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Dickens Christmas Fair 2007 September Missive #2 - Auditions
(sent September 21st, 2007)

As usual, please contact the individual posters about the items below, including me where specified...

There are a number of auditions to announce today, plus a .pdf file of the Dickens Fair Web Coupon for you to print, copy, cut, and distribute at all of your events.  It is available on my missive site at http://www.cattaylor.com/missives.html and will be available on the Dickens Fair website shortly. (It is a large file, so it might be best to right-click and save to your computer, rather than trying to open it in your browser.)

In This Missive:
Pianist Needed for the V&A - Very Important!
Auditions for  for "Pirates of Penzance" Wednesday September 26th
Auditions for La Legion Fantastique!  Thursday, Sept. 27th
Book Character Auditions - Thursday October 11th
Audition Notice for the Miracle Sweeps of London - at workshops


Pianist Needed for the V&A - Very Important!
Rehearsal & Performance Pianist for Pirates and the other shows on the Victoria and Albert Music Hall stage. Must be able to play Gilbert & Sullivan music as well as improvisatory melodrama style. Compensation TBA. Please contact Cat Taylor at cat@redbarnproductions.org


Audition Notice for "Pirates of Penzance"
Co-directors Cat Taylor & Robert Young are holding auditions for selected roles in the revival of their widely acclaimed 60-minute production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s  "Pirates of Penzance" performed last at the Dickens Christmas Fair in 2002. Originally adapted by Cat Taylor and  John Cole for the 1987 Dickens Christmas Fair, the production will be performed once a day on the Victoria & Albert Music Hall stage, each day of the fair. The Great Dickens Fair will be open 11:00AM  - 7:00PM every weekend day between Thanksgiving and Christmas (November 24th - December 23rd), plus the special opening day, Friday November 23rd.

This production is a largely volunteer effort for everyone involved and we will be asking the performers involved to help out as much as possible with costuming. We are currently checking to see what costumes, props and scenery pieces are available from the 2002 production, but will certainly need help on some items. Pirates costumes can be adapted from Renaissance Faire costumes and much of the remaining we will be creating ourselves or finding it wherever we are able to do so.  If you are not cast in the production but would like to help out, we will be extremely pleased to have your help in costume production, set construction and in other behind-the-scenes capacities.

The available roles are:

Mabel, soprano. She knows what she wants (Frederic) and how to go about getting it. Considering there is much musical parody of Verdi’s Violetta (in La Traviata) -- especially Mabel’s Act I cadenzas -- she must have excellent coloratura and power, a soaring lyric soprano. There are numerous high B-flats throughout the score.

Edith, soprano. She has a couple of short but important solos and a bit of dialogue in Act I. Requires a strong soprano voice. Also a member of the chorus.

Kate, mezzo. Has one short solo and a bit of dialogue. Also a member of the chorus.

Isabel. No solo singing, but a few lines of dialogue. Also a member of the chorus.

Female Chorus are all wards of Major General Stanley, unattached young ladies.

Male Chorus all sing Act I as members of the pirate band. In Act II, the tenors continue as pirates, while the basses become police!

If you are auditioning for the chorus, prepare one verse of a song, which displays your range, projection, diction, and ability to sing on pitch. It can be from G&S (preferred) or something similar, or even your favorite national anthem -- anything simple and straight forward which will give us a chance to compare your voice with others we hear.

If you are auditioning for a principal role, prepare a solo number for the character in Pirates you hope to play, or a solo from any opera or light opera for a character which requires a similar voice. Please bring sheet music for your pieces. You will also be asked to read some dialogue from Pirates.

Auditions will be held in San Francisco on Wednesday September 26th, starting at 7:00. The 15 minute auditions will be by appointment only, audition location will be given at the time of scheduling (it's in a private home)

Please contact Cat Taylor at cat@redbarnproductions.org to schedule an audition.


