A MUSICAL?! CAST SIZE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS SPEAKING AUDITION REQUIREMENTS SINGING AUDITION SPECIFICS

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1 A MUSICAL?! Program and Audition Information Show Title: The Music Man *Audition Dates January 11 th 13 th *Call Back Auditions January 17 th at 4-7pm Performance Dates - April 25 th & 27 th at 7pm Being part of a musical theatrical production is an enjoyable and rewarding experience! However, it also requires a great deal of commitment and focus. Students who are selected as part of the cast will be expected to commit to attending their grade level enrichm ent time during the school day and regularly after school rehearsals on select Fridays and in between sports seasons. While not all cast members will be required for all after school rehearsals, students who take on leading roles should expect to be called for most after school rehearsals. A rehearsal calendar will be handed out at the first rehearsal following auditions, which will be Friday January 20, 2017 from 4-5pm. Additionally, there will be a $50 cast fee for all students to cover the cost of costumes, scripts, royalties and other production costs. CAST SIZE 25/35 students AUDITION REQUIREMENTS SPEAKING For both preliminary and call back auditions students will perform one of the monologues on page 4. Monologues should be memorized and presented with expression, creativity, preparedness and a commanding speaking voice. Additionally, articulation and diction are extremely important so make sure you are pronouncing all consonants especially those found at the end of words. Have fun with your monologue and be larger than life - exaggerate think of it this way.you are performing for the person who is sitting in the last row and who is hard of hearing and seeing make sure you are heard, understood, and your character comes across clearly! Although you will select one monologue, you will be considered for all roles. Students who are not willing to take any role should not audition. AUDITION REQUIREMENTS SINGING All students will be asked to sing a song from the musical and can be found at the back of this packet. If you don t want to be considered for a solo part, you will sing in a small ensemble group. If you want to be considered for a speaking only role, you may note that on your auditions sheet and you will not have to sing at the audition. For rehearsal purposes, there is a video clip, copy of the score, and lyrics found on canvas and at the website Take advantage of these resources! AUDITION SPECIFICS *Preliminary auditions will take place on Wednesday January 11 th Friday January 13 th in school during elective time and grade level enrichment. Any student who is auditioning and not enrolled in a theatre arts class or enrichment will be given a pass to come to room E-117 during enrichment time and will need to see Mrs. Klipa for a pass. Following the initial auditions on January 13 th, select students will be invited to the call-back audition on January 17 th. A call back audition indicates the director saw something in the first audition that was impressive, and is considering casting the student in a leading role. The call-back audition is may include a cold-reading of material from the musical but students should be prepared to perform the monologue and song from the preliminary audition. Students may be asked to sing a song from the show, read a scene with other actors who have been called back and possibly asked to dance. P lease Note: If you DO NOT receive a callback audition, this does not mean you have not been cast in the musical. Additionally, receiving a callback audition does not guarantee you a part in the musical. 1

