WEST SIDE STORY YOUNG COMPANY PROJECT Thank you for your interest in Cambridge Theatre Company s Young Company Project 2018.

Transcription

1 INFORMATION PACK

2 WEST SIDE STORY YOUNG COMPANY PROJECT 2018 Thank you for your interest in Cambridge Theatre Company s Young Company Project CTC s Priscilla Queen of the Desert Even if you have been in our shows before, we politely request that you read this document very carefully. Following the success in October 2017 of Les Misérables, School Edition, which featured 56 young people, we believe that there is the appetite and desire to produce full-length musicals for young people in Cambridge. We are now looking for a cast of enthusiastic, talented and committed young people to take part in one of the greatest musicals of all time. Participants must be at least 11 and no older than 21 years of age on Monday 27 August Proof of ID may be requested. Unfortunately, we are unable to make any exceptions to these age restrictions. CTC s Les Misérables School Edition 2

3 THE INFORMATION PACK This information pack is made up of the following documents: Information Pack Audition Form The participant must read through the pack and, if they are under the age of 18, share the information with their parents/guardians. 3

4 OFFICIAL OVERVIEW West Side Story tells the tragic love story between the central characters, Maria and Tony, each from different neighbourhoods in New York City. The strength of their love cannot overcome the hatred between the warring street gangs, the Sharks and the Jets. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway s finest and features beloved American musical theatre classics including Something s Coming, Tonight, America, I Feel Pretty and Somewhere. YOUNG COMPANY PROJECT The Young Company Project aims to bring over 60 young people together to create a fantastic show. The friendships, experiences and memories that are formed during projects like these are wonderfully unique and last a lifetime. The project is the product of a lot of hard work and time, and it is only through the commitment of everyone involved that the final result is so spectacular. WEST SIDE STORY CREATIVE TEAM Director & Choreographer Chris Cuming Musical Director Graham Brown Company Manager Sam Fuller Produced by Louis Ling for Cambridge Theatre Company CTC s Les Misérables School Edition CTC s Priscilla Queen of the Desert 4

5 DIRECTOR S VISION Chris Cuming, Director Shakespeare wrote Romeo & Juliet and, since then, the story has endured and remained relevant, being continuously studied, performed and analysed. However it s more than just a story, it s a reality that has taken place, and continues to take place, again and again around the world. In 1957, in a reworking of Shakespeare s tragic play, West Side Story told the passionate story of two New York gangs, one of indigenous and one of immigrant young people. They fight over their perceived territory and express their need for love and freedom within the constraints of their society, in a way that is as relevant today as it was then. CTC s Priscilla Queen of the Desert We are looking for a young energetic team who are open to challenging themselves through re-imagining and re-telling this wonderful piece, with its stunning score and choreography that remains iconic to this day. If you want to work like a triple threat and use all your singing, dancing and acting skills, this is a show of real story telling in all its forms. It will be an intensive process where we will demand a lot of your energy. We will certainly have fun, but it will be hard work on you physically with a lot to learn.if you want to progress your talents, to develop and put on a professional production, then please join our creative cast to explore and tell this wonderful story. CTC s Les Misérables School Edition 5

6 THE AUDITION PROCESS The auditions will take place on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April 2018 at CSVPA Dance Studios, Sturton Street, Cambridge CB1 2QG (corner of New Street and Sturton Street). There is car parking at this venue. All participants should arrive promptly in order to register and sign in. In the interests of security, the doors will be locked at the start of the workshop when all participants have signed in. Anyone wishing to audition after this time will not be admitted. SATURDAY 28 APRIL SUNDAY 29 APRIL The audition form at the end of this pack must be completed. Please bring this along to your audition with a passport-sized photo of the participant attached to it. HOW TO BOOK YOUR AUDITION SLOT Please request your audition by to, wss@camtheatrecompany.co.uk with your preferred workshop date/time, age and WEST SIDE STORY in the subject line of the am - Registration am Workshop am - Registration am Workshop 4 CLOTHING 10.30am - Registration 10.30am - Registration 11am-12.30pm Workshop 2 11am-12.30pm Workshop 5 12pm Registration 12pm Registration pm Workshop pm Workshop pm Recalls* pm Recalls* *If we request to see you for recalls on the day you have auditioned, please ensure you have availability between pm. Participants will be required to wear sensible clothing and footwear (soft-soled, no heels). All participants will take part in a physical warm up so please come in comfortable, loose clothing. Please do not wear jewellery or anything that might prohibit your movement or cause an injury whilst dancing. You will not be allowed to audition either barefoot or in socks. 6

