OPEN AUDITIONS For the timeless world wide hit Musical

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1 We are proud to announce OPEN AUDITIONS For the timeless world wide hit Musical Sunday 12 th November 2017 To be performed at the Capitol Theatre Horsham from the 13 th 17 th November 2018 We would like to invite you to our open auditions for what must be one of the ultimate musicals of all time Ariel is one of the region s most professional thinking theatre companies. Since our creation we have strived to ensure that we deliver the highest quality productions to our audiences. As such, we have achieved national recognition for our productions (please see our web site ). While this will be the schools edition of Les Miserables. Ariel will be using its professionally minded production team to ensure that both you and the audience get a show to remember. So re Dream the Dream with us when we re create our hit Les Miz production with a fresh new cast! We do hope that you will audition for this magical show. So what do you need to be in this production? We are looking for a cast with energy, fun, stage presence, good vocal ability, movement and the dedication to give what it takes to be in musical theatre. You must be in full time education on the first rehearsal aged between 8 18 years of age. All we ask from you is that you complete and return the audition form, at the end of this document, and send in to us by the 27 th October Then turn up on the 12 th November We do regret that to perform & audition for this production there will be a non refundable joining fee for Ariel Young Actors of This must be payable prior to auditioning. We also ask for a Production Fee of (if you are successful in obtaining a cast position the 5 will be deducted so that would be remaining). This is an entirely inclusive package with no additional cost to perform in the production. So what will this include? Ariel's standard acting fee. Costumes items (footwear not included & miscellaneous accessories if required). This package does not have to be paid for until 1 st October 2018 and can be paid in instalments to you re your convenience. Page 1 of 6 - Ariel Company Theatre, Unit 20, Bolney Grange Business Park, Stairbridge Lane, Bolney, West Sussex RH17 5PB

2 AUDITIONS These will take place on Sunday the 12 th November 2017 at The Burgess Hill Academy (formerly Oakmeeds Community College), Burgess Hill, West Sussex ( ). Starting at 09.30am with registration, then followed at 10:00am by movement singing & improvisation for all auditionees until lunch time. After lunch we will hold the Principal auditionees. If you are only interested in a principal role we still ask you to attend all day. As per professional auditions, we ask you to be fully prepared and aware of the show. The full symphonic cd is available to buy Audition pieces will be posted on the web site. Due to copyright we are sorry but we can not give out photocopy material. During Auditions You may be stopped. Asked to sing in a different part Asked to play the Character in a different way Return to sing with someone else The format of the day will be movement, singing, and then principal auditions. Please be prepared for a fairly long day. Parts available are: Male Roles Male Roles Female roles Jean Valjean Vocal range: Low A to high A (above Middle C) Javert Vocal range: A (below Middle C) to F sharp (above Middle C) Bishop of Digne Vocal range: Low A to High E Foreman Vocal range: E (below Middle C) to D flat (above Middle C) Thenardier Vocal range: C (below Middle C) to G sharp (above Middle C Gavroche Vocal range: B (below Middle C) To G Enjolras Vocal range: A to G (above Middle C) Marius Vocal range: Low A to High A flat Fantine Vocal range: G flat (below Middle C) to E Young Cosette Vocal range: A (below Middle C) to C Madame Thenardier Vocal range: G sharp (below Middle C) to D Young Eponine Vocal range: N/A Eponine Vocal range: F sharp (below Middle C) to E Cosette Vocal range: B flat (below Middle C) to High C (2 octaves above Middle C) Old Woman Vocal range: E (above Middle C) to D The following parts will be allocated after the auditions. Members of the ABC Society, Montparnasse, Babet, Brujon, Claquesous, Gavroche's Gang, Mistaken Jean Valjean and family, Fauchelevan, Pimp, Bamatabois, Sailors, Girl 5 (Factory Girl), Judge & others REHEARSALS BURGESS HILL Rehearsals are scheduled for Sundays 10:30-18:00 starting on the 15 th April There may be some Thursday evenings for principals, but we will let you now. Although not everyone will be needed at each rehearsal and we will also make allowances for examinations during June & July. There is a break during August (some principals may be called). There will also be rehearsals during the October half term on the 24 th & 25th. If you would like to be part of this acclaimed master piece, please reply by completing the enclosed form and return it to: Unit 20 Bolney Grange Business Park Ariel Company Theatre Stairbridge Lane Bolney auditions@arielct.co.uk Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 5PB Page 2 of 6 - Ariel Company Theatre, Unit 20, Bolney Grange Business Park, Stairbridge Lane, Bolney, West Sussex RH17 5PB

