URINETOWN – AUDITION INFORMATION
*please read thoroughly before signing up for an appointment
DATES (auditions/callbacks begin at 3:15 daily):
MONDAY, DECEMBER 19th – Vocal Auditions – sign up for appointment time slot.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20th – Dance/reading auditions – ALL CALLED AT 3:15
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21st – Callbacks.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22nd – More Callbacks (if needed, so keep date available)
WHO MAY AUDITION? ALL JCP STUDENTS, unless on the AIL.
WHAT TO DO NOW:
1.) GET PARENTAL CONSENT TO AUDITION! MAKE SURE YOU ARE ABLE TO MEET ALL REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE COMMITMENTS BEFORE AUDITIONING! (See “Rehearsals & Performances” below: report these dates to your parents to secure their consent.) If cast, you and your parents are required to sign a contract saying that you will not miss any rehearsals or performances unless you had a prearranged conflict that was agreed to by Mr. Lyons and Mr. Bresnahan prior to the time of your audition! (No performance or tech week conflicts will be granted. If you can’t attend even one performance, you are ineligible and may not audition.)
2.) Sign up for a time slot. Slots will begin at 3:15 PM on Monday and you reserve your time slot on a first come, first served basis. (A sign will be posted for appointments on Tuesday only if Monday fills up.)
3.) Tuesday all are called to do some easy dance moves and, perhaps, to read some scenes. Callbacks will begin on Wednesday. (If needed, they will continue Thursday – so you should keep both days open on your schedule just in case.)
REHEARSALS & PERFORMANCES:
1.) Rehearsals will begin on Monday, March 12 and go through opening Thursday, May 17. Rehearsals will be most weekdays from 3:15 to 6:00. Not everyone will be called for every rehearsal, but you must be available these times. Rehearsals may run later (up until 9 PM) during “tech week” (the week before the show), May 9 - 16. There is one MANDITORY Saturday rehearsal on May 5, from 9 AM until 5 PM – EVERY CAST MEMBER MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS SATURDAY “TECH” REHEARSAL. IF YOU ARE CAST AND START TO MISS REHEARSALS, YOU WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE CAST. (NOTE: Mr. Lyons or Mr. Bresnahan may call some principals in for smaller rehearsals prior to March 12 to get them started, especially on vocals.)
2.) Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 17 – 19 at 7 PM.
Thursday students will stay after school (in case there are last minute things to run or fix) and be fed before the show. Call Friday and Saturday is 4:30 PM.
WHAT TO PREPARE FOR AUDITIONS!
Your first audition Monday consists of singing only! Prepare a section of a song that is no longer than one minute in length. Time yourself when you practice, as you will be cut off at one minute so we can stay on schedule.
n If you are not a “solo” singer and more of a dancer – don’t worry! You still must sing for auditions. Just do your best, and tell Mr. Lyons that you are more of a dancer. He may ask you to execute a move or two.
n If you are more of an “actor,” pick a simple melody and song that you can really act out. Play a character and have fun!
What song should I sing?
n In short, whatever shows off YOUR VOICE the most!
n Songs from Urinetown are highly recommended, especially if there is a character in the show that you’re dying to play. Get a copy of the CD from Mr. Lyons so you can learn a song. The score will be available at auditions, so you don’t need to bring sheet music if you sing something from the show.
n Normal “musical theatre” tunes are also fine.
n If you’re a strong singer, select a song that shows off your voice. Please sing the “climax” of the song, not a slow, boring section. The last verse and chorus (or sometimes a bridge) usually has the musical “heart” of the song. Put some heart into it! A great voice with no emotion isn’t all that exciting.
n IF YOU ARE NOT SINGING SOMETHING FROM URINETOWN, PLEASE TRY TO SING A SONG FOR WHICH YOU HAVE SHEET MUSIC! WE’D REALLY LIKE TO HEAR YOU SING WITH A PIANO!
Important things to remember:
n REHEARSE and PUT TIME into your audition! It will show the directors how serious you are about the show! Have friends watch your audition and help you! The competition will be stiff, so it is important that you are well-rehearsed to show the best you could do if you were cast.
n Please don’t just “stand and sing”: act and perform your song or, at the very least, show your personality!
n Pick material that shows off what YOU do best! The audition is about YOU, not the directors.
CALLBACKS will consist of reading scenes and more
singing. No prepared monologues will be needed.
WHAT TO BRING TO AUDITIONS!
