Thank you for auditioning for. Auditions will be held on Tuesday, September 21 and Wednesday, September 22.

Transcription

1 Thank you for auditioning for THE 25 th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. Auditions will be held on Tuesday, September 21 and Wednesday, September 22. Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, September 22 and Friday, September 24. The show begins rehearsals on Monday, September 27. Your audition will consist of a one minute selection from a piece of contemporary musical theatre. You need to bring sheet music for your selection. No singing a cappella and no CD accompaniment. You would be smart to read the synopsis of the play online, read the script, listen to the music, and/or watch you tube videos of productions before auditioning. To receive an audition slot, please Mr. Schwartz. Your audition time will then be posted on the audition schedule on his website. Auditions will be held in the Black Box Theater. Please arrive early and bring with you the following: --your audition form signed by you and a parent --a performance resume --a photo (anything that looks like you) --your sheet music You will not be admitted to the audition without all of the above materials.

2 CASTING INFORMATION Character Vocal Range: Rona Lisa Peretti Vocal range: Mezzo (up to A) Chip Tolentino Vocal range: Tenor (up to B) Leaf Coneybear Vocal range: Baritone (up to G) Logainne Shwartzandgrubenierre Vocal range: Alto/Mezzo (down to G, up to Eb) Olive Ostrovsky Vocal range: Mezzo (down to A, up to F#) William Barfee Vocal range: High baritone/tenor (up to Bb) Marcy Park Vocal range: Alto/Mezzo (up to Eb) Mitch Mahoney Vocal range: High Baritone (up to A) Douglas Panch Vocal range: Does not sing. Character Breakdown Rona Lisa Peretti: The #1 Realtor in Putnam County, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee Champ and returning moderator. She's a sweet woman who loves children but can be very stern when it comes to dealing with Principal Panch, who has feelings for her that she most likely doesn't return. It's implied that she sees much of herself in Olive Ostrovsky. Her favourite moment of the Bee is the minutes before it starts, when all the children are filled with the joy of competition, before they begin to resent each other. She later says/sings that she likes how everyone has an equal chance of winning, citing as an example that last year's winner can be this year's loser and vice versa. Another favourite moment is when the last winners go head to head for the top spot because it is so suspenseful and filled with hope. Ms. Peretti herself won the 3rd spelling bee by spelling syzygy, which she recounts at the very beginning of the opening number. Vice Principal Douglas Panch: After five years' absence from the Bee, Panch returns as judge. There was an "incident" at the 20th annual Bee, but he claims to be in "a better place" now, thanks to a high-fiber diet and Jungian analysis. He is infatuated with Rona Lisa Peretti, but she does not return his affections. Mitch Mahoney: The Official Comfort Counselor. An ex-con, Mitch is performing his community service with the Bee, and hands out juice boxes to losing students. Olive Ostrovsky: A young newcomer to competitive spelling. Her mother is in an ashram in India, and her father is working late, as usual, but he is trying to come at some time during the bee. She made friends with her dictionary at a very young age, helping her make it to the competition.

3 William Barfée: A Putnam County Spelling Bee finalist last year, he was eliminated because of an allergic reaction to peanuts. His famous Magic Foot method of spelling has boosted him to spelling glory, even though he only has one working nostril and a touchy personality. He has an often mispronounced last name: it's Bar-FAY, not BARF-ee ("there's an accent aigu," he explains with some hostility). He develops a crush on Olive. Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre: Logainne is the youngest and most politically aware speller, often making comments about current political figures, with two overbearing gay men as parents. She is a bit of a neat-freak, speaks with a lisp, and will be back next year. Marcy Park: A recent transfer from Virginia, Marcy placed 9th in last year s nationals. She speaks six languages, is a member of all-american hockey, a championship rugby player, plays Chopin and Mozart on multiple instruments, sleeps only three hours a night, hides in the bathroom cabinet, and is getting very tired of always winning. She is the poster child for the Over-Achieving Asian, and attends a Catholic school called "Our Lady of Intermittent Sorrows." She is also not allowed to cry. Leaf Coneybear: The second runner-up in his district, Leaf gets into the competition on a lark: the winner and first runner-up had to go to the first runner-up's Bat Mitzvah. Leaf comes from a large family of former hippies and makes his own clothes. He spells words correctly while in a trance. In his song, "I'm Not That Smart", he sings that his family thinks he is "not that smart" but insinuates that he is merely easily distracted. Most of the words he is assigned are South American rodents with amusing names. Chip Tolentino ("Tripp Barrington" in the original workshop, "Isaac 'Chip' Berkowitz" in the Chicago production): A boy scout and champion of the 24th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment. Three or four spellers from the audience: Audience members are encouraged to sign up to participate before the show, and several are chosen to spell words on stage. In touring productions, local celebrities are sometimes selected. Carl Grubenierre: One of Schwartzandgrubenierre s dads, he s set on his heart on his little girl winning the bee, no matter what he has to do, including sabotaging William s foot. Played by the actor who plays Leaf. Dan Schwartz: Schwartzandgrubenierre s other dad, he s slightly less insane than Carl but still intent on his daughter winning the bee. Played by the actor who plays Mitch. Leaf s Mom: Overprotective and doubtful of her son s abilities to stand up to the competition. Played by the actress who plays Logainne.

