AUDITIONS FACTS

Department of Theatre Arts and Dance, Fall 2009 and Spring 2010

This season in the fall semester we will be producing Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel Growing Up In Neverland, an original play based on Peter Pan by Judy Navas, our annual Fall Dance Ensemble Concert and Stone, Cold, Dead, Serious by Adam Rapp

In the spring we will mount Company by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, The Imaginary Invalid (Le malade imaginaire) by Molière; the annual Spring Dance Concert, and a Festival of Short-Form Plays, titles TBA.

Continuing students, new students and students from across campus in all fields of study are encouraged to audition. These are terrific opportunities to perform and collaborate with others, and to earn course credit.

Click on titles above for audition details.


Save these audition dates!

August 26 - Audition Workshop, Evert Person Theater, 6:30-8:30pm.

Dancing at Lughnasa auditions were held May 12-20, 2009.
This show has been cast.

Growing Up in Neverland and Company auditions will take place August 27th, 28th, with callbacks on August 29th and 30th, 2009.

Stone Cold Dead Serious auditions will be September 11-12, 2009

Fall Dance Ensemble Concert auditions are August 27 and September 2, 2009

Audition dates for The Imaginary Invalid are November 14-16, 2009.

Spring Dance Concert auditions will be in November or December, 2009. Dates will be posted in September.

Audition sign-up sheets for all shows will be ready in the Performing Arts Office (206 Ives Hall) after August 20, 2008.

For an audition appointment call the Department at 707-664-2235
Details and updates: www.sonoma.edu/performingarts/theatre/auditions

Scripts are available to check out in the Theatre Arts Office in Ives 206 (8-4:30, M-F), and are on overnight reserve in Schulz Library. The Company score and libretto can be viewed in the Theatre Arts Office. Auditioners are advised to read scripts before attending callbacks.

All students who are cast in producing Dancing at Lughnasa, Growing Up In Neverland, Stone, Cold, Dead, Serious, The Imaginary Invalid and a Festival of Short-Form Plays must register for THAR 302 for 3 units in the semester in which the show rehearses and performs.

Ensemble members for Fall and Spring Dance Concerts must register for 3 units in fall 2009 and spring 2010, respectively.

Since Company rehearses in the fall of 2009, and performs in the spring of 2010, cast members should register for 3 units in both semesters. In each of these semesters, Theatre Arts students in Company should register for THAR 340 while Music majors and minors should register for MUSIC 340.

Cast lists will be sent to the Theatre Arts and Dance office so cast members will be “permissioned in” to the respective THAR 301, 302, THAR 340, and MUSIC 340 courses. However, cast members must register for these courses themselves.

The low-down

FALL 2009 SHOWS

Dancing at Lughnasa

DRAMA
By Brian Friel
Direction by Stephanie Hunt
October 9-17, 2009 in Evert B. Person Theater

This show has been cast.

August, 1936.  The pagan harvest bonfires burn in the hills above Ballybeg, a small village in Donegal County Ireland.  In their modest rural kitchen, five fierce proud sisters, the unmarried Mundy sisters, erupt into a passionate dance of longing and frustration to the music on their new and only luxury, a radio.  Michael, the seven-year-old love child of the youngest sister, observes his mother and aunts, and as an adult narrator, remembers them for the audience.  Michael recalls this time when his family was on the brink of irreversible change soon to come when homecomings and unexpected departures are to transform their lives forever.  Dancing at Lughnasa is an award-winning drama by Ireland’s greatest living playwright, Brian Friel.

Show commitments:  Saturday, August 29 or Monday, August 31 6:30-10:30

Rehearsal call times are:  Mondays-Fridays 6:30-10:30pm and Saturdays 11am-4pm. Actors are expected to be available for all calls. Additional calls will be set for costume fittings and photo shoots.

Technical rehearsals: Sat Oct 3, 10am-8pm (8/10 hrs.); Sun Oct 4, 12-8pm (7/8 hrs.); and M-Th, Oct 5-8, 6-11.

Performances:

Week One: TH Oct 8 (Invited Dress), F Oct 9 (OPENING), S Oct 10, S Oct 12 (5PM)

Week Two: T Oct 13, W Oct 14, TH Oct 15, F Oct 16, S Oct 17 (CLOSING + Strike)

Growing Up In Neverland!

