Mainstage Auditions for Kinky Boots and The Sound of Music

Cattle Call Auditions for the Erie Playhouse productions of Kinky Boots and The Sound Of Music.

Adult auditions will be held on May 23 and 24 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 in the box office for 24 hrs. with a refundable $10 deposit.  Questions? Please contact richardd@erieplayhouse.org

PLEASE NOTE: All actors who are eligible for vaccinations will be required to be fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19 to participate. You will be asked to provide your vaccination card for proof of vaccination at auditions. Rehearsals will be conducted masked until production week.

Auditions, rehearsals, and production will follow the Playhouse’s COVID-19 Protocols, which are available for review here.  At auditions you will be required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing until your actual audition.

KINKY BOOTS

Book by Harvey Fierstein

Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper

Directed and Choreographed by Richard Davis

Assistant Director – John Burton

Vocal Director – Devon Yates

Musical Director – Andrew Rainbow

Show Dates – July 29, 30, August 5-7, 11-14

Rehearsals begin May 31

All adult roles are open to ages 14 and up plus 2 boys aged 7-10 to play Young Charlie and 10-12 to play Young Lola.  Please note that young Lola does wear women’s shoes during the course of the show.

 Audition requirements – 32 bars of a song preferably with piano sheet music – an accompanist will be provided.  A karaoke CD is acceptable but not preferred.  A short monologue approx. 1 1/2 minutes in length is also required. There will be a movement audition for any people new to the Playhouse or anyone auditioning to be an Angel.

Those auditioning for Lola or Charlie will be required to sing specific music. For Charlie the song “Soul Of A Man” from measure 26 to the end; for Lola “Land Of Lola” from measure 45 to the end.  This music is available for pick up in our box office during business hours.

*It is important to note that you CANNOT be in West Side Story and Kinky Boots.

Synopsis:  Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Kinky Boots features a joyous, Tony-winning score by Cyndi Lauper, and a hilarious, uplifting book by four-time Tony winner, Harvey Fierstein.

Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man that he is meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… and discover that, when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.

Roles available in Kinky Boots – Ages are suggestive you don’t need to be that age just play that age from the stage.

Charlie Price Age 25-35 – Male identifying, Sings C3-B4; a leading man, just out of university; he is privileged, but likable his father owns the shoe factory; he is handsome and lovable but there is a temper right under his skin; must have a great rock voice, ability to move, and be a strong actor

Lola Age 25 – 40 – Male identifying, sings C3-B4; an emotionally and physically challenging role that requires the body of a boxer with the soul of a Diva, a la Whitney Houston; must-have star presence and feel comfortable wearing everything from full glamor as a scene-stealing drag performer to nothing but boxing trunks; must have a killer voice with power blues and gospel chops; strong comedic actor. Ethnicity: Black / African Descent

Nicola Age 20-30 – Female identifying, vocal range top: F#5; vocal range bottom: Bb3; Charlie’s girlfriend since school; sophisticated looks; she is a social climber, driven and uncompromising; she knows what she wants and goes for it; must have a great pop voice.

Lauren Age 21-30 – Female identifying, vocal range top: F#5; vocal range bottom: Bb3; beautiful, but quirky (not glamorous like Nicola) working-class girl who works in the shoe factory; funny and smart but has had bad luck with men; terrific comedic actress.

Don 30-50’s – Male identifying,  vocal range top: F4 (falsetto to D5 for the finale); vocal range bottom: C3; Lola’s nemesis; burly hyper-masculine bear of a factory worker; has a menacing physicality; least likely to be seen on a runway in kinky boots; strong actor required.

Angels “this ain’t no job for wallflowers!”; vocal range: three Angels sing to C♯5 and three sing to A4; these are the six drag performers from The Blue Angel Nightclub who perform with Lola; actors with star quality and personality; must be versatile and terrific singers (with a contemporary pop/rock/R&B belt) and dancers (required to dance in heels); physical fitness is crucial; tumbling and acro skills a plus. Drag experience is a plus but not necessary.

Young Charlie – Male identifying,  Age 7-10 Lost, Quiet reflective he is in the opening and closing of the show

Young Lola – Male identifying,  Age 10-12 This is Lola as a ten year old boy who already knows he’s destined to wear high heels.

Ensemble roles

Pat – Female identifying, Officious office manager who will let loose her wild side when allowed.

