Casting Call: 'Titanic'

The sinking of the "Titanic" in the early hours of April 15, 1912, remains the quintessential disaster of the 20th century. A total 1,517 men, women and children lost their lives. That the supposedly unsinkable ship was lost during its maiden voyage is so incredible that, had it not actually happened, no author would dare to contrive it.

The musical "Titanic" examines the causes, the conditions and the characters involved in this ever-fascinating drama. This is the factual story of that ship - of her officers, crew and passengers, to be sure - but she will not, as has happened so many times before, serve as merely the background against which fictional, melodramatic narratives are recounted. The central character of our "Titanic" is the Titanic herself.

PLAYWRIGHT:
Peter Stone

COMPOSER AND LYRICIST:
Maury Yeston

PUBLISHER INFO:
This production of "Titanic" is limited to a cast of 20 people.

PRODUCERS' NAMES:
Darren Nye and David Learn

DIRECTOR'S NAME:
Matthew Muccigrossi

MUSICAL DIRECTOR'S NAME:
Mike Gilch

STAGE MANAGER'S NAME:
Holly Lessing

CHOREOGRAPHER'S NAME:
Genevieve Estanislau

AUDITION DATES:
7-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18
Noon-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20

CALLBACK DATES (IF APPLICABLE):
2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21

REHEARSAL DATE RANGE:
Rehearsals will run Sunday, Sept. 11, through Thursday, Oct. 20. Pre-tech will run Sunday, Oct. 24, through Friday, Oct. 28. Tech will run Sunday, Oct. 30, through senior night, Thursday, Nov. 3.

PRODUCTION DATES:
Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 4-20

MONOLOGUE/READING REQUIREMENTS:
Bring a headshot or recent photo, and a resume. There will not be a dance call. All actors must be at least 18 by the time of auditions, no exceptions.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
Prepare 32 bars of a contemporary musical theatre song in the style of the show, showing range. Please do not sing a selection from the show. Bring sheet music. A piano accompanist will be provided. No a cappella auditions.

CHARACTERS/ROLES/REQUIREMENTS:
***MEN'S PARTS***

THOMAS ANDREWS:
38 - 43. Designer of the Titanic. A very level-headed but passionate man. Leading role, strong vocal and incredible actor needed. Dramatic Bari/Tenor, sings up to G. Accent - Northern Irish/English RP.

FREDERICK BARRETT:
28 - 35. The stoker. Very masculine, handsome, and physically fit. Lyric Bari/Tenor, sings up to G. Accent - English Midlands. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger and 3rd Class Passenger.

HAROLD BRIDE:
18 - 25. The radioman. Slim. A sweet man. Melodic Tenor, sings up to G. Accent - English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger and 3rd Class Passenger.

FREDERICK FLEET:
25 - 35. The lookout. Tall, physically fit actor. Floating Lyric Tenor (hypnotic), sings up to G, but possible High C man. Accent - English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger, 3rd Class Passenger, and Stoker.

CAPTAIN EDWARD SMITH:
55 - 65. Captain of the Titanic. A white-haired man with strong morals, near to retirement. Has a wealth of experience. Character Baritone, commanding voice, sings up to F. Accent - English RP.

BRUCE ISMAY:
47 - 52. The chairman and managing director of the White Star Line. Upper-class ruthless man who stops at nothing to get his own way. Baritone, sings up to G. Accent - English RP.

CHARLES CLARKE:
35 - 40. A man content with his middle-class life and thinks he knows his place, looking forward to his new life in America. Strong actor. Heroic Tenor, sings up to G, but also possible High C man. Accent - English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger.

EDGAR BEANE:
30 - 40. A man content with his middle-class life and thinks he knows his place, looking forward to his new life in America. Strong actor. Character Bass, sings up to D. Accent - General American (Indianapolis). Also plays Joseph Boxhall and a 3rd Class Passenger.

ISIDOR STRAUS:
60 - 65.1st Class Passenger, the highest of social elite. Warm Legit Character Baritone, sings up to F. Accent - General American (New York, Jewish Origin). Also plays Robert Hichens and a 3rd Class Passenger.