CHILDREN’S STORY with MUSIC
Written and Directed by Judy Navas; Music composed by Jeff Langley
November 13 – 21 in Evert B. Person Theatre; morning youth performances on November 13 and 20.

Growing Up In Neverland is based on the story of Peter Pan about a boy who refuses to grow up. In this version, the playwright takes another angle of the tale in which J.M. Barrie’s original creation escapes the traditional boundaries of the writer’s imagination and enters into unexpected territory where problems arise when Peter’s “arrested-development” is seen more as an impediment, rather than celebrating the eternal state of childhood. The “Lost Boys” are frustrated by Peter’s immaturity and are pinning to return home to their families and begin the necessary rites of passage into adulthood.

The play asks the audience to consider a future in which all our dreams really do come true because we make them happen by finding a balance between childlike wonder and adult responsibility that together actively engages us in a positive rebuilding of the global community.

Lively and funny, full of surprises, this production combines such theatrical wizardry as a pond in Neverland that is abundant with creatures created through black-light and puppetry.

Audition Preparation: Two contrasting contemporary monologues (3 minutes total) and a song. Call-backs will consist of readings from the play itself. Please read the play in advance. Copies are available in the Performing Arts office during normal business hours.

Preliminary Auditions:
Thursday, Aug.27, 2009 - Auditions, Person Theater, 6-10pm

Friday, Aug. 28, 2009 - Auditions, Person Theater, 6-10pm

Callbacks:  
Aug. 29, 2009 – 10am-7pm; venue TBA

Show commitments:  Rehearsals begin Tuesday, September 8, 2009.

Rehearsal call times: Rehearsals run Sundays through Thursdays evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. Those who are cast in this production must be available for all rehearsal hours. No night classes or work schedule will be accommodated. It will not be possible to do both Neverland and Lughnasa, Stone Cold, or Company.

Technical rehearsals: Sat Nov 7 10am-8pm (8/10 hrs.); Sun Nov 8, 12-8pm (7/8 hrs.); and M-Th, Nov 9-12.

Performances:

Week One: Th Nov 12 (Invited Dress); F Nov 13 at 9am & 11:30am (OPENING); S Nov 14 2pm;

Week Two: T Nov 17 7:30pm; W Nov 18 7:30pm; TH Nov 19 7:30; F Nov 20 at 9am & 11:30am; S Nov 21 7:30 (CLOSING + Strike)

Available roles, some actors may play multiple parts:

  • J.M. Barrie (author of Peter Pan)
  • Lester: a stage-hand in his fifties*
  • Hook: Captain Hook in Peter Pan/Father in Peter Pan/Young Actresses Father
  • Young Actress: a girl of thirteen who plays Wendy in Peter Pan
  • Pan: Peter Pan
  • Nana: the nursery dog in Peter Pan
  • The Croc: the crocodile in Peter Pan*
  • The Spider: a villainous insect*
  • The Pond Creature in Neverland (all fairies/puppets):
  • Dragonfly
  • Ladybug
  • Frog on a lily pad
  • Centipede
  • Bat
  • Salamander on a log
  • The Lost Boys in Neverland (Boys 1-4)
  • Shadow Puppeteers: Bratty Peter Pan, Wendy, Lantern Operator
  • Three Parents: Peter Pan Rehearsal
  • Voice of the real Schmee
  • Voice in the Lantern: Tinkerbelle in Peter Pan

[*These roles have already cast due to costuming considerations.]

Fall Dance Ensemble Concert

ORIGINAL STUDENT DANCE COMPOSITIONS
Directed by Kristen Daley
December 3-6, 2009 in the PE 1 Dance Studio

This year's Fall Dance Ensemble Concert, as always, will explore a wide variety of dance styles and/or genres, including but not limited to hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and ballet. This student generated show acknowledges the creative talent of our future dance artists. The show promises to be full of inventive movement, committed and heartfelt dancing and bold choreographic choices.

