong-willed. |
| Tom Collins | (F#2-A4) | Male, baritone. A gay computer genius, teacher, and anarchist who was recently fired by MIT for his free thinking. Passionate, intelligent, loyal. Despite a life of AIDs and poverty, he carries himself with a great deal of optimism, due in no small part to his boundless love for Angel. |
| Angel Schunard | (C3 - A4) | Male, tenor. A young drag queen and street drummer with AIDS. Collins' lover. Generous, selfless, and personable with a captivating energy and a passionate will to embrace life and live it to the fullest. |
The theater also is looking to cast an ensemble of strong singers, actors, and movers to play a variety of cameo characters and group roles.
For more information, write to rent@playhouse22.org.
"Rent" features music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson. This production will be directed by Greg Scalera and choreographed by Joshua Schnetzer, with musical direction by Bruce De La Cruz.
No comments:
Post a Comment