JIM FARRELL:
20 - 30. Handsome, romantic lead; a 3rd Class Passenger. Bari/Tenor, sings up to F#. Accent - Northern Irish. Also plays Andrew Latimer, 1st Class Passenger, and Joseph Bell (Chief Engineer).

HENRY ETCHES:
30 - 40. Head Butler on the ship. Strong stage presence. Jaunty Tenor, sings up to G. Accent - English RP. Also plays Herbert Pitman.

WILLIAM MURDOCH:
30 - 40. The first officer on the bridge of the Titanic. Strong actor. Baritone, sings up to F#. Accent - Scottish/English RP.

CHARLES LIGHTOLLER:
30 - 40. Second Officer on board the Titanic. Strong actor. Range up to D, but preferably with Tenor timbre, chorally up to G. Accent - English RP. Also plays a 3rd Class Passenger.

BELLBOY:
18 - early 20s. The youngest worker on board the ship (13 - 16 years old). Must have a very young look and childlike quality. Tenor, solo up to G, but also possible High C man. Accent - English RP. Also plays Wallace Hartley, 3rd Class Passenger and Stoker.

***WOMEN'S ROLES***

ALICE BEANE:
28 - 38. An aspirational young woman who dreams of becoming a 1st Class Passenger. Alto, belts up to E. Accent - General American (Indianapolis). Also plays a 3rd Class Passenger.

CAROLINE NEVILLE:
30 - 40. A woman who dreams of becoming part of the social elite. Strong actor. First Soprano, lyric, chorally up to High C. Accent - English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger and Stewardess.

KATE MCGOWAN:
18 - 25. A feisty and strong girl, 3rd Class Passenger. Celtic Mezzo, solo singing up to F#, chorally up to G. Accent - Northern Irish/English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger.

KATE MURPHEY:
18 - 30. 3rd Class Passenger. Strong actor. Alto/Mezzo, sings up to F#, but also possible High C. Accent - Northern Irish/English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger and Stewardess.

KATE MULLINS:
18 - 30. 3rd Class Passenger. Strong actor. Alto/Mezzo, sings up to F#, but also possible High C. Accent - Northern Irish/English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger and Stewardess.

IDA STRAUS:
60 - 65. Calm and content member of the Upper Class but very down-to-earth and accepts her fate. Contralto, sings up to D (an octave above Middle C). Accent - General American (New York, Jewish Origin). Also plays a 3rd Class Passenger.

LIABILITY/PHOTO RELEASE FORM:
All those auditioning must agree to and sign the Villagers Liability/Photo Release Form found at:
www.villagerstheatre.com/liability-photo-release-form.pdf

FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS - CONTACT:
Darren Nye
darren@villagerstheatre.com
(732) 429-8258

Dragonfly summer camp

Looking for something for your children to do this August? Have you considered theater camp?

Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center will offer a two-week summer theatre camp from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays Aug. 8-19, for children in third through eighth grades. Dragonfly Camp will give participants the opportunity to play theater games, act in improvisational scenes, write plays, film movies, design costumes and sets, and to act in a full production.

Camp costs $500 for two weeks, with extended care available for $50 per week. The camp will be located at Metuchen Reformed Church, 150 Lake Ave., Metuchen.

The program will be planned, taught and supervised by Dragonfly Artistic Director, Catherine LaMoreaux, a certified experienced educator in theatre, English and elementary education.

For more information, visit DragonflyArtsNJ.com, or call (908) 930-3210.

To register, click the Buy Now button below or download the registration form and mail.

'Sleeping Beauty' at Somerset Valley Players

It's time to wake up from the sleepy days of midsummer, and get to the theater.

Somerset Valley Players will stage its production of "Sleeping Beauty" this weekend. Directed by Holly Kowalenko from a script by Blanche Marvin, this show gives the familiar fairy tale an unexpected treatment. A shy and absent-minded prince is browbeaten into marrying Sleeping Beauty, who is 100 years his senior. The children in the audience lend him a hand, while good and bad fairies deal with the politics of the day and the gossips of the court vie with each other telling scandal.

