[Capdist-auditions] Parade Auditions, Spotlight Players, February 8 and 9, East Greenbush NY.

Spotlight Players spotlightplayers at spotlightplayerstheater.com
Sun Jan 3 20:48:25 EST 2010


Spotlight Players Community Theater is proud to announce auditions for the Capital District community theater premiere of Parade (1999 Tony for Best Original Score, Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Best New Musical).  Parade is composed by Jason Robert Brown who is steadily becoming a leading composer and playwright for American Musical Theater.   It is a powerful dramatic musical based on the real life story of Leo Frank.
 
The main auditions will be held on February 8 and 9, 2010.  Spotlight will be scheduling pre-auditions for the African-American roles in January. The show begins on Wednesday, May 12 and runs through Sunday, May 16.
 
This may be your one and only opportunity to do this musical.  The parts listed below have solos-- there are many. This is a show in which actors have the opportunity to be onstage a great deal of time and explore many emotional scenes.  This is not a dance show, so for you acting/singing types, this is right up your alley. As there is very little dancing, scene-work and rehearsals will move quickly.  Although we are auditioning in February, we will not start rehearsals until March. 
 
‘Parade’ concerns the true story of the 1913 trial of a Brooklyn-born Jewish factory manager Leo Frank who was accused of raping and murdering a 13 year old employee, Mary Phagan. The trial, sensationalized by the media, aroused anti-Semitic tensions in Atlanta and the state of Georgia. Helped by his loving wife and the principled governor of Georgia, Frank's sentence was commuted due to illegalities with the trial and he was transferred to a prison in Milledgeville, Georgia. Sadly, in the end, a lynching party breaks him out of the prison and Leo Frank is hanged
 
We are delighted to announce that we have received a grant from the Arts Center of the Capital Region, which will help enable us to make the tickets for this show free to the public.  Because of this, you may be playing to a packed audience of over 900 and you will be able to invite anyone and everyone you've ever wanted to see you in a show. 
 
Listed below are the main characters and their solos. 
 
Leo Frank, 30-45, Sings many solos.  Male lead.  Baritone-Tenor  The ideal actor is a thin man who can portray innocence, nervousness but confidence in his values, he becomes more confident as the play progresses. 
 
Lucille Frank, 30-45, Also sings many solos.  Female lead.  Alto.  The idealactress is strong, begins the show as a subordinate southern wife and grows to be a feisty equal partner and savior by the end of the play. 
 
Britt Craig, 20-45, Sings two solos--Big News and Real Big News.  An actor who can portray slimy, but a character who can command the stage.  He is the sensational news reported brought in to cover the trial. 
 
Hugh Dorsey, 40-60, Sings 3 solos--  Something Ain't Right (not on CD), Twenty Miles From Marietta, Where Will You Stand When the Flood Comes, Baritone.  An actor who can portray a confident, southern attorney, determined to win at all costs.  He is the prosecuting attorney.
  
Frankie Epps, 16-20, Sings 2 solos plus the Epilogue in the Finale (may also portray the young soldier) Baritone-Tenor. This role is for a teenager whose voice and characterizations are heart wrenching and powerfully emotional.  He is the teenage friend/big brother type of Mary Phagan.   
 
Young Soldier/Fiddlin John, 16-2,5  Sings Prologue- The Old Red Hills of Home, and It's Time Now (People of Atlanta.)  Baritone-Tenor.  Needs a  phenomenal singer.  He begins the show with one of the best songs in musicals ever. 
 
Mary Phagan, 12-14, Sings 2 solos--  The Picture Show and Frankie's Testimony (she does appear in flashback scenes after she is dead) Alto.  Looking for a girl who is the poster child of innocence.  She is the unfortunate girl and factory worker whose murder is the plot of the story.
  
Mrs. Phagan, 26-45, Sings 1 solo--  My Child Will Forgive Me and a duet later in act 2, Alto.  Ideal for an actress who can portray poor but cleans up well, her singing voice must evoke sympathy.  She is Mary's mother. 
 
Tom Watson, 35-55, Sings 2 solos -- Watson's Lullaby and Where Will You Stand When The Flood Comes.  This role is a detective who demands justice, singing voice must be strong.  He is the lead detective on the case. 
 
Judge Roan, 50 and up Sings 1 solo--   Letter to the Governor Bass.  This bass part is very low, his solo, Letter to the Governor is one of the turning points of the show, his song is riddled with guilt.  He is often doubled with Old Soldier. 
 
Iola Stover (she is more of a supporting role)
Essie
Lizzie Phagan  14-18 Quartet of girls who sing a couple of sections in various songs  Alto/Soprano
Monteen
These roles are for 4 girls who blend well together, some have occasional solo lines, but they are basically a package together.
 
Newt Lee, 50 and up, Sings 1 solo--  I Am Trying To Remember--  plus sections of Other Songs, Baritone, African American.  This role is for an African-American male who can portray an older man in character and voice.  He is the night watchman for the factory and is originally accused of the murder as well. 
 
Jim Conley, 20-40, Sings 2 solos -- That's What He Said and Feel the Rain Fall (not on CD), Baritone, Tenor,  African Americanmale with a cunning personality who can command the stage. A factory worker also, he is the actual guilty party.
 
Angela, 20-50, Sings Rumblin and a Rollin with Jim. Newt and Riley - Alto Belt African American female who can bring it home in the number Rumblin and a Rollin.  She is Riley's wife and a laundry worker. 
 
Riley, 20-60, Sings Rumblin and a Rollin - Baritone, an  African American male who can portray a subservient driver for the governor.
  
Old Soldier - 50 and up, Sings 1 Solo -- The Old Red Hills of Home--  Baritone/Bass, the epitome of southern pride, he is a soldier of the confederacy in the civil war. 
 
Governor Stanton, 40 and up, Sings 1 solo --  Pretty Music--  Baritone-Tenor/Dancer, a kind of a foolish politician, a showman who can dance and sing.  He is the big cheese of the state. 
 
There are also solos within songs for additional characters.  We may be having ensemble members playing more than one of these characters.  They are Aide, assistant, Det. Starnes, Off. Ivey, Prison Guard, Floyd McDaniel, Luther Rosser, Nurse, Mr. Peavy.  Versatility will be necessary for these parts.  There are other parts in the play not listed above because they do not have solo work.  This is just a list of characters who must sing a solo.  We are looking for good singers. 
 
If you wish to talk to the director, Michael Mensching,  or pick up a CD then please e-mail him at Senor65 at aol.com or call  477-2256.
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