Audition preparation: Come dressed and ready to move

Preliminary Meeting: Wednesday, August 26, 7pm in PE1

Auditions: Open audition for anyone with dance experience: Monday, August 31, 7pm in PE1

Callbacks: None

Rehearsal call times: Mondays 7-9:40 and TBA
Technical Rehearsals: Nov. 21 & 22, (all day, both days-specific call times TBA)
Dress Rehearsals: Nov. 23, 30 and Dec. 1

Performances:
W Dec 2 (Invited Dress), TH Dec 3 (OPENING), F Dec 4, S Dec 5, S Dec 6 (2PM) (CLOSING + Strike)

Available roles: As cast

Stone Cold Dead Serious

DRAMA
By Adam Rapp
Directed by Paul Draper
December 10-12, 2009
Studio 76, Ives Hall

A post-millennium, dead-end family on the outskirts of Chicago finds hope in reality game combat and wins $1M. Stay-at-home, pain-killer-popping Dad; overworked waitress Mom; and drug-addicted-living-on-the streets teenage daughter—but there may be hope, yet, in the form of gamer teenage son, Wynne, when he hitchhikes to New York to be in a real-life fight-to-the-death game competition., Irreverent, redemptive funny, and not for the faint-of-heart.

Audition Preparation: Two contrasting contemporary monologues (3 minutes total). Call-backs will consist of readings from the script. Please read the play in advance.

Preliminary Auditions:

Sept 11, 2009. Ives 76, 3pm-9pm

Callbacks:  
Sept. 12, 2009. Ives 76, 10am-5pm

Show commitments:  Rehearsals begin Monday, October 19, 2009.

Rehearsal call times: Rehearsals run Monday through Thursdays evenings from 6:30 to 10:30pm., and Fridays from 1-5pm. Those who are cast in this production must be available for all rehearsal hours. No night classes or work schedules will be accommodated. It will not be possible to do this show and Fall Dance, Neverland or Company.

Technical rehearsals: M Dec 7 and T Dec 8; 6-11pm.

Performances:

W Dec 9 7:30 (Dress) Th Dec 10 7:30 (OPENING); F Dec 11 7:30; S Dec 12 7:30 (CLOSING + Strike)

Available roles:

  • Wayne Ledbetter: sixteen, small for his age, a video game genius
  • Cliff Ledbetter: fiftyish, Wynne’s father, an injured window glazer
  • Shaylee Ledbetter: seventeen, Wynne’s sister, a runaway
  • Linda Ledbetter: mid-forties, Wynne’s mother, a waitress, exhausted
  • Jack Gam: fiftyish, salesman
  • Sharice: sixteen, Wynne’s girlfriend, a fighter
  • Snake Lady: mid-forties, an East Village eccentric
  • Randall The Randyman Rockeyjohn: a hyperbolic Australian, a live-action death match pundit

SPRING 2010 SHOWS

Company

By Stephen Sondheim and George Furth
Musical Direction by Lynne Morrow
Stage Direction by Adrian Elfenbaum
February 19-28, 2010 in Evert B. Person Theater

Set in a vibrant, chaotic Manhattan, Stephen Sondheim's Company thrusts us into Bobby's world: sexy characters; hilarious lyrics; and his many attempts to find happiness. Bobby's friends want him to settle down and get married. But, 35-year-old Bobby wants to know "What do you get?" In the end, Bobby discovers what Being Alive is really about.

Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company won 7 Tony Awards, including Best Musical in 1970 and Best Revival of a Musical in 2006. Set in modern day Manhattan, Company takes place on committed bachelor Bobby’s 35th birthday. Through a series of vignettes and reminiscences featuring his best friends (5 couples) and his past loves (3 girlfriends); Bobby examines the pros and cons of a committed relationship to determine whether it’s time to find one for him. Company features some of Sondheim’s best known and most beautiful songs, including "Another Hundred People", "Getting Married Today", "Marry Me a Little", "Barcelona", "Ladies Who Lunch", and "Being Alive".

Audition Preparation: One Contemporary Monologue and 16 bars each, from 2 songs of your choice. An accompanist will be provided. Your monologue and songs, together, should total no more than 5 minutes.

If called back – Scene Sides and Songs will be available for perusal. Come to Callbacks dressed in comfortable clothes and shoes that are appropriate for simple, choreographed movement.