7 HOW THE AUDITION DAY WORKS Once everyone is signed in we will introduce the members of the Production Team and explain how the workshop will be run. Participants do not need to prepare anything for the audition workshop. Participants will be taught a verse and chorus of a West Side Story song, either America or Cool, and they will be taught a short dance piece on the day. It s important to highlight that we don t just expect the best singers, dancers and actors; we like to recognise potential and work with individuals throughout the process. You must request your audition by to wss@camtheatrecompany.co.uk with your preferred workshop date/time, young person s age and WEST SIDE STORY in the subject line of the . Please bring your completed audition contact form with attached passport style photo with you on the day. We cannot predict a finishing time, but our aim is to have seen everyone by the end of each session. After that we will ask selected individuals to come back for recalls later on the day of their audition from pm, so please ensure you will be available for this. If you are asked to stay on you can wait in the waiting room until you have been seen or leave the site but it is your responsibility to be back on time, so please bring plenty to eat and drink. We would recommend bringing a mobile phone so that you can contact your parents regarding lifts at the end of the audition. Expect there to be a lot of waiting around, as we will be auditioning over 180 people over 2 days. Bring quiet things to do to keep you occupied; CTC will not take any responsibility for personal belongings that may get lost. Parents/guardians wishing to stay and wait for their children may wait in the waiting room. Once everyone is signed into the building and the auditions are underway the main doors will be locked. This is to enable us to keep the building secure whilst the auditions are going on. Parents/guardians will not be allowed to watch the audition workshop. 7

8 BREAKDOWN OF ROLES TONY (MALE LEAD, tenor) A handsome, sincere, and sweet young man, who has outgrown the Jets RIFF (MALE LEAD, tenor) Charismatic, intelligent, slightly wacky leader of the Jets MARIA (FEMALE LEAD, soprano) A lovely young immigrant Puerto Rican girl, excited and enthusiastic about her new life in America, but with stubborn inner strength ANITA (FEMALE LEAD, mezzo-soprano) Older and wiser in the ways of the world than Maria, flashy, sharp-tongued, and with a knowing sexuality BERNARDO (male lead, baritone) Handsome, proud, fluid leader of the Sharks, with a sardonic chip on his shoulder CHINO (male, baritone) Shy, gentle, sweet-faced young boy, the intended husband of Maria ACTION (male, baritone) Most aggressive member of the Jets, a cat-like ball of fury ANYBODYS (female) Scrawny teen-aged girl, dressed to imitate the Jets, who desperately wants to be taken seriously by them DETECTIVE SCHRANK (male) Plainclothes policeman used to being in charge, superficially pleasant to cover his venom, fear and bigotry OFFICER KRUPKE (male) A not-too-bright street cop DIESEL (male, baritone) Lieutenant to Riff, big, slow, steady BABY JOHN (male, baritone) Youngest member of the Jets, awed at everything, even being a Jet; tries to act like a big man, but is vulnerable A-RAB (male, baritone) Small of stature, enjoys everything, takes nothing seriously, unaware, can be explosive SNOWBOY (male, baritone) Bespectacled, self-styled expert VELMA (female, mezzo-soprano) Riff s girlfriend, young, slithery, sexy, lost in a world of jive GRAZIELLA (female, mezzo-soprano) Diesels s girlfriend, impressed with herself PEPE (male, baritone) Lieutenant to Bernardo, typically proud, and resentful of discrimination CONSUELO (female, mezzo-soprano) Pepe s girlfriend, tough, young Puerto Rican girl, lots of baubles ROSALIA (female, mezzo-soprano) Young Puerto Rican girl, more demure, not too bright GLAD HAND (male) Nerdy, overly cheerful and ill-equipped social director at the local gym dance JETS MALE ENSEMBLE JETS FEMALE ENSEMBLE SHARKS MALE ENSEMBLE SHARKS FEMALE ENSEMBLE 8