1.) SHEET MUSIC FOR YOUR SONG IN THE KEY YOU WISH TO SING IT. (NO ON-SITE TRANSPOSITIONS WILL BE DONE.)
2.) PHOTO OF YOU SO WE CAN ATTACH IT TO YOUR APPLICATION. WE NEED THSE SO WE CAN REMEMBER WHO EVERYONE IS! (Mr. Bresnahan and Mr. Lyons don't all have or know the same students, so don't think you don't need one because one of us knows you.) ANY CASUAL PHOTO WILL DO. JUST PRINT IT OUT ON REGULAR PAPER.
3.) RESUME, IF YOU’VE BEEN PERFORMING LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE ONE. IF YOU’VE ONLY DONE A COUPLE OF SHOWS, YOU MAY JUST WRITE THEM ON THE BACK OF YOUR APPLICATION.
MAKE SURE YOU CHECK ALL OF YOUR CONFLICTS AND GET PARENTAL CONSENT BEFORE SIGNING UP TO AUDITION.
More Helpful Info ...
“I’VE NEVER BEEN IN A MUSICAL BEFORE, BUT I’D LIKE TO TRY OUT” … Then GO FOR IT! High school offers you the opportunity to try new things, so it doesn’t hurt to try out! Who knows? You may find your own hidden talents and be the next musical superstar?!!
COMMITMENT: Being in the musical is a huge commitment. Not only are you required to attend rehearsals, but you must memorize music, dance steps and lines ON YOUR OWN TIME. It takes a lot of effort. If you are not willing to dedicate yourself to this 100%, then you should NOT audition. Those who are cast and skip rehearsals or do not “do their homework” to memorize lines, music and dance steps WILL BE DISMISSED FROM THE CAST!
WHAT WILL I DO AT AUDITIONS? The first audition will be SINGING ONLY, but don’t let that discourage you if you are “more of a dancer” or “actor.” (See “What to Prepare” on audition callboard.) CALLBACKS will include reading scenes and more singing. NO MONOLOGUES are required.
The Characters of Urinetown
Singing Roles -- The following roles all sing solos and require strong voices:
Hope Cladwell: Requires a strong, legit singer with soft, pretty singing voice! This ingénue is the young, naïve daughter of Mr. Cladwell (the villain) who falls in love with rebel Bobby Strong. She is sweet and innocent but becomes stronger as the show goes on.
Bobby Strong: Requires a strong tenor; does a lot of singing in the show of various styles! He is the rebel “poor guy” who leads the revolution. Strong actor with lots of chemistry; blue collar working class.
Penelope Pennywise: Funny, mature character part with a strong, high belt voice. She runs the public bathroom that charges the poor to urinate. Friend of Cladwell’s.
Little Sally: A poor little girl (played by an adult) who speaks and talks with a child’s voice. Needs good comedic timing and acting skills.
Officer Lockstock: This cop is a tough guy and the “narrator” of some of the play. Requires a strong character voice; needs good comedic timing.
Officer Barrel: Lockstock’s sidekick of a similar type. We may consider casting a male or female in this role.
Hot Blades Harry: A violent member of the rebels, sings “Snuff that Girl.” We may consider casting a male or female in this role.
Acting roles (most sing some solo lines):
Mr. McQueen: Cladwell’s right hand man, nasty & temperamental.
Senator Fipp: A public servant.
Josephine and Old Man Strong: Bobby’s poor mother and father.
Ensemble Singers and Dancers: The ensemble plays various roles, from Cladwell’s company workers to cops (“Cop Song”) to the poor people who rebel later in the play. Most of the ensemble will play two to three roles: Cladwell’s workers (bad guys), rebel characters (good guys), and cops. All ensemble members SING, but not necessarily solos.
*Song List for URINETOWN
People are encouraged to learn and sing a song from the show. Here is a list of what characters sing which songs. You may also just sing something that shows off your voice.
Song Character(s) who sing it
Urinetown Lockstock & Company
It’s A Privilege to Pee Pennywise & Company
Mr. Cladwell Cladwell, Hope & UGC Staff
Cop Song Lockstock, Barrel & Company
Follow Your Heart Hope and Bobby
Look at the Sky Bobby & the Poor
Don’t Be the Bunny Cladwell & UGC Staff
Act I Finale Bobby, Cladwell, Hope & Company
What is Urinetown? Hot Blades, Cladwell, Bobby & Company
Snuff That Girl Hot Blades & the Rebels
Run, Freedom, Run! Bobby & the Rebels
Why Did I Listen to that Man? Penny, Fipp, Hope, Bobby & Company
Tell Her I Love Her Little Sally, Bobby & the Rebels
We’re Not Sorry (Montage) The Company
We See a River/Finale Hope and Company
*Interested in a specific character?