Preliminary Auditions
Thurs., Aug.27, 2009 - Auditions, Person Theater, 6-10pm

Fri., Aug. 28, 2009 - Auditions, Person Theater, 6-10pm

Callbacks:

Sat., Aug. 29 10:00am-7:00pm; Hours Called/Venue TBA

Sun. 30 10:00am-7:00pm; Hours Called/Venue TBA

Performances:

Week One: Th Feb 19 7:30 (Invited Dress); Fri 2/19 –6:00 Call/7:30 Show (Opening)-Sat Feb 20 7:30; Sun Feb 21 –5:00pm

Week Two: Thurs Feb 25 7:30; Fri Feb 26 7:30; Sat Feb 27 7:30; Sun Feb 28 2:00 (Closing + Strike)

Rehearsal Call Times:

Fall Semester -

Tues. Sept. 1 - Sat. Dec. 12*

Tues and Thurs 7:00pm-10:00pm; Ives 119

[*Saturday and/or Sunday rehearsals roughly twice per month; Times/Dates TBA

Supplemental musical coaching sessions; Times/Dates TBA]

Spring Semester –

Rehearsals resume Mon. Feb. 1, 2010.

Mon. Feb. 1 – Fri. Feb. 12 -

Mon-Fri evenings 7:00-10:00 pm

Saturdays 10:00am-6:00 pm

Technical Rehearsals: Sat Feb 13 10am-8pm (8/10 hrs); Sun Feb 14, 12-8pm (7/8 hrs); M-Th Feb 15-18 6pm-11pm

Dress Rehearsals: Tues 2/16 – Dress Rehearsal (w/THAR 200 audience) 6:00pm-11:00pm

Wed 2/17 – Dress Rehearsal 6:00pm-11:00pm

Thurs 2/18 – Dress Rehearsal 6:00pm-11:00pm

Available Roles: 8 Females/6 Males

Lead –

Robert (Bobby) (35) – Tenor/Baritone

Smart, charismatic, and attractive leading man. Good dancer. Emotionally alive and accessible.

The Couples –

Harry (30-40) – Baritone

and

Sarah (30-40) – Alto

Comfortably married, but with longings. For example, Sarah’s on a diet and Harry’s on the wagon, but in their scene she has a brownie and he has a bourbon. Sarah is taking karate lessons and she demonstrates some moves on Harry and Bobby.

Peter (30-40) – Baritone

and

Susan (30-40) – Mezzo

Susan is a proper Southern belle; Peter is adventurous and cosmopolitan. During their scene, they announce to Bobby that they’re getting divorced. But, they end up continuing to co-habit after the divorce. Susan flirts with Bobby, and Peter propositions him.

David (35-40) - Tenor

and

Jenny (25-35) - Soprano

Jenny is an innocent who tries very hard to please. David may be the wisest of Bobby’s friends; he’s laid back, cool, and a student of human character.

Paul (30) – Tenor

and

Amy (30) – Alto

Paul is the classic mensch that any woman (or man) would love to bring home to meet the parents. Amy is neurotic and paranoid, but with an ultimately forgivable energy. It’s their wedding day. Amy has the patter song, Getting Married Today.

Larry (40s) – Tenor/Baritone

and

Joanne (40s) – Alto

Rich, but not ostentatiously rich. Older than Bobby’s other close friends, both Larry and Joanne are aware, current, and witty. Joanne sings Ladies Who Lunch.

The Girlfriends –

Marta (25) – Mezzo

Edgy, urban, cool, stylish, and hip. Marta sings Another Hundred People.

Kathy (35) – Mezzo

Steady, reliable, and smart. It’s likely that Kathy is the woman Bobby has been searching for; he just didn’t see her when she was right in front of him. They have a delicate, emotional scene.

April (25) – Mezzo

An adorable, flighty Flight Attendant. April sings Barcelona in bed with Bobby.

The Imaginary Invalid

A COMIC FARCE
By Molière (translation TBD)
Directed by Paul Draper
March 19-27, 2010 in Evert B. Person Theatre

Eccentric and very rich Argan, a self-centered hypochondriac preoccupied with body functions, will do anything to defeat his fear of dying— including marrying his daughter Angélique to an idiot man-boy whose main qualifications are that he is in Med School, his father is a doctor and his uncle’s a pharmacist.  Witty, wily servant Toinette creates in a series of outrageous tricks and disguises that force Argan to accept that his greedy second wife the scheming for his money, and to see that Angélique truly loves him. The Imaginary Invalid targets medical quacks and unfaithful wives —while skewering those who imagine they are sick at the expense of others.

