From the Artistic Director:
Dear Theatergoers,
Auditions for the two 2014 summer musicals at The Weekend Theater approach! Please forward this to all the people you know who want to be on stage!
The two musicals are:
Caroline, or Change
Director, Case Dillard; Music Director, Lori Isner
Next To Normal
Director, Ralph Hyman; Music Director, Lori Isner
Auditions will be held on Saturday, March 22nd at 10 a.m. and again on Sunday, March 23rd at 6 p.m. You only have to attend one of the times. During the auditions, first everyone will sing a song that they prepare. I hope everyone will have time to sing their whole song, which has always been our policy, as the only time some people get to sing a whole solo is during auditions, but because these musicals are so popular, there may be too many people auditioning, and in that case, we will have to limit the song to 16 bars. After everyone sings, we will have readings from the scripts. The scripts will not be available before the auditions. At some time during the auditions, choreographers will be taking those who want to dance into the lobby and auditioning them there. Parents of young people auditioning are welcome to stay with their child during the audition process if they wish.
WHAT TO BRING
1. A prepared song.
2. TWT Audition Forms Summer 2014-15 — Please print and fill out the form before you arrive.
3. A recent photo no large than 4in x 4in. Can be color or b/w, medium- or head-shot.
Rehearsal and performance schedules are as follows:
SHOW……………………..REHEARSALS…………PERFORMANCES
Caroline, or Change……May 3-June 5……….June 6-22
Next To Normal…………June 7-July 10………July 11-27
All shows will perform on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. It is possible that we will add Thursday night performances if the shows sell very well. If you cannot attend all dress rehearsals, brush-ups, and performances, please respect your fellow actors and tell us, so you will not be cast. But you are still welcome to audition, as it is always good to practice auditioning!
If you are interested in auditioning, please just show up at The Weekend Theater at 7th and chestier streets in little rock at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, March 22nd or Sunday evening, march 23rd at 6 p.m. Bring some sheet music to sing us a song. Our resident music director, Lori Isner, will be present to accompany you as you sing. if you do not have a song to bring, just sing happy birthday for us! you do not have to a practiced singer! Auditions for musicals can last up to 4 hours, so please bring lots of time and patience with you! 😉
If you have any questions, please feel free to email the directors:
Caroline, or Change – Case Dillard – casedillard@aol.com
Next To Normal – Ralph Hyman – ralphhyman@yahoo.com
Here are descriptions of the musicals:
Caroline, or Change
Book and Lyrics by Tony Kushner
Score by Jeanine Tesori
June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22
Winner of the Laurence Olivier Award and the Lucille Lortel Award for Best New Musical, Caroline, or Change centers its action on the Gellman family and their African-American maid, Caroline. It is 1963 in sleepy Lake Charles, Louisiana. Caroline is drifting through her life as a single mother of four working in a service job to a white family. A fragile, yet beautiful friendship develops between the young Gellman son, Noah (who has lost his mother), and Caroline. Noah’s stepmother Rose, unable to give Caroline a raise, tells Caroline that she may keep the money Noah leaves in his pockets. Caroline balks, and refuses to take money from a child, but her own children desperately need food, clothing and shoes. Regardless of the circumstances, whether it is the death of President Kennedy, her daughter’s growing activism and misunderstood dismissal of what she perceives to be Caroline’s choice to remain a maid, her son’s enlistment in Vietnam, a fight with a newly college-bound friend, or a spin with the dryer, Caroline remains unflappable.
Directed by Case Dillard.
Next To Normal
Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
Music by Tom Kitt
July 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Next To Normal tells the story of a mother, Diane Goodman, who struggles with bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness has on her family. This contemporary musical is an emotional powerhouse that addresses such issues as grieving a loss, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban life. With provocative lyrics and a thrilling score, this musical shows how far two parents will go to keep themselves sane and their family’s world intact.
Directed by Ralph Hyman.
I am looking forward to seeing you all at the auditions!
Ralph Hyman
Artistic Director, The Weekend Theater