4 Leaf s siblings, Marigold, Brooke, Pinecone, Landscape, Raisin, and Paul: Not very confident of Leaf s abilities. Played by the actors who play Olive, Marcy, Chip and the volunteer spellers. Olive s Mom and Dad: She s in India, he s working late, but they appear in Olive s imagination to encourage her and tell her they love her. Played by the actors who play Miss Peretti and Mitch. Jesus: Appears to Marcy in a moment of crisis. Played by the actor who plays Chip. When this actor is Asian (as he has been in the Boston, New York and San Francisco productions), a line to that effect is added. Peggy Jenkins: Logainne's birth mother. Only mentioned (in "Woe is Me"). She lives in a trailer in "Kansas, Missouri"; she has some contact with Logainne and her two dads. She is mentioned by Carl as Logainne's "B.M."

5 25APCSB Audition Form Name: Phone number: address: Level in school/age: Parent name: Parent address: Parent phone number: CONFLICTS: List all dates/times that you will be unavailable for rehearsals between September 27 and December 17. Include Mondays through Fridays from 3:30 to 6:30pm, Saturdays from 1-5pm, and ALL TIME CONFLICTS after November 29 through opening night. You may not add dates/times later. Rehearsals are currently scheduled November 13 and 20. I have read and agree to abide by the Envision Theatre Production Contract. All time conflicts are listed above, and no rehearsals may be missed unless listed above and approved. Tardiness and missed rehearsals may result in replacement by an understudy. As a parent and student, I understand that productions are a privilege, and we will do all that we can to support this production. Student Signature: Parent Signature:

6 Envision Theatre Production Contract I will be at all rehearsals before call time and ready to work when rehearsals start. I understand that I will receive a warning the first time I am late and that I risk being replaced in the production for any subsequent tardies. If I am late to any performance call, I will be ineligible to audition for the next production. I will regularly check the online rehearsal schedule for updates and will be at all called rehearsals. I understand that I should assume that I am called to all rehearsals until the schedule tells me otherwise; not vice versa. The only way that I can be excused from a rehearsal is by listing the rehearsal time in my conflict list when I audition. I understand that absences may require my being replaced. I understand that any unexcused absences from rehearsal will result in my being replaced in the production and/or being ineligible to audition for future productions. I will always be prepared for rehearsals. I will always bring my script. I will take notes on all blocking and acting notes. I will be proactive and meet or exceed all deadlines for memorizing lines. I will always do my best possible work. I will be a pleasure to be on stage with and to direct. I will always listen when others are talking and offer shameless praise and encouragement to my fellow cast members and staff. I will always try out new ideas in rehearsal and offer everything I can to the director. I will treat everyone (both students and adults) with respect at all times. I will respect all of the spaces we use by leaving them exactly as I find them. I will work hard to keep our props and costumes clean. As a parent, I will do all I can to support the production financially and/or in a support/volunteer capacity with publicity, box office, tech meals, etc. I will go to Mr. Schwartz with any questions, problems, or concerns immediately especially if I stop looking forward to coming to rehearsals. SAVE THIS PAGE FOR YOUR RECORDS.