2 ABOUT THE SHOW The show centers around fast-talking con man Harold Hill, who goes from town to town selling citizens on starting a "boy's band," then extracts money from them by ordering instruments and uniforms, with the promise that he'll teach the kids how to be musicians. Once he's collected the money, Hill skips town, leaving the kids with an instrument they don t know how to play. Looking for new custom ers in Iowa, Hill arrives in River City, where he declares that the only way to save the youth of River City from the lure of the pool hall is to organize a boy's band. He charms the mayor's wife Eulalie into forming a "ladies' dance committee" and sets his sights on winning over local music teacher Marian Paroo. Marian rightly considers Hill a fraud, especially when he espouses the "Think System" of learning music: if you think a tune, he claims, you can play it. Mayor Shinn is also skeptical of hill and commissions the 4 man school board, who is constantly bickering, to check Hill s credentials and prove he s a fake. Although Shinn is hard to win over by the charming Harold Hill, Marian becomes Hill's staunchest ally when her young brother Winthrop, sullen and withdrawn since the death of his father, exuberantly comes out of his shell at the prospect of joining Hill's band. Shinn has his way and Hill is captured by the school board and brought before a town meeting to be tarred and feathered. Marian defends Hill, and the townspeople, reminded of how he has brought so many of them together by his presence there, elect not to have him prosecuted. Mayor Shinn in response reminds the townspeople of how much money Hill has taken from them to form a band, with no apparent result. When he loudly demands to know "Where's the band?" Hill is saved by the town's boys, who have learned to play on their own. As the boys in the band march out of the town hall, they are suddenly "transformed" into a spectacular marching band and playing and marching with perfection, led by Hill. CAST OF CHARACTERS HAROLD HILL: A smooth talking con man and traveling salesman with plenty of charm his main goal is to make money in an unconventional manner. His next big gig is to convinces the townspeople of River City, Iowa that they need a boys band to keep them out of trouble MARIAN PAROO: Daughter to Mrs. Paroo and sister to Winthrop, she is the stuffy, conceited librarian and piano teacher in town. She is very learned and defends the questionable books that are in the library. At first, after meeting Harold Hill, she dislikes him but then gets to know him better, and we see a transformation in her and her feelings soften towards him. She comes to realize that he really does want to make a difference, and changes things in the town. MARCELLUS WASHBURN: Former con man and friend to Harold Hill who now lives in River City; becomes fast friends with Harold again and helps him learn about the town, tries to help Harold get out of town after the con. MRS. PAROO: Widowed Irish mother to Marian and Winthrop. She is a sweet, cheerful homemaker who wants the best for everyone. She gives Marian a lot of advice about how to find a man., and dotes on Winthrop. MAYOR GEORGE SHINN: (Non-Singing or Chorus Only) The Mayor of River City, self-important, blustery, pompous, not terribly intelligent. Gets lots of things wrong! Listens to his wife. Protective of daughter, Zaneeta, whom he thinks is dating the wrong boy in town. Takes himself seriously, but comes across funny. WINTHROP PAROO: Marian s cute little brother who does not talk much because of a lisp and missing his father who passed away 2 years prior. Learns to trust again and is a chatterbox by the end of the show. EULALIE MACKECKNIE SHINN: Mayor Shinn s wife, she is definitely a society lady, knows everyone in town, struts about like a peacock and is somewhat snooty. A Member of every auxiliary organization in town, she has some strange ideas and doesn t think she looks as ridiculous as she really is. Keeps her husband in line. AMARYLLIS: She is the young piano student of Marian s, and likes Winthrop, but doesn t understand why he won t talk to her. The actress does not necessarily have know how to play the piano. (Acting/Solo/Dance) 2

3 ZANEETA SHINN: Mayor Shinn & Eulalie s teenage daughter, she has a crush on the town bad boy Tommy. She is not rebellious, but is learning to stand up for herself. Very cute and feminine, she is a dancer, especially in Marian the Librarian and S eventy-six Trombones. Also can sing in Chorus Numbers. GRACIE SHINN: She is the Mayor s younger daughter, and somewhat of a tomboy and a bit devilish. Sings Chorus Numbers. ETHEL TOFFELMIER: She is jolly and friendly, and plays the player piano. She gossips with the other ladies ALMA HIX: The wife of Oliver Hix, she is a gossipy friend of Eulalie and sings: Pickalittle, It s You, and Chorus Numbers. MAUD DUNLOP: The wife of Ewart Dunlop, and another of Eulalie s gossipy friend and sing Pickalittle, It s You, and Chorus Numbers. MRS. SQUIRES: The wife of Jacey Squires, she is also one of Eulalie s gossipy friends who sing Pickalittle : Pickalittle, It s You, and Chorus Numbers. MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD: Bickering business men who are turned into a Barbershop Quartet, by Professor Hill. They include: Jacey Squires Olin Britt Oliver Hix Ewart Dunlop CHARLIE COWELL: A rival traveling salesman, first seen on the train at the start of the show, he returns to town to warn them about Harold and hopefully make himself a hero and earn sales himself. (Acting/Dancing) TOMMY DJILAS: A teenager from the wrong side of town who starts out as a trouble maker, but falls for Zaneeta, the Mayor s daughter, and encouraged by Harold, begins courting her. He also becomes the assistant leader of the Boys Band, thanks to Harold giving him confidence and trust. (ACTING/DANCING) CONSTABLE LOCKE: The town Sheriff. Sings the Chorus Numbers TRAIN CONDUCTOR: He is on in the first scene with lines, and then will become a River City Townsperson for the rest of the show. TRAVELING SALESMEN: Salesmen on the train that warn each other about what they ve heard about Harold Hill. None of them have ever met him, but all know about his reputation. They do not realize that he is there among them on the train and can hear everything they are saying. They have a syncopated song in the beginning of the show no singing, but patterned to sound like a moving train. Very clever. Sing: Rock Island (NOTE: The Traveling Salesmen will become Townspeople once Act 1, Scene 1 is over.) RIVER CITY TOWNSPERSONS: These are small town folks who are proud of their town. They are of all ages, sizes and shapes. They will be part of a family and assigned children. They sing all the chorus numbers Iowa Stubborn, Trouble, Seventy-six Trombones, The Wells Fargo Wagon, & Finale. 3