Trish – Female identifying,  factory worker with a husband and kids to worry over

George – Male identifying,  Factory manager keeping up traditions. Reserved

Mr Price – Male identifying,  Charlie Father in the opening and closing sequences. Pub Patron, Factory Worker and Ensemble the rest of the show

Simon Sr. – Male identifying, Lola’s father.  An unforgiving tower of Anger.  He is in the opening and 2 scenes in Act II. Homeless Man and Ensemble the rest of the show.

Harry – Male identifying,  A contemporary of Charlie’s but his opposite. Harry is successful, self aware and confident. During the rest of the show he will be a factory Worker, photographer and ensemble.

Richard Bailey – Male identifying, Nicola’s boss. An overtly attractive and successful man. One of the hooligans in Act I, otherwise Factory worker, Referee, Pub patron and ensemble.

Female and Male ensemble – Factory Workers, Pub Patrons,  All must sing and Move Well.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Music by Richard Rogers Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein

Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse

Directed and choreographed by Susan Lechner

Music direction – Andrew Rainbow

Show Dates – September 16, 17, 23-25, 29–October 2

Rehearsals Begin August 7

All adult roles are open to ages 14 and up
Please note:  If you are auditioning for Liesel and would like to be considered for the ensemble as well you should attend the children’s audition.
**(Children’s auditions will be held on June 11. See Audition Link).

Audition requirements – 32 bars of a song preferably with piano sheet music – an accompanist will be provided.  A karaoke CD is acceptable but not preferred.  A short monologue approx. 1 1/2 minutes in length is also required. There will be a movement audition for any people new to the Playhouse

Synopsis:  Based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. Set in Austria on the eve of the Anschluss in 1938, the musical tells the story of Maria, who takes a job as governess to a large family while she decides whether to become a nun. She falls in love with the children, and eventually their widowed father, Captain von Trapp. He is ordered to accept a commission in the German navy, but he opposes the Nazis. He and Maria decide on a plan to flee Austria with the children. Many songs from the musical have become standards, including “Edelweiss”, “My Favorite Things”, “Climb Ev’ry Mountain”, “Do-Re-Mi”, and the title song “The Sound of Music”.

Adult Roles available in The Sound Of Music – Ages are suggestive you don’t need to be that age just play that age from the stage.

Maria Rainer (musical theatre mix/soprano, 20-30) Female identifying, A postulant at Nonnberg Abbey – young, free spirited, warm, gentle and kind with much determination. Guitar playing a plus.

Captain Georg von Trapp (baritone, 35-45) Male identifying,  A retired Austrian naval captain. Polished, yet very militant in the way he runs his life to repress his sadness over the death of his wife. Underneath, he is warm, understanding, and determined.

Max Detweiller/Ensemble (tenor/baritone, 30+)  Male identifying, Charming and vital; a man of sophistication who enjoys the good life; true and loyal friend to the von Trapp family.

Elsa Schrader/Ensemble (mezzo soprano, 30-45) Female identifying, A baroness of taste and elegance, sophisticated, dignified and mature.

Mother Abbess/Ensemble (legit soprano, wide vocal range, 40+, very strong actress) Female identifying, Motherly, understanding, strong and authoritative, but kind.

Sister Berthe/Ensemble (alto) Female identifying, Mistress of Novices, prudish, strait-laced with a quick tongue, less tolerant than other nuns.

Sister Margaretta/Ensemble (mezzo) Female identifying, Mistress of Postulants, very kind, understanding and concerned.

Sister Sophia/Ensemble (soprano) Female identifying, Neither demanding nor critical, sticks with the rules.

Franz/Ensemble  Male identifying, The von Trapp butler, rather formal but not without spirit, he is very German and loyal to the Fascist cause.

Frau Schmidt/ Ensemble Female identifying, The housekeeper, stoic, very little personality; she does her job efficiently but without affection. Strong and somewhat dominating.

Herr Zeller/ Male identifying, male Stern and unsmiling, a typical Nazi official whose primary concern is to see that everyone toes the line.

Rolf Gruber/Ensemble (low tenor, dance, 17) Suitor to Liesl, telegram delivery boy, later Nazi soldier. A very pleasant young man, somewhat aggressive but in a gentle way.

Admiral von Schreiber – Male identifying

Female ensemble – Nuns, Novices, postulants, some party goers and contestants at the Festival concert

Male ensemble – Party guests, Nazi’s, contestants at the Festival concert.