COFFS HARBOUR MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY AUDITIONS FOR SHREK Date: Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th January, 2019 Call backs: Monday 14th January, 7pm Venue: "O" Block Theatre, CHEC Campus, Hogbin Drive, Coffs Harbour Time: 09:30 for registration, 10am start. PRODUCER: Coffs Harbour Musical Comedy Company DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER: Donna Fairall 0411 116471 MUSIC DIRECTOR: Tim Egan 0418 515617 PERFORMANCE DATES: 4-26 May, 2019 5 shows a week: Weds, Fri, Sat evenings, plus a matinee on Saturdays and Sundays. There will be an extra show on Thursday May 23rd, making 18 performances in all. REHEARSALS: Monday & Wednesday evenings, & Sunday afternoons, CHEC Campus FIRST REHEARSAL: Sunday January 20th CONTACT CHMCC: coffsharbourmcc@gmail.com A recording of Shrek the Musical is widely available on DVD and YouTube. 2
CHARACTERS AND VOCAL RANGES Shrek - An ogre who has spent most of his life as an outcast, living in a swamp far from civilization; his brutish exterior disguises a soulful and brave heart. A reluctant hero. Powerful presence with great wit. Ability to produce a credible Scottish accent a bonus. Actor: male 25yrs-adult Vocal Range: high baritone/tenor A2 G#4 Princess Fiona - The beautiful princess of Far Far Away, she transforms into an ogre every night when the sun sets. Rescued by Shrek, she has spent most of her life locked in a dragon-guarded castle reading romantic fairy tales. Not your typical fairytale princess, she is smart and outspoken. And belches. Actor: female 25yrs-adult Vocal Range: alto/soprano with high belt F3 - G6 Donkey - Shrek s self-appointed side-kick, as charming as he is clingy, a bright-eyed motormouth whose eagerness and quick wit barely disguise his desperate need for a friend. Charming with great comic skills Actor: male/female 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: high baritone/tenor or alto with high belt C3 - B4 Lord Farquaard - A pompous, power-hungry little villain with a raging Napoleon complex and intense dislike of all fairytale creatures. Sets out to claim a beautiful princess as his bride in order to ensure himself a kingly throne. Actor: male 16yrs-adult with strong knees. Vocal Range: high baritone B2 - D5 Dragon - A dragon charged with guarding Princess Fiona in her isolated castle. She falls in love with Donkey and attempts to keep him there forever. Imposing and flirtatious. Actor: female 16 yrs-adult Vocal Range: Alto/Mezzo with gospel sound and big belt F3 - Eb5 Pinocchio - The leader of the fairytale creatures, a wooden puppet whose nose grows every time he lies. Plenty of sass, comedic role. Actor: male/female 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: Tenor with good falsetto or female soprano/alto E3 - F#4 Gingy/Queen Lillian/Bluebird - A gingerbread man kidnapped by Lord Farquaad. His wit and resolution help him both avoid trouble and inspire the rest of the fairytale creatures. Queen Lillian has a duet with King Harold. Bluebird gets into a sing-off with Princess Fiona. Actor: female 35yrs-adult (female playing a male for Gingy). Comedic role, character voice, plus versatile vocals. Vocal Range: soprano with big belt B3 - C#5 3
ENSEMBLE OF FAIRYTALE CREATURES All have lines and solo singing lines in the songs Story of My Life, The Goodbye Song, & Freak Flag Big Bad Wolf - Tough guy who isn t afraid to let the world know he likes dressing up in Granny s clothes. Comedic role. Actor: male 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: bass-baritone to high G. Three Blind Mice - female 16yrs-adult Vocal ranges: alto/soprano (ability to sing in harmony) White Rabbit - male/female 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: alto/tenor Fairy Godmother - comedic ensemble role, Actor: female 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: soprano to high E Wicked Witch - Comedic ensemble role. female 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: soprano Sugarplum Fairy - female 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: alto with high belt Mad Hatter - male/female 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: tenor/alto/soprano Humpty Dumpty - female 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: alto/soprano Elf - comedic ensemble role for female 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: alto/soprano Tweedledee and Tweedledum - female 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: alto/soprano Mama Ogre/Mama Bear - comedic ensemble role with solo singing as Mama Ogre. Actor: female 35yrs-adult Vocal Range: mezzo-soprano Papa Ogre/Papa Bear/Pied Piper - comedic ensemble role with solo singing as Papa Ogre. Actor: male 35yrs-adult Vocal Range: baritone King Harold/Thelonius/Bishop - male 35yrs-adult. King Harold has a duet with Queen Lillian. Vocal Range: baritone 4
Captain of the Guard - male 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: n/a 4 x Guards/Knights - males 16yrs-adult Vocal Range: baritone/tenor CHILDREN'S ROLES Young Shrek/Puss in Boots/Grumpy - male 8-10 yrs Vocal Range: n/a - cameo roles only Young Fiona/Baby Bear - As Princess Fiona, a bright little girl only recently locked in a tower, she passes her time reading fairy tales about being rescued by a handsome and charming prince. Will play the role of Baby Bear and alternate the role of Young Fiona. Actor: Strong singer, female 8-10 yrs Vocal Range: mezzo-soprano Young Fiona/Ugly Duckling - As Princess Fiona, a bright little girl only recently locked in a tower, she passes her time reading fairy tales about being rescued by a handsome and charming prince. Will play the role of the Ugly Duckling and alternate the role of Young Fiona. Actor: Strong singer, female 8-10 yrs Vocal Range: mezzo-soprano Teen Fiona/Peter Pan - As teen Fiona, she has been trapped in the tower for a few years and has some angst about not being rescued yet. Sense of humour, strong voice. Actor: female 12-15 yrs Vocal Range: mezzo-soprano Three Little Pigs - Funny, anxious. Male/female 10-15yrs Vocal Range: alto/soprano (ability to sing in harmony) 5