3 To be performed entirely by Ariel Young Actors. A musical by ALAIN BOUBLIL and CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG Based on the novel by VICTOR HUGO Music by CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG Lyrics by HERBERT KRETZMER Original French text by ALAIN BOUBLIL and JEAN-MARC NATEL Additional material by JAMES FENTON Orchestrations by JOHN CAMERON Original London production directed and adapted by TREVOR NUNN and JOHN CAIRD Original London production by CAMERON MACKINTOSH and THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY School Edition specially adapted and licensed By arrangement with Josef Weinberger Theatre & Music London. One of the most successful and beloved shows in musical theatre history, Les Misérables has been specially adapted for young performers in this new author-approved 'School Edition'. For the first time, Sir Cameron Mackintosh has released performing rights in this legendary musical, seen by almost 50 million people all over the world. Les Misérables: School Edition is a new version of the show that runs for approximately two hours and is only available for performance by schools and youth groups. This will without doubt be one of the most exciting shows we have ever staged! Main parts available for Auditions Jean Valjean is the hero of the show. It is his life journey that we follow. Jean Valjean is supposed to be stronger than other men, and so physically should appear robust. He should reasonably carry himself as mature and paternal. Valjean's ability to change is his greatest asset. The key to his character is his great humanity and compassion. Jean Valjean is a vocally demanding role. Vocal range: Low A to high A (above Middle C) Javert is the inspector who serves as antagonist to Jean Valjean. Javert is unswerving in his belief that men cannot change for the good. "Once a thief, always a thief" is his mantra. At first glance Javert might appear to be the villain of the story, but on closer examination it is clear that he is not an evil man. He is aware that in society some people achieve control through evil and others through the power of the law. He is a dedicated policeman, with a profound sense of duty. Unlike Valjean he cannot change. His attitudes are rigid and unmoveable. He is stern, forbidding and lacking in compassion. Your Javert should be a talented actor who can convincingly stand up to Jean Valjean. Javert should have a rich baritone voice and be a good singer. Vocal range: A (below Middle C) to F sharp (above Middle C) Bishop of Digne the Bishop is a good man who saves Valjean with his compassion. Don't overlook the importance of this role. The Bishop of Digne's compassion carefully establishes the premise of the show by literally buying Jean Valjean's soul for God. This is a powerful role requiring a nice baritone voice and a good actor. Vocal range: Low A to High E Fantine is the beautiful young girl who, abandoned by her lover, is left to fend for herself and her daughter Cosette. She is rejected by society and forced through circumstances to become a prostitute. She is a brave woman defeated by life, sustained by her love for her daughter and clinging to her dignity. Sick with consumption, we witness her descent through poverty, hunger, cold, loneliness and destitution to death. She is a noble and proud character, whose life becomes a series of terrible events that rob her of her pride, character, and ultimately her life. The actress playing the role needs a powerful voice that is more mezzo (or alto) than soprano. Vocal range: G flat (below Middle C) to E flat Foreman the Foreman begins Fantine on her downward spiral of desperation. He should be virile, commanding and a bit sleazy around the edges. Vocal range: E (below Middle C) to D flat (above Middle C) Old Woman The Old Woman is a nice feature part. This is the character that purchases Fantine's hair. Her vocal solo is a bit tricky so cast a strong singer if possible. Vocal range: E (above Middle C) to D Pimp the Pimp controls the prostitutes at the docks. He is mean, aggressive and abusive. The Pimp has a small solo line in "The Page 3 of 6 - Ariel Company Theatre, Unit 20, Bolney Grange Business Park, Stairbridge Lane, Bolney, West Sussex RH17 5PB