9 REHEARSALS & PERFORMANCES All rehearsals will be held in Cambridge. The rehearsal venues have not been confirmed yet. The performances will take place at The Great Hall at The Leys School throughout the October 2018 half term week (week beginning 22 October). The production week times vary and are subject to change so do check below for a rough timing outline. If participants are required to stay late for technical rehearsals or dress runs then their day will begin later to ensure that we adhere to child performance regulations. We ask parents to ensure that their children are prepared with a packed lunch and water bottle so they can refill it during the course of the day. Full commitment is expected throughout the rehearsal period. If your child isn t required on a particular day we will inform you in advance, and that will be a bonus! The breakdown of the rehearsal schedule will be made available to the selected cast members before the project begins. REHEARSAL DATES PRODUCTION DATES Monday 27 August Saturday 1 September 2017, 10-6pm (You must be available for the entire week, please remember Mon 27 August is a bank holiday) Fri 7 Sep, 7-10pm Fri 12 Oct, 7-10pm Sun 9 Sep, 12-6pm Sun 14 Oct, 12-6pm Fri 14 Sep, 7-10pm Fri 19 Oct, 7-10pm Sun 16 Sep, 12-6pm Sun 21 Oct, 12-6pm Fri 21 Sep 7-10pm Sun 23 Sep, 12-6pm Fri 28 Sep, 7-10pm Sun 30 Sep, 12-6pm Fri 5 Oct, 7-10pm Sun 7 Oct, 12-6pm Tuesday 23 October 4.30pm Sign In 5.00pm Technical Rehearsal 10pm End of Technical Rehearsal Wednesday 24 October 12pm Sign In 2.30pm Dress Rehearsal 7.30pm Performance Thursday 25 October 12.30pm - Sign In 2.30pm - Performance 7.30pm - Performance Friday 26 October 5.30pm Sign In 7.30pm Performance Saturday 27 October 12.30pm Sign In 2.30pm - Performance 7.30pm - Performance 9

10 FEES per participant If a family has more than one member in the project, each additional sibling will be charged at per participant. The fee does not include meals or transportation, which remain the responsibility of the parent/guardian. All fees must be paid by Sunday 1 July If you decide to withdraw from the project then the participant s fee is non refundable. Failure to pay by the deadline above will result in the participant being excluded from the project. SUBSIDISED PLACES There are a limited number of subsidised places on offer for those who genuinely cannot afford the fees. Please contact Louis Ling, office@camtheatrecompany.co.uk for an application form. You may be asked to supply proof of earnings. COSTUMES AND PROPS Although we are providing costumes and props, participants will be asked to provide some basic elements of costume that hopefully can be found easily at home or from a charity shop etc. We will also create a props list and ask participants to ask family and friends to look in attics and garages for items that we can use in the production. NOTE TO PARENTS We rely on good communication with parents to ensure that the project runs smoothly, therefore please ensure that all the forms are filled out correctly. We will endeavour to any information to you as well as your child to keep you informed of rehearsal times and schedules. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need to discuss further any information regarding your child and their involvement in West Side Story. DECISIONS You will be notified of the result of your audition by no later than Sunday 6 May The full cast list will be posted on the CTC website, once all the s have gone out and the roles have been accepted. The decision of the production team is final and correspondence regarding casting will not be entered into. ENQUIRIES We look forward to seeing you at auditions and please tell your friends about this fantastic opportunity. It is going to be a wonderful experience that we would love to share with you all. If you have any questions concerning the Young Company Project, please wss@camtheatrecompany.co.uk 10