GET FAMILIAR WITH THE SHOW!
You may check out scripts and musical CDs from Mr. Lyons for TWO DAYS ONLY!
Scripts borrowed must be returned by 7:45 AM on the third day so Mr. Lyons can pass them out to others.
Being familiar with the show and the characters can only work to your advantage!
URINETOWN – What’s it about?
One of the most uproariously funny musicals in recent years, URINETOWN is a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single wicked company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. In a world where only the privileged can afford to pee, one poor hero decides he's had enough -- and leads the poverty-stricken people in a hysterical romp to freedom!
URINETOWN is an irreverently humorous comedy in which no one is safe from scrutiny. Praised for reinvigorating the very idea of what a musical could be, URINETOWN parodies the conventions of musical theatre with wickedly modern wit, and its ability to produce gales of unbridled laughter!
URINETOWN – ACT 1 PLOT SUMMARY
Urinetown begins at the poorest, filthiest public toilet in town with a friendly welcome from narrator and cop, Officer Lockstock. He and the adorable “child” Little Sally fill us in on the back-story: As the result of a terrible drought and water shortage, private toilets have become unthinkable. All restroom activities are handled through a private corporation, the Urine Good Company (UGC for short). To control water consumption, people have to pay to use public amenities (that is, public toilets) for their "private business." As Lockstock says, "That's the central conceit of the show."
Masses huddle in line, desperate to use Public Amenity (Toilet) Number 9, run by Penny Pennywise and her assistant, young everyman Bobby Strong. Trouble ensues when Bobby’s father, Joseph "Old Man" Strong can't afford his urinal admission for the day. When Old Man Strong asks Pennywise to let him go for free just this once, Penny is forced to draw the line with the song, “It's a Privilege to Pee.” Old Man Strong screams that this "is no way to live” as he pees right on the street, with the crowd looking on. Officers Lockstock and Barrel immediately arrest Old Man Strong and take him off to Urinetown. The masses fall back into line immediately.
Meanwhile, at the offices of Urine Good Company, CEO Caldwell B. Cladwell is assuring Senator Fipp that the agreed upon bribes will come through provided that the senate approves additional restroom fee hikes. Cladwell’s daughter Hope arrives for her first day on the job as the UGC's new fax/copy girl. Cladwell summons his staff and explains the workings of the UGC to Hope - as his staff brownnoses him - with the song “Mr. Cladwell.”
Meanwhile, Lockstock, Barrel, and other company members (dressed as police officers) explain their plight during these trying times with “Cop Song.”
Hope meets hero Bobby, who is complaining that the people are growing restless over rumors of more bathroom fee hikes. The cops remind Bobby to keep his head out of the clouds, lest what happened to his father happen to him. Bobby remains defiant, attracting and intriguing innocent young Hope. When the police leave the scene, Bobby admits to his feelings of guilt and confusion over not doing more to save his father. Hope encourages Bobby to “Follow Your Heart.” But even as Hope’s heart tells her to fall for Bobby, Bobby’s heart is laying plans for a rebellion.
Bobby begins his rebellion at the public amenity by telling the poor crowd to dream of a better life with the rousing number, “Look at the Sky!” But at UGC, Cladwell can see that his daughter is beginning to sympathize with the plight of the poor. He warns her to stay at the top of the food chain with the hysterical, cautionary song, “Don’t Be the Bunny!”
Cladwell and the police rush in to break up Bobby’s demonstration with his new group of rebel protesters during the Act I Finale. In the confusion, Little Sally joins the rebellion and Cladwell, seeing Hope by Bobby’s side, accuses him of kidnapping her. As the situation becomes more desperate, Bobby decides that the only way for the revolution to survive is to really kidnap Hope. Bobby and the revolutionaries get away with it, because the dance choreography is in slow motion, forcing the police to move too damned slowly!
ACT II – Sorry, we don’t want to give too much away! Just know that it’s just as fun and exciting as Act I was!
CALLBACKS WILL BE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21st at 3:15.
WE WILL POST THE CALLBACK LIST WEDNESDAY MORNING.
No comments:
Post a Comment