The show runs from July 15 through July 31, with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays, and at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $10 for everyone else.

Somerset Valley Playhouse is located at 689 Amwell Road, Hillsborough. For more information, call the theater at (908) 369-7469.

Final weekend: 'Incorruptible' at Circle Players

It won't take a miracle to save on "Incorruptible"  this weekend at Circle Players.

As the show enters its final weekend, the theater is offering $2 off the cost of regular adult admission for Friday night only. Patrons who use the code BONES can get a ticket for $16. The discount is available at both the box office and online, but patrons must enter the code. The discount is not available for Satutrday or Sunday performances.

Written by Michael Hollinger, “Incorruptible” is a farce set in Priseaux, France, circa 1250 C.E. Saint Foy, patron of the local monastery, hasn’t worked a miracle in thirteen years. All eyes turn to the pope, whose promised visit surely will draw other pilgrims — until a rival church claims to possess the relics of Saint Foy — and those bones are working miracles. All seems lost until the destitute monks take a lesson from a larcenous one-eyed minstrel, who teaches them an outrageous new way to pay old debts.

Performances will begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 3 p.m. Sunday. The play is directed by Eric Walby of Hopewell, and produced by Elyse Halloran of Somerset.  The stage manager is Laura Zahorbenski of Somerset.

The theater is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway. Due to the layout of this theater-in-the-round, latecomers cannot be seated once the performance has started. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before curtain.

For reservations, call (732) 968-7555, or buy tickets online at www.circleplayers.org. Credit cards may not be used at the box office, but will be accepted online.

Casting Call: 'And Then There Were None'

The only mystery right now is who will be cast for the show.

Westfield Community Players will hold auditions next month for an upcoming production of "And Then There Were None." Directed by Steve Lemenlle, the show is based on the Agatha Christie novel about 10 strangers who are invited to an island where someone begins killing them one at a time. As the victims pile up, the list of suspects dwindles until the story reaches its surprise conclusion.

Auditions will run from 7-9:30 p.m. July 11, 12 and 14. Characters should be able to speak with an English accent. Sides will be provided. Audition forms are available on the theater's web site.

The theater is located at 1000 North Ave. W., Westfield. Performances are scheduled for Oct. 15, 22, 23, 28 and 29.

The cast of characters:

SIR LAWRENCE WARGRAVE - (male) [stage age: 50's-60's] A recently retired judge. Wargrave is a highly intelligent older man with a commanding personality. As the characters begin to realize that a murderer is hunting them, Wargrave's experience and air of authority make him a natural leader for the group.

VERA CLAYTHORNE - (female) [stage age: 20's-30's] A former governess who comes to the island purportedly to serve as a secretary to their absent hostess, Mrs. Owen. Vera is one of the most intelligent and capable characters in the play, but she also suffers from attacks of hysteria, feels guilty about her supposed crime, and reacts nervously to the uncanny events on the island.

PHILIP LOMBARD - (male) [stage age: 30's-40's] A mysterious, confident, and resourceful man who seems to have been a mercenary soldier in Africa. Lombard is far bolder and more cunning than most of the other characters, traits that allow him to survive. He also has an interest in Vera.

WILLIAM BLORE - (male) [stage age: 30's-40's] A former police inspector. Blore is a man whose experience often inspires others to look to him for advice. He acts boldly and frequently takes initiative, but he also makes frequent blunders.

DR. ARMSTRONG - (male) [stage age: 40's-60's] A gullible, fussy and slightly timid doctor. Armstrong often draws the suspicion of the other guests because of his medical knowledge.

EMILY BRENT - (female) [stage age: 50's-60's] An older, ruthlessly religious spinster who is disagreeable and suspicious.

GENERAL MACKENSIE - (male) [stage age: 60s] The oldest guest. An upright soldierly old man with a gentle and tired face, often gets lost in his thoughts.

TOM ROGERS - (male) [stage age: 40's-50's] A competent manservant who is quick and deft but just a bit shifty.