1. Is this a kids' show? This is a full length musical with roles for adults (and young adults 16+), and roles for seven children, who will double up in the ensemble. (One Young Shrek, One teen Fiona, two Young Fionas, three Little Pigs). 2. Are you looking for dancers? Not specifically, no. If you do have dance experience, please indicate that on your audition form. 3. What does the vocal range mean? The vocal range indicated for each character is an indication of the key their songs are in. You must be able to sing in that range in order to do justice to the songs that character sings. 4. What does the age range mean? The age range indicated for each role is a guideline to the age that character is expected to look on stage. If you are a couple of years either way, it doesn t mean you can t audition. 5. Does everyone in the show sing? Yes. That s what makes it a musical. 6. What is the age limit for children? Children should be aged between 8 and 15. See the character descriptions for specific age details for each character. There is a fixed minimum age of 8. Teens aged 16+ should audition with the adults for the adult roles. 7. What happens at auditions? Do I have to sing something? Yes. Most of the day will consist of individual singing auditions. There will be an audition panel of 3 to 5 people, and everyone auditioning will fill out a form, the audition panel gets the forms, and then names are called in random order. Everyone will be expected to get up & sing something, even if you re only going for a role in the ensemble. Usually a short song or half a song is fine for anyone not going for a major role anyone going for a major role should be prepared to perform an entire song. Those auditioning for a principal role will be asked to read later in the day. 8. Do I have to sing a song from the show? You can sing a song from the show if you like, but you don t have to. Choose something that best demonstrates your voice, and that you feel good singing. Something in the style of the show you re auditioning for can be a good idea, but the most important thing is that you feel comfortable with what you ve chosen. 9. Do I sing unaccompanied or use a backing track? Your choice. You can sing unaccompanied if you like. We will have a CD player available if you want to bring a backing track, or there will be a pianist & keyboard if you want to bring your own music. 6
10. Does everyone have to dance? There will not be a dance component to the auditions. For the show, the choreographer will work with the cast at an appropriate level. Those with dance experience may be given more complex routines than the rest of the cast. 11. How long will the day last? That depends on how many people want to audition. If a lot of people want to audition, it will take longer. Please be patient. We want to give everyone a fair go. 12. I have to work - can I audition before/after/in my lunch hour? We're planning to start at 10am - if you need to leave early, please ask to audition early rather than wait to be called. If you can only get there later in the day, you must contact the director to register your interest in auditioning. We can t guarantee to accommodate you if we don t know you re coming. Contact the director on 0411 116471. 13. Can I just show up at any time? No. We would like you to be there to register between 9.30 10am. That way we know how many people are planning to audition, and it helps plan the day better. If you turn up later and haven t told us you re coming, you might miss out. See question 12. 14. I can t make those days, can I audition at another time? If you can't make the Saturday, you can come on the Sunday (but please let us know you are coming). If you can't make that weekend at all you will need to contact the director and ask if she can accommodate you before the general auditions. If enough people express an interest, we will schedule a pre-audition by arrangement. Contact the director if you need to schedule a pre-audition on 0411 116471. 15. When will call-backs be? Call backs will be on Monday 14 th January. You will be notified at the weekend if you get a call-back. A final decision on casting will not be made until later in the week. 16. What days will rehearsals be? Rehearsals will be on Monday & Wednesday evenings, and Sunday afternoons. Only principals are likely to be needed on both weekdays, at least for a while. All cast will be called on Sunday afternoons. You need to be able to commit to attending rehearsals from January 20th until the show opens in May. We do make allowances for work commitments, but not a lot else. 17. What days will the show be on? The show opens on May 4th and runs until May 26th. We do 5 shows a week: Weds, Fri, Sat evenings, and a matinee on Saturdays and Sundays. There will be an extra show on Thursday May 23rd, making 18 performances in all. 18. Can I miss a show if I have something else on? No. Unless you're dying. 7
CHMCC Audition Form: Update 18 June 2017 COFFS HARBOUR MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY INC. AUDITION APPLICATION NAME:... ADDRESS:... DOB:...Age:...(if under 18) Parent Name/Contact:... P: Home...Work...Mobile... EMAIL ADDRESS... Previous Experience......... Please tick your interests and abilities:! Acting! Front of House! Singing! Costumes! Dance! Set building! Musical Instrument...! Publicity! Backstage! Hair/makeup! Lighting! Makeup! Sound! Computer/graphics Are you currently undertaking singing lessons? Yes! No!... What is your vocal range (in notes, eg C3 to C6 etc)?... Please advise voice type: soprano! mezzo soprano! Alto! tenor! baritone! bass! Please list the role/roles you are interested in:... Do you want to be considered for other roles?!no!yes... Do you want to be considered for the Ensemble?!Yes!No Anything:!Yes!No Are there any periods of time when you will not be available for either rehearsals or performances?!no!yes... Are you currently involved in another production?!no!yes Production... Show Dates... Rehearsal times... For insurance purposes, all crew members and cast must become financial members of CHMCC once casting is finalised. Filling in this form is taken as permission for photographs to be taken of you or your child for casting or publicity purposes. Let us know if you would like to help Backstage and FOH/Ushering, if not successful with your audition Backstage...Yes! No! Front of House/Ushering...Yes! No! You must be 16 years of age and over, to work in these two roles, THANKYOU