4 Docks." Vocal range: E (below Middle C) to D Young Cosette is the child of Fantine. She is the ward of the Thenardiers, forced into child labour and sings "Castle on A Cloud." She is a trembling little creature, underfed, beaten by Madame Thenardier and bullied by Eponine. Make sure your Cosette is small and looks properly pathetic and yet warms the audience's heart that should be sympathetic to her plight. It is essential that your Young Cosette be as small as possible, especially against Jean Valjean and the Thenardiers. Vocal range: A (below Middle C) to C Madame Thenardier She is the wife of Thenardier. Madame Thenardier is as "one" with Thenardier.Together they con the world as partners in crime. They were made for each other, although she complains about him, she loves him dearly. She is coarse and vulgar; unhappy in her existence without knowing why. She is romantic, greedy, stupid, evil and larger than life. She is mean and nasty to Little Cosette and able to improvise in nearly any situation. You need an actress with excellent physical comedy skills, who is also a good musician with a good sense of rhythm. Vocal range: G sharp (below Middle C) to D Thenardier is the true villain of Les Misérables. He is amoral and an opportunist. That said he should also possess a wicked sense of humour. He delights in cheating, robbing, fraud and blackmail, relishing every aspect of them with glee. He is tough, greedy, brutal, stupid and crafty and yet irresistible. He hates society and blames it and everyone else for all his misfortune. Thenardier is also the opportunist and realist of the show. He is a thief, a liar and a cheat. He steals valuables from the dead with no remorse. He is also the comic relief of the production. However, his comedy is based in reality and shouldn't be too exaggerated. He is married to Madame Thenardier and father to Eponine and Gavroche (although he has abandoned Gavroche to the streets of Paris). Cast an excellent comedic actor who also has a nasty edge. Vocally the role is not incredibly demanding a character voice is best. Vocal range: C (below Middle C) to G sharp (above Middle C) Young Eponine is the pampered daughter of the Thenardiers. She does little except enter the stage and taunt Young Cosette. The role requires no singing or speaking. She should be a smaller version of grown Eponine and resemble Eponine in appearance and features. Vocal range: N/A Gavroche is Thenardier's son. He is left to fend for himself and lives by his wits in the streets of Paris. His "arch enemy" is Javert the Policeman. He is brave and witty. He should be cocky and have a fantastic unbroken voice. Think a young Artful Dodger. Gavroche is best played by the smallest believable boy available. Gavroche has a very dramatic death at the barricade. Make sure your Gavroche is a good enough actor to believably die onstage. Vocal range: B (below Middle C) To G Eponine is the daughter of Thenardier. She is a young girl who is streetwise and tough, but also sensitive and lonely. She is in love with Marius, knowing that he will never love her. She bravely follows Marius to the barricades in the hope that they will die there together. Once grown up, Eponine moves with her family to Paris where they fall on hard times. Now poor, living hand to mouth, she survives by helping her father break the law. Eponine is a tragic character, hopelessly in love with Marius. She sings one of the most famous numbers in the show, "On My Own" and should therefore be an excellent singer with a contemporary edge to her voice and an excellent actress. Vocal range: F sharp (below Middle C) to E Enjolras is the student leader. He is handsome, brave and daring, although youthful. He combines his revolutionary ideals with a strong charismatic leadership. He is described by Victor Hugo as "a thinker and a man of action". On the barricade he physically and vocally should dominate everyone else. Enjolras is one of the more difficult roles to cast. He should be charismatic, be a natural leader, be good looking, and have a very strong high baritone or a tenor voice. The role is also difficult to cast because many young actors do not perceive it as a coveted role like Marius or Jean Valjean, remind them that the original Broadway Enjolras won a Tony award for his performance. Casting a true leader of your organisation is one way to ensure the role is believable. Remember, Enjolras must lead the students to fight and ultimately die. His death at the barricade is one of the dramatic highlights of the show. Vocal range: A to G (above Middle C) Marius is the handsome romantic hero of the story. He is impulsive, passionate, wilful and headstrong. His moods change according to his circumstances. He is sweet and tender but also capable of great courage and compassion. In Act I Marius plays Romeo to Cosette's Juliet. Marius matures after the Café Song as a result of his experiences on the barricade. Marius should have a lovely, lyrical voice with a contemporary edge. Vocal range: Low A to High A flat Cosette is the beautiful daughter of Fantine. She is strong willed and loving. She is an intelligent, inquiring, personable girl. She is not in any sense a "soppy" romantic heroine. Once adopted by Jean Valjean, Cosette lives a comfortable, if secluded life. She is challenging towards Valjean, behaving always with imagination and dignity. She falls instantly in love with Marius, changing her world and her priorities. The role calls for an excellent singer with a lovely, lyrical soprano voice. Vocal range: B flat (below Middle C) to High C (2 octaves above Middle C) In Sir Cameron s own words: The future of theatre is all about developing and nurturing a passion for musicals and plays among the younger generation. This is where the new talent and new audiences will come from. I firmly believe that Les Misérables, which tells a story of so many committed, impassioned young people, should provide a thrilling theatrical learning experience for teenagers throughout the UK. Page 4 of 6 - Ariel Company Theatre, Unit 20, Bolney Grange Business Park, Stairbridge Lane, Bolney, West Sussex RH17 5PB

5 Your Details Please complete and return before October 27 th 2017 PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS. Name: Address: Post Code: Daytime Phone: Evening Phone: Mobile Phone: Address: (please include address as we use this as our main point of contact) Part/s Auditioning for: If you were not successful for the role would you be prepared to take another principal part? YES NO (please select as appropriate) Do you want to audition for Ensemble only? YES NO (please select as appropriate) If you were Unsuccessful in a principal audition would you be willing to be a member of the ensemble? YES NO (please select as appropriate) Vocal range (please tick) SOP ALTO TENOR BASS Dance Experience: (No worries if none) Rehearsal dates from May November Not Available (no rehearsals in August expect potentially some principles). Please note we require your commitment to all rehearsals 5 weeks prior to the production Page 5 of 6 - Ariel Company Theatre, Unit 20, Bolney Grange Business Park, Stairbridge Lane, Bolney, West Sussex RH17 5PB

6 Date of Birth: Playing age: Height: How did you hear about these auditions: Received Ariel YES NO Friend: YES NO Web Site: YES NO Flyer/Poster YES NO Newspaper: YES NO Other (please specify): Previous Experience (please complete) Please complete and return before October 27 th Page 6 of 6 - Ariel Company Theatre, Unit 20, Bolney Grange Business Park, Stairbridge Lane, Bolney, West Sussex RH17 5PB