4 AUDITION MONOLOGUE FOR BOYS (please select one) MAYOR SHINN (an uptight Mayor who takes his job very seriously) You re wasting a great deal of time here. If there s a person here who doesn t think this man Harold Hill should be tarred and feathered, please step forward. (no reaction from crowd) Have you people forgotten how you bought expensive uniforms, technical instruction books, and high priced band instruments? Have you forgotten about the promise made to you by that, that scoundrel? Didn t he promise you that your children would be taught to play in a band? Well, where s the band? HAROLD HILL (a traveling salesperson and con artist) Mothers of River City! Heed the warning before it s too late! Watch for the telltale signs of corruption! The moment your son leaves the house does he rebuckle his knickerbockers below the knee? Is there a nicotine stain on his index finger? A dime hidden in the corn crib? I he memorizing jokes out of Captain Billy s Whiz Bang? Are certain words creeping into his conversation words like swell and so s your old man? If so, my friends, ya got trouble! CHARLIE COWELL (a rival traveling salesman and all around bad person) You gullible green grass goats! Can t you get it through your heads that you re being swindled out a your eye teeth right now, this minute!? I m talking about Harold Hill the road again, highwayman, pickpocket! There isn t any band, there never has been a band, and there never will be a band. And, if you don t hunt this man down right now like a mad dog, there won t be any Harold Hill either! He ll be on the next train out of town with YOUR money! AUDTION MONOLOGUES FOR GIRLS (please select one) MARIAN PAROO (the town s librarian and music teacher who is suspicious of everyone and trusts no one) Excuse me, Professor Hill? Can you please explain exactly what your title means? You re a professor of what? At what college do they give a degree for annoying women on the street like they would on a Saturday night at a rowdy public dance hall? And another thing, Mr. Hill, I m not as easily mesmerized or hoodwinked as some people in this town and I think it only fair to warn you that I have a shelf full of reference books in there which may very well give me some interesting information about you! EULALIE MACKECKNIE SHINN (the mayor s wife and local gossip) Oh, Professor Hill, everyone is so excited about the band! Of course, naturally I m indifferent, but happy that so many people are looking forward to the new adventure! Now, about that librarian.professor, her kind of woman doesn t belong on any committee. Of course I shouldn t tell you this, but the very day she moved into town, she conned an elderly gentlemen to hir e her at the library, then turned around and convinced him to write her in his will. The old geezer left the library building to the city, but left all the books to her! CARLIE COWELL (a rival traveling saleswoman and all around bad person) You gullible green grass goats! Can t you get it through your heads that you re being swindled out a your eye teeth right now, this minute!? I m talking about Harold Hill the road again, highwayman, pick pocket! There isn t any band, there never has been a band, and there never will be a band. And, if you don t hunt this man down right now like a m ad dog, there won t be any Harold Hill either! He ll be on the next train out of town with YOUR money! 4

5 DCMS THE MUSIC MAN AUDITIONS Student Information Name: Grade/Team Age Address: Parent Phone Number: Student Number Address: Parent/Guardian Names: Are you willing to take any role you are cast? (yes) (no) Is there any SIZE role you are particularly looking for? (ie: you would prefer a major role, minor role, non-singing role or a chorus role, etc.) Please explain In the space below, please list any other experience you have had in relation to theatre and music (community shows, church, etc.) including courses and experience in theatre, music, dance, art, sewing, construction, speech or choir Musical Instruments you play and/or part you sing (if you are unsure what part you sing, please leave blank) Please list any ongoing extracurricular activities (both inside and outside of school you are involved in, and the dates and times they meet (refer to the examples): ACTIVITY SPONSOR DATE TIME (Example)Track Coach Werts M-Th 4-5:30pm 5

6 Please write any other conflicts that you could see yourself having if you would be selected for this show (Be specific, including days, dates and times. Examples vacation, gymnastic meets, church event, etc) Why do you think you would be an asset to this production? You must have a GPA of at least 2.5 to audition for The Music Man. In addition, you must ask 3 teachers, counselors or administrators to serve as a reference for you stating they believe you would be an asset to the production. Signature of teacher/counselor or administrator Date #1 #2 #3 I understand what is expected from me to audition for the musical, The Music Man. Additionally, I understand if I commit to take a role, I will be responsible for attending all rehearsals (enrichment and/or after school) and meeting memorization deadlines. I also understand there is a $50.00 participation fee if I am cast for the show. (Student signature) (date) (Parent signature) (date) * Audition forms should be turned into Mrs Klipa in room E-117 on or before the day of your preliminary auditions. If you are not in Theatre Arts elective or enrichment class, please see Mrs. Klipa for an audition time and pass. Call back results will be posted on CANVAS and the classroom website by Friday January 17 th at 7pm 6

7 All girls wishing to be considered for solo or ensemble roles should learn the sections below of the following songs: 7

8 All boys wishing to be considered for solo or ensemble roles should learn the section below of the following song: 8