Auditions for the Erie Playhouse productions of Sweeney Todd, Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, and Waitress will be held on August 4th and 5th at 6:30 pm at the Erie Playhouse Rehearsal Hall at 1158 East 12th Street.
Actors are asked to arrive and to sign in within the first hour of the audition start time. All roles are available. The Erie Playhouse practices Color Conscious casting. All ethnicities and newcomers are especially welcomed. Crew and other volunteers are also needed for these events. Perusal scripts are available after July 1, 2024 in the box office for 24 hours with a refundable $10 deposit.
Questions? Please contact richardd@erieplayhouse.org.
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Hugh Wheeler
Directed and Staged by Richard Davis
Assistant Director – TBA
Musical Director – Bruce Yates
Show dates: October 11, 12, 18-20, and 24-27
Rehearsals begin Mid August 2024
You must be at least 14 years old by the time of auditions.
In addition to the adult ensemble there will be 2 children aged 10 to 14 cast.
All roles are open
Audition Requirements: Please prepare to sing 32 measures of a Sondheim song or musical theatre song of similar style of your choosing. Please bring sheet music in the appropriate key or a karaoke track. An accompanist will be provided. There is no Monologue audition for this show. Your song is your monologue.
Synopsis: Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s landmark musical tells the tale of a resourceful pie shop owner and a vengeful barber out for blood. After he’s sent away by a corrupt judge, Sweeney returns to London years later seeking his long-lost family, and forms an unlikely partnership with Mrs. Lovett, who serves up pies underneath his former shop. Together, they wreak havoc on Fleet Street and serve up the hottest – and most unsettling – pies in London.
Roles in Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd A wrongfully imprisoned barber seeking to right the wrongs committed against him. He is Johanna’s father, singularly focused on taking bloody revenge. Our story’s tormented protagonist. Gender: Male Age: presents 40 to 55 Vocal range top: Gb4 Vocal range bottom: F2
Mrs. Lovett An entrepreneurial and amoral meat pie shop owner. She falls in love with Todd and turns his desire for revenge into a profitable business venture. Gender: Female Age: presents 35 to 50 Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: G3
Anthony Hope A naive and youthful sailor returning to London. He helps Todd return to London and unexpectedly falls in love with Johanna. Gender: Male Age: presents 20 to 30 Vocal range top: F4 Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Johanna A spritely girl, full of innocence, constantly yearning for freedom. Todd’s long-lost daughter and Turpin’s ward. Gender: Female Age: presents 18 to 21 Vocal range top: A5 Vocal range bottom: Bb3
Tobias Ragg A poor youngster apprenticed to Pirelli. He finds a surrogate family in Todd and Lovett. Gender: Male Age: presents 12 to 18 Vocal range top: Ab4 Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Judge Turpin A lecherous public official who portrays himself as a sanctimonious authoritarian. He takes advantage of his position in the city and is responsible for imprisoning Todd. Gender: Male Age: presents 50 to 65 Vocal range top: Gb4 Vocal range bottom: E2
The Beadle A pompous public official. He is deeply loyal to the corrupt Turpin. Gender: Male Age: presents 40 to 55 Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: D3
Beggar Woman A deranged and schizophrenic woman who harbors a dark, surprising secret. Gender: Female Age: presents 35 to 50 Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: Ab3
Adolfo Pirelli A flamboyant Italian rival barber; a charlatan with a secret past. Gender: Male Age: presents 30 to 45 Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: B2
MALE ENSEMBLE Males, 14 – 60s. All ethnicities. All shapes and sizes. Powerful legit singing voices of all ranges. Seeking characterful, diverse, idiosyncratic denizens of London. Possible solos/speaking lines and may understudy principal roles. Should move well.
FEMALE ENSEMBLE Females, 14 – 60s. Any ethnicity. All shapes and sizes. Powerful legit singing voices of all ranges. Seeking characterful, diverse, idiosyncratic denizens of London. Possible solos/speaking lines and may understudy principal roles. Should move well.
DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Music by Alan Menken and Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Book by Linda Wolverton
Directed and Choreographed by Richard Davis
Assistant Director – Nico Lombardo
Music Director – TBA
Show dates: December 6,7, 13-15, 19-22
(Possible holdover 27-29)
Rehearsals begin early October.
You must be at least 14 years old by the time of auditions.
For the role of Chip the age limit is 7 -12. Height is also a consideration and the actor must fit into the magic tea cart.
All roles are open
Audition Requirements: Please prepare to sing a brief (32 measures) musical theatre song or similar style of your choosing. Please bring sheet music in the appropriate key or a karaoke track.. An accompanist will be provided. Also prepare a brief monologue no longer than 1 ½ minutes. There will be a dance audition as well so wear appropriate footwear and clothes you can move in.
Synopsis: The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.
Belle – A young woman with an independent spirit and a love of reading who exudes natural beauty Gender: Female Age: presents 20 to 25 Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: E3
Beast – The cursed Prince and master of the castle Gender: Male Age: presents 30 to 40 Vocal range top: F4 Vocal range bottom: A2
Maurice – Belle’s slightly addled genius inventor father Gender: Male Age: presents 55 to 65 Vocal range top: Db4 Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Gaston – A rude, narcissistic hunter who assumes the world belongs to him
Gender: Male Age: presents 30 to 40 Vocal range top: E4 Vocal range bottom: A2
Lefou – Gaston’s fawning friend, not too bright. Gender: Male Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: F#4 Vocal range bottom: B2 Tumbling skills required.