Audition Preparation: Prelim: Two, contrasting comic monologues, 1 from Moliere or Shakespeare, a second should be contemporary or modern (3 mins. total). Call-backs: improvisations, and readings from the script. Please read the play in advance.

SINGERS: (for the roles of Angélique and Cléante only): please prepare for audition: one slow tempo song, any style, demonstrating long phrases that include held Notes. Ranges required are: Sopranos/ Range: B2 (below middle C) to F#4 (top line of treble clef); Tenors/ Range: C#2 (below middle C) to G#3 (above middle C). Please bring sheet music in your key. An accompanist will be present.

If you intend to sing please indicate that when you sign up for an audition time. You may prepare a total of 4 minutes of material (2 monologues, 1 song).

Preliminary Auditions
Saturday, November 14, 2009. Warren Hall, 10am-5pm

Callbacks:  
Sunday, November .15, 2009. Person Theater, 12pm-5pm

Monday, November 16, 2009. Person Theater, 6pm-10pm

Show commitments: 

1st read-through—November or December/ date time/ venue TBA

Rehearsals begin February 1, 2010.

Rehearsal call times are: Rehearsals run Monday through Thursdays evenings from 6:30 to 10:30pm., and Fridays from 1-5pm. Those who are cast in this production must be available for all rehearsal hours. No night classes or work schedules can be accommodated.

Technical rehearsals: March 13 10am-8pm (8/10 hrs.); March 14, 12-8pm (7/8 hrs.); and M-The, March 15-18 6-11pm.

Performances:

Week One: Th March 18 7:30 (Invited Dress); F March 19 7:30pm (OPENING); S March 20 7:30pm

Week Two: T March 23 7:30pm; W March 24 7:30pm; TH March 25 7:30; F March 26 7:30 pm; S March 27 7:30 (CLOSING + Strike)

Available roles:

  • Argan: an imaginary invalid; wealthy, miserly hypochondriac.
  • Béline: Argan’s second wife, and stepmother to his children, a gold-digger
  • Angélique: older daughter of Argan, in love with Cléante
  • Louison: younger daughter of Argan, a tattle-tale
  • Béralde: Argan’s brother, the smart one
  • Cléante: in love with Angélique
  • Monsieur Diafoirus: a medical doctor, a quack
  • Thomas Diafoirus: his son, suitor of Angélique, a dolt
  • Monsieur Fleurant: an apothecary or pharmacist
  • Monsieur Bonnefoy: a lawyer
  • Toinette: a maidservant
  • Chorus of medical students

Spring Dance Concert

A Retrospective of Works by Nancy Lyons
Directed by Nancy Lyons
April 30-May 8, 2010 in Evert B. Person Theatre

Celebrate the vitality and longevity of the dance program at SSU with a retrospective of works by Nancy Lyons, dance faculty at SSU for nearly 40 years. Imaginative dance theatre that embraces humor, musicality and investigation of our humanity.

This year, Spring Dance will be directed by Nancy Lyons and will be a

retrospective concert of several different dances celebrating her many years of teaching in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance at SSU.

Audition preparation: Come dressed and ready to move. Bring your spring schedule as your availability will affect casting.

Preliminary Auditions: TBA in November or December, 2009

Show commitments:  Rehearsals begin at the start of the spring 2010 semester.

Rehearsal call times are:  Rehearsals will start the first week of classes in the Spring Semester and will primarily be late afternoon or evenings (in 2-3 hour rehearsal times) for two to four times a week, depending on which dance or dances you are cast in.

Technical Rehearsals:  April 24-25 (all day, both days-specific call times TBA)

Performances:

Week One: F April 30 (OPENING), Sat May 1
Week Two: T May 4, W May 5, TH May 6, Sat May 8 (CLOSING)

Available roles: As cast

Festival of Short-Form Plays (titles TBA)

May 13-15, 2010 Studio 76, Ives Hall

A selection of short form plays from one-page to 10-minutes to one-acts, directed, performed (and some) written by Theatre Arts students.

Stay tuned for details coming in the late fall.

Performances: Th May 13 – 7:30 pm—(OPENING); F May 14 – 7:30 pm

S May 15 – 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm – (CLOSING + Strike)