MRS. ROGERS - (female) [stage age: 40's-50's] Tom Rogers's wife. At first, Ethel is opinionated and seems fine, but underneath Ethel is a frail woman.

ANTHONY MARSTON - (male) [stage age: 20's] A rich, athletic, handsome youth. Tony Marston likes to drive recklessly and seems to lack a conscience.

FRED NARRAGOTT - (male) [stage age: 30's-40's] A delivery person that also provides ferry service to and from the island.

Casting Call: 'Bingo'

Somerset Valley Players is seeking seven actors for an upcoming production of "Bingo."

Set in the middle of a boisterous bouncy bingo hall, "Bingo" follows three flamboyant women as they grab their numbered cards with gusto in a singing celebration of their love for the game. A sudden blackout rouses them to recall the glory of longlost friends as they embrace the joys of life and high hopes for a cheerful future.

Auditions will be held at 7:30 p.m. June 26 and June 27, with callbacks June 29 by invitation only.

There will be a vocal audition. Prepare 16-32 bars of a song selection, in a style similar to the show. A piano accompanist will be provided. Wear comfortable clothing as there will also be a simple dance/movement element of the audition. For more information, contact director Christian Carrara via Facebook messenger or email at zolton64@gmail.com.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Vern, 40s	Leader of the group. Really loves Bingo. Is in it to win it and nothing else. Witty. Sarcastic. Stubborn. Think Dorothy from the Golden Girls. Powerful Broadway belt from low A to a solid C.
Patsy, 40s	Craziest of the group. Enjoys Bingo, but only when she has all of her troll dolls, and rabbits' feet, and many other luck charms. Spacey. Paranoid. Loving. Very much like Rose from the Golden Girls. Pop belt to F.
Honey, 40s	Most promiscuous of the group. Doesn't really care for Bingo as long as she is with her friends and has a chance to flirt with the guys. Flirty. Fun. A little ditzy. Similar to Blanche from the Golden Girls. Belt/mix to E.
Minnie, 40s-60s	Bingo Hall Manager. Wants to make sure everyone is safe and has a good time. Needs to be comfortable interacting with the audience. Spry. Quick on her feet. Sophia-esque (from the Golden Girls). Belt to C.
Bernice, 40s	Nicest of the group. No longer plays Bingo with the girls, but misses them dearly. Genuine. Kind. Maybe a little passive aggressive. Belt to C.
Alison, 20s	Bernice's daughter. An actress trying to reunite her mother with her friends. Passionate. Optimistic. Quirky. Belt to F#.
Sam, 40s	Bingo Caller. He loves his job and takes it very seriously. However, he can be distracted by Honey. Rugged. Handsome. Serious. Baritone to F.

Performances will begin at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m.  Sundays Sept. 9-25.

Auditions will be held at Somerset Valley Players, 689 Amwell Road, Hillsborough.

Circle Players announces cast of 'Richard III'

Circle Players has announced the cast of the first production of its 2016-2017 65th anniversary season.

Jessica Damrow Sherman will direct Shakespeare's "Richard III," with Nils Swanson in the title character. Swanson, resident of North Brunswick, is also in the theater's current production of "Incorruptible."

Also appearing in the show are Tess Ammerman as Anne, J.D. Robinson as Clarence/Ratcliff, Alicia Harabin as Elizabeth, Steven Mennella as Rivers/Lord Mayor, Heidi Carter Hart as Margaret, David Learn as Catesby, Erik Hall as Edward/Richmond, Donne Petito as Cecily, Ed Faver as Hastings/Ely/Tyrell, Ruth Learn as Young Richard, and Jacob Hall as Young Edward.

The roles of Buckingham, Gray, and Brakenbury will be announced soon.

The historical Richard III was king of England from 1483 until his death in 1485, at the age of 32, in the Battle of Bosworth Field, when he was succeeded by King Henry Tudor. Richard III was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. Written around 1591, "Richard III" is believed to be one of Shakespeare's earlier plays, preceded only by the three parts of Henry VI and perhaps some of his comedies.

Circle Players is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway. For more information, visit the web site at www.circleplayers.org.

"Richard III" opens Sept. 23.