Les Filles De La Ville (3) A group of Gaston’s fanatical female followers who energetically pursue him in the hopes of winning his affection Gender: Female
Lumiere – A charming French valet who fancies himself a ladies man; becomes a candelabra Gender: Male Age: presents 35 to 55 Vocal range top: F#4 Vocal range bottom: F#2
Cogsworth – An officious, excitable, English major-domo; becomes a mantle clock
Gender: Male Age: presents 30 to 55 Vocal range top: E4 Vocal range bottom: A2
Mrs. Potts – A sweet, kind-hearted head of the kitchen staff and mother to Chip; becomes a teapot Gender: Female Age: 35 to 55 Vocal range top: G5 Vocal range bottom: F#3
Chip – Mrs. Potts’s hopeful young son; becomes a teacup Gender: Male Age: 7 to 12
Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: A3, Must be comfortable in a tight space
Madame De La Grande Bouche – A grand, larger-than-life opera singer; becomes a wardrobe Gender: Female Age: 30 to 55 Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: C#4
Babette – A flirtatious maid; becomes a feather duster. Gender: Female Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: C4
Monsieur D’arque – Proprietor of the local insane asylum Gender: Male Age: 35 to 55
Vocal range top: A4 Vocal range bottom: D3
Ensemble – Play villagers, enchanted objects, wolves, gargoyles, enchantress, young prince, all must sing and dance
WAITRESS
Music and Lyrics by Sara Bareillis
Book by Jesse Nelson
Directed by – Trisha Yates
Music Director – Devon Yates
Show dates: Jan 24, 25, 31- Feb. 2, 6-9 2025
(Potential Hold Over 14-16)
Rehearsals begin Late Nov. 2024
All roles are open
Audition Requirements: Please prepare to sing a brief (32 measures)musical theatre style song of your choosing. Please bring sheet music in the appropriate key or karaoke track. An accompanist will be provided. Also prepare a brief monologue no longer than 1 ½ minutes.
Call backs – There is the potential that we will be bringing people in for call backs. If we need to see you again you will be contacted by email. Call backs will be held August 10th.
Synopsis: Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, is stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Jenna fears she may have to abandon the dream of opening her own pie shop…until a baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s handsome new doctor offer her a tempting recipe for happiness. Supported by her quirky crew of fellow waitresses and loyal customers, Jenna summons the secret ingredient she’s been missing all along — courage.
Roles in WAITRESS
JENNA – (age late 20s-late 30s) A waitress at Joe’s Diner. She has found herself lost and unable to recognize herself at this point in her life. She is pregnant and is stuck in an unhappy marriage with an abusive husband. She lives paycheck to paycheck, day by day, and wants nothing more than to leave Earl and start fresh. What keeps her going is the memory of her mom, as she pours her soul into every pie she makes. Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: F#3
DAWN – (age 20s) A waitress at Joe’s Diner. She is charming, kind, and eccentric. She is socially awkward and loves a world in perfect order. She has a small touch of OCD and continually rearranges the tables at the diner so they are in the most efficient placement. She spends her evenings with her TV dinners and her cat, watching shows on the History, Science, and ID channel. Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: G3
BECKY – (age 40s–50s) A waitress at Joe’s Diner. She is saucy, hot-tempered, been there, made it back, and somehow kept her sense of humor. She is honest and loyal to her gals at the diner and tells them how it is. Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: Eb3
POMATTER – (age 30s) Jenna gynecologist turned lover. He is endearing, genuine, and warm. He is clumsy in manner, a bit neurotic, and has sweaty palms. He has a quirky sense of humor and a big heart. Loves desserts and speaks before he thinks. He recently moved to town from Connecticut and is very out of place in the southern town. Vocal range top: Bb4 Vocal range bottom: Bb2
EARL – (age late 20s-late 30s) He is Jenna’s husband. He is an almost talented musician who peaked in high school. He is haunted by broken dreams and the fame he almost had. Publicly Earl is all charm, but privately he is a nightmare narcissist, drowning himself in cheap beer. He is emotionally unstable, and Jenna gets the brunt of his unhappiness. Guitar playing a plus. Vocal range top: G4 Vocal range bottom: Eb3
OGIE – (age mid 20s-mid 30s) He is charming, well educated, strange, and oddly lovable. A guy light on his feet, and full of oddities, he falls head over heels with Dawn and will do anything in his power to win her over, including showing up to the diner unannounced and making up poems on the spot. His dating profile would say “Amateur magician and competitive clog dancer. He has a kind smile, and loves poetry, Pavarotti, and puzzles.”
JOE – (age 50s-70s) The owner of the diner where Jenna, Dawn, Becky, and Cal work. He is a feisty old curmudgeon with a hard shell but a buttercream center. He has a soft spot for Jenna and only her (and her pies). A sarcastically funny and no-nonsense guy with a keen ability to read people and sniff out their bs. Vocal range top: F4 Vocal range bottom: C3
CAL – (age 30s–40s) The cook at Joe’s Diner. A “salt of the earth” guy’s guy surrounded by gals. He is Brash, impatient, gruff, unsentimental but somehow utterly charming.
LULU – (ages 5-10) Jenna and Earl’s Five-year-old daughter. She is the essence of childhood joy and freedom.
ENSEMBLE – (ages 16-80) Ensemble will be composed of Joe’s Diner Customers, a trio of pregnant women, Nurse Norma, Francine Pomatter, and more. Must be excellent singers.