Auditions for La Legion Fantastique!  Thursday, Sept. 27th
Blending the scientific with the incredible, La Legion Fantastique is a unique attraction exploring the science fiction works of Jules Verne. We are currently seeking talented souls who can be big and wild, and have a love for Victorian science fiction
A list of characters we are looking for can be seen here:
http://mrphileasfogg.wordpress.com/2007/09/06/actor-auditions/
Here are some helpful links:
http://www.julesverne.ca/hetzelpos…cters.html
http://www.jules-verne.co.uk/
You can also find links to complete texts of Verne’s novels online. Wikipedia is a great place to start.
If you would like to audition, please email our director, Peter Overstreet, at: poverstreet@gmail.com.
Please let me know what character(s) you are interested in playing and evenings you are available. I will contact each of you with audition times and location.
Thank you.
-Pete


Book Character Auditions - Thursday October 11th
Book character auditions will be held on October 11th starting at 7:00PM at a private home in San Francisco, you will be given the address when you sign up for a time for your auditions. The location is easily accessible by public transportation and there are no pets for those of you with allergies. No smoking, please.

The character parts listed below are open as of now, if you played one of them last year and would like to do so again, please contact your director.

If you would like to audition for one of these roles, please email Robert Young at robert@redbarnproductions.org with the following information:

1. Your full name, email address and phone number
2. The character(s) you would like to audition for. (Please prepare a bit of the dialogue for that character - see web resources above - and be prepared to improvise as that character.)
3. Your first, second and third choice of audition time on October 11th. The auditions will be scheduled at 15 minute intervals, please be patient as we sometimes get a bit behind when auditioning promising actors.
4. Optional: A brief note of any experience you would like us to know about. We will have applications and accept resumes (not required) at the auditions.

Note:
There may be additional roles available as the directors verify availability with their casts. Stay tuned.

Christmas Carol:
(no descriptions should be necessary)
Ghost of Christmas Present
Ghost of Jacob Marley
Bob Cratchit
Belinda Cratchit
Martha Cratchit
Peter Cratchit
Turkey boy

Oliver Twist:
Mr. Brownlow
We are looking for a gentleman, preferably older, to play Oliver's kindly savior.  Brownlow has one semi-scripted scene, and does most of his scenes in the afternoon.  Potential to share the roll depending on scheduling.

Dodger
We are looking for our young anti-hero!  Dodger can be played by someone older but that person needs a baby face.  It is an intensive, and time intensive role full of improv and audience interaction.

Oliver Twist!
We are looking for a full or part time Oliver Twist this year.  The show adds up to a long day, so a young gent ready for the vigors (as well as a few spells of waiting ) is important.

"The Other Books"
David Copperfield (young, male ingenue) from David Copperfield
Mrs Nickelby (comically ditzy middle-aged woman) from Nicholas Nickelby
Mrs Emma Micawber (see above) from David Copperfield
Mr Micawber (charmingly loquacious spendthrift) from David Copperfield
Abel Magwich (convict and benefactor) from Great Expectations
John Rokesmith (enigmatic young man) from Our Mutual Friend
Amy Dorrit (industrious young heroine) from Little Dorrit
Arthur Clenam (older, romantic hero) from Little Dorritt

Don't see something that snaps your socks?  Is there a character you've fallen in love with while reading Dickens or watching one of the adaptations?  Prepare for it and present it!  It will help us get a feel for what you're looking for!


Audition Notice for the Miracle Sweeps of London
The Miracle Sweeps of London are looking for a few good men. While our particular version of Mr. Dickens' fantasy is not for everyone, I assure you it is highly rewarding. (Gin, cigars, women, soot, you get the idea) Tired of doing the same old gig year after year? Ready for something *completely* different? Do you enjoy full on meet and great? Would you like to spend the day walking the streets of London being instantly recognizable? Like to buy small children and force them into a life of gritty servitude? If so, then you're the man for us! We will be holding auditions on Saturday of the first workshop weekend. Listen for an announcement during the November 3rd morning meeting for place and time.
 
Doug


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