Auditions

The Broadview Heights Spotlights Theater is seeking seven actor/strong singers for its upcoming production of Michael John LaChiusa’s Queen of the Mist.  This will be the second production of this piece after the 2011 New York City premiere.

Auditions will be Sunday, August 14, from 3:00 – 5:00PM and Monday, August 15, from 7:00 PM to 9:00PM, and will be held at the Broadview Heights Cultural Arts Building, Home of the Spotlights Theater, 9543 Broadview Road (on the Broadview Center property, next to the Police Department).

Callbacks, if necessary, will be held by invitation only on a to-be-determined date later in the week.

The show will be directed by Tim Anderson and music directed by Ryan Bergeron.

Play Synopsis

Based on an astounding and outrageous true story, Anna Edson Taylor, who, in 1901 at the age of 63, set out to be the first woman to shoot Niagara Falls in a barrel of her own design. Navigating both the treacherous Falls and a fickle public with a ravenous appetite for sensationalism, this unconventional heroine vies for her legacy in a world clamoring with swindling managers, assassins, revolutionaries, moralizing family, anarchists and activists. Convinced that there is greatness in her and determined not to live as ordinary, she sets out to battle her fear and tempt her fate. With a soaring score that incorporates turn of the century themes with LaChiusa’s signature complexity and insight, Queen of the Mist is the story of a single great fall, and how one woman risked death so that she could live.

Audition Preparation

1. Those auditioning should bring a list of conflicts between September 6 and November 20. Potential cast must be available for weekend performances between November 4 – 20, 2016.
2. Be familiar with the musical and the historical basis for the characters. Videos featuring the original New York production are available on YouTube:

3. Prepare two short musical selections:

• One song that showcases your ability to sing legit (non-pop/rock) music.

and

• An early 1900s parlor/Americana song

Examples include, but are not limited to:

Songs by Stephen Foster or Jerome Kern

Songs from a musical set in the era (i.e. Showboat, Tin Types, or Ragtime)

Early 1900s parlor songs as referenced on http://www.growingseasons.com/Growing_Seasons/Parlor_Songs_Early_1900s.html on http://parlorsongs.com/issues/2011-2/thismonth/feature.php

Characters

Historical characters are hyperlinked to Wikipedia
3 Women, 4 Men

• Anna (“Annie”) Edson Taylor
• Frank “Tussy” Russell – Anna’s manager
• Quintet:
  • Soprano: Jane (Anna’s Sister)/The Blonde (Martha Frankenfuhrer)
  • Mezzo (with Belt): Carrie Nation/Mrs. Gumstock/River Boy/Woman Reporter
  • Tenor: A Young Soldier (Mike Taylor)/Panhandler/Carnival Barker
  • Baritone: Man with His Hand Wrapped in a Handkerchief/Officer Darling/Panhandler
  • Bass: A New Manager/Mr. Mallardo/Panhandler/Mr. Rudetsky (a barrel copper)/River ManOther roles played by the Quintet:
    Panhandlers, a Train Conductor, Blondin, Captain Nissen, Maud Willard, T.J. Preston, Ellen King, Charles Mason Dow, Woman Reporter, a Spectator, A Stage Manager.

Other Related Links:

• Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization: Queen of the Mist Musical Numbers
  Samples from the Original Cast Recording, also available on Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify.
• Wikipedia: Michael John LaChiusa (composer)
• Bay Journal: “Bay City Teacher Was First Person to Go Over Niagara Falls”
• Biography.com: Annie Edson Taylor
• Infoniagra.com: Niagara Daredevils: Annie Edson Taylor
• Native American Myths: The Maid of the Mist

For more information, please contact the director, Tim Anderson, at education@broadview-heights-spotlights.org.

The Broadview Heights Spotlights Theater is seeking male and female actors who are able to develop many different characters of all age ranges for its upcoming adult comedy, “Talk Radio” by Eric Bogosian.

Auditions will be Sunday, July 10, from 3:00 – 5:00PM and Monday, July 11, from 7:00 PM to 9:00PM, and will be held at the Cultural Arts Building, Home of the Spotlights Theater, 9543 Broadview Road (Broadview Center property, next to the Police Department).

Those auditioning should plan to attend the entire two hours of either day and bring a list of conflicts between July 31 and October 1. Invited callbacks (if necessary) will occur on the afternoon of Saturday, July 16.

Potential cast must be available for weekend performances between September 16 – October 1, 2016.

The show will be directed by Rose Leininger.  Auditions will consist of readings from the script (see below).  This play contains adult language and themes.

Play Synopsis

It’s 1987 and Barry Champlain, Cleveland’s controversial radio host, is on the air doing what he does best: insulting the pathetic souls who call in the middle of the night to sound off. Tomorrow, Barry’s show is going into national syndication and his producer is afraid that Barry will say something that will offend the sponsors. This, of course, makes Barry even more outrageous. Funny and moving, off beat, outrageous and totally entrancing, Talk Radio had a long run at New York’s Public Theatre starring the author.

Characters

• Barry Champlain, “Night Talk” host
• Stu Noon, Barry’s operator
• Spike, Sound engineer
• Linda MacArthur, Assistant producer of “Night Talk”
• Dan Woodruff, Executive producer
• Sidney Greenberg, Financial talk show host
• Bernie, Sid’s operator
• Kent, Guest
• Dr. Susan Fleming, Talk show host
• Rachael, Susan’s operator
• Callers

Audition Sides
(Require a *.pdf viewer)

• A – Sid & Bernie
• B – Barry
• C – Stu
• D – Linda
• E – Barry, Stu, & Linda
• F – Cheryl Ann & Barry
• G – Chet & Barry
• H – Kent & Barry #1
• I – Kent & Barry #2
• J – Denise & Barry
• K – Dan
• L – Dan & Barry

For more information, please contact the producer, Tim Anderson, at education@broadview-heights-spotlights.org.

Evita Auditions

Sunday, April 10 at 6:00 p.m.

Monday, April 11 at 6:00 p.m.

Invited callbacks will be held on the evening of Wednesday, April 13.

Rehearsals will begin the week of April 24.

The show runs June 16 – 26.

The show will be co-directed by Tim Anderson and Maggie Majercik.  Ryan Bergeron will be the music director.

Based on the true story of Eva Peron, First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952, this musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice won the 1980 Tony for Best Musical.

Performers (ages 11 to 20) are invited to audition for principle roles and the highly-featured ensemble.  Younger children (ages 7 & up) will be seen for roles in a children’s chorus.

Those aged 10 – 20 who are auditioning should:

• Plan to attend only one night.
• Be somewhat familiar with the show, its themes, and music.
• Prepare two contrasting songs (1 ballad, 1 up tempo), preferably written after 1975.
• Bring sheet music in the correct keys, hole-punched in a three-ring binder.  (Singers will not be permitted to sing a cappella)
• Bring a list of conflicts between April 24 and June 26 (including school concerts, lessons, practices, and games).

Younger children (ages 7 – 11) auditioning for the children’s chorus should:

• Prepare a short song to sing (approximately one-minute long) and bring piano sheet music.
• Bring a list of conflicts between April 24 and June 26 (including school concerts, lessons, practices, and games).

Click here to download a type-able audition form to complete, print, and bring to the audition.  (Optional.  Blank forms will be available at the auditions.)

Additional questions may be directed to education@broadview-heights-spotlights.org.

 Synopsis

Argentina’s controversial First Lady is the subject of this dynamic musical masterpiece. As an illegitimate fifteen year old, Eva escaped her dirt-poor existence for the bright lights of Buenos Aires. Driven by ambition and blessed with charisma, she was a starlet at twenty-two, the president’s mistress at twenty-four, First Lady at twenty-seven, and dead at thirty-three. Eva Peron ‘saint to the working-class, reviled by the aristocracy and mistrusted by the military’ was destined to leave a fascinating political legacy unique in the 20th century.

Told through a compelling score that fuses haunting chorales with exuberant Latin, pop, and jazz influences.

Click here for samples of songs from the show, performed by the Original London Cast.

Character Breakdown

(Character Names link to Wikipedia)