The Wethersfield Teen Theater Company Proudly Presents Gilbert and Sullivan s The Pirates of Penzance Produced by The Wethersfield Teen Theater Company Directed by Kathryn Lewis AUDITION PACKET
A Letter from the Director Hello! Thank you for picking up an audition packet for the Wethersfield Teen Theater Company (WTTC) s summer production of The Pirates of Penzance, July 21 st -23 rd. My name is Kathryn Lewis, and I am the director this summer. I am a junior at Lebanon Valley College majoring in Elementary and Special Education with a Religion Minor. I am very involved in the theater company there, and I ve done everything from stage managing to acting to set and costume design. This is my third year with the WTTC; I played trombone in the pit for Anything Goes in 2008, and was the pit director for Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2009. Now, on to the show! The Pirates of Penzance is a classic show by the light opera duo W.S. Gilbert and A.S. Sullivan. It is a story with swashbuckling pirates, trembling policemen, beautiful maidens, pompous generals, and a man bound by duty. The show is a light opera, which means yes, it sounds like opera, but in English. However, despite its operatic sound, the show is hilariously funny. Check out our website at www.wttc.info for a complete synopsis, and read the attached sheet for a character breakdown. The audition process is simple and open to anyone ages 11-22 (you must be 11 by the opening night of the show and cannot turn 23 before closing night). Friday, March 25 th from 5PM-9PM and Saturday, March 26 th from 6PM-9PM are singing and acting auditions. You are free to arrive at any time; auditions are first come, first served and you do not need to attend both nights. You will hand in the last sheet of this packet and then sing a 1-2 minute selection acapella. The song should be from a Broadway musical (not Pirates) and should reflect your vocal range (keep in mind the style of the show and note the vocal ranges listed in this packet). By auditioning, you are guaranteed a spot in the ensemble. Callbacks and dance auditions will be Sunday, March 27 th from 12PM-5PM and are by invitation only. If you are asked to come in for callbacks and/or dance auditions, you will receive an email Saturday night from me saying what time you need to be there (you will not need to be there the whole time, but please leave this time window open). Materials for callbacks will be made available online at www.wttc.info. If you do not receive a callback or dance audition, it does not necessarily mean you do not have a speaking role in the show. All auditions and callbacks will be held at the Pitkin Community Center, 30 Greenfield Street, Wethersfield. Please review the attached rehearsal schedule and note any conflicts on your audition form. Not every rehearsal will be full cast (we will make more specific breakdowns in the schedule as rehearsals progress), but when you are needed for rehearsal you should be there. Absences from rehearsals should be few and far between, and attendance during tech week and all performances is mandatory for participation in the show. For those of you who cannot attend either audition night for a legitimate reason, we will hold auditions just prior to callbacks and dance auditions on Sunday. These auditions are by appointment only and will be granted at the discretion of myself, the casting committee, and the WTTC Board of Directors. Please contact me in advance for more information. I look forward to putting on a wonderful show this summer. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, any of our wonderful production staff, or a member of the Board of Directors (see attached contact sheet). -Kathryn Lewis, Director
A Letter from the Board Chairman Greetings! For those of you who are new to Teen Theater and don t know me, my name is Josh Berman, and I am the Chairman of the Board of Directors for this season. Previously, I produced Footloose (2010), directed Thoroughly Modern Millie (2009) and Anything Goes (2008), and was the WTTC s videographer for Little Shop of Horrors (2007), The Pajama Game (2006), Once Upon a Mattress (2005), and Babes in Arms (2004). I also did shows for Rocky Hill High School, including directing 2008 s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Having spent many summers with Teen Theater, I can personally guarantee you: by auditioning for this show, you are about to partake in a great summer tradition that you ll remember for the rest of your life. The Wethersfield Teen Theater Company was founded in the fall of 1988 by Bill Fennelly and Carol Choomack with the help of Mayor Dan Camilliere and the Parks and Recreation Director, Bill Pitkin. The Pirates of Penzance is our 23 rd major summer musical production. What makes Teen Theater unique is that we re entirely run by teens. This includes choosing the shows, casting performers, directing, choreographing, creating sets, and organizing community events, just to name a few (check out our website at www.wttc.info for more on how our company works). Our company combines teens from Wethersfield and many other towns across Connecticut to give them a taste of what real show business is like. We are proud of our history and the amount of work we have put into our productions, and we look forward to more fun and success in the future. You now get to be a part of that future. In order to keep Teen Theater running, each performer is required to pay dues. It s $45 for residents of Wethersfield, and $55 for non-residents. These dues help pay for things like show royalties, costume rentals, and building materials. Not only does paying dues allow you to participate in our fun summer, but you ll also get a free T-Shirt with this year s show on it! We ll let you know when to pay your dues by. As rehearsals come nearer, we ll be sending out important information through email. If you don t have your own email address, or you don t check it very often, it s important that you list your parent or guardian s email address on your audition form. We ll be having an informational meeting for parents/guardians early on in the rehearsal process. At this meeting, any questions parents/guardians have will be answered, but it will also be a time for them to sign up for volunteer duties, like chaperoning rehearsals and running the concession stand during intermission. Parent/guardian volunteers are important! I know I ve crammed a lot of information into my letter, and Kathryn into hers, but if you have any questions at all, feel free to contact us (see the attached contacts page). We re all working hard to make this summer the best one Teen Theater s had yet! -Joshua G. Berman, Board Chairman
Important Contact Information Kathryn Lewis (Director) Email: kml004@lvc.edu Cell: 860-502-9578 Joshua G. Berman (Board Chairman) Email: joshuagberman@gmail.com Cell: 860-707-2150 Sam Kaseta (Vocal Director) Email: samkaseta@yahoo.com Megan Gallo (Choreographer) Email: omegang5594@aim.com Lucas Borgstedt (Pit Director) Email: 469luke@cox.net The Wethersfield Teen Theater Company Web: www.wttc.info Phone: 860-615-WTTC (leave a voicemail or send a text!) Auditions and some rehearsals will be located at the Pitkin Community Center, 30 Greenfield Street, Wethersfield, CT 06109 Rehearsals and the final performances will be located at Wethersfield High School, 411 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109 (use entrance on Jay Street off of Wells Road)
Rehearsal Schedule and Important Dates Sunday 4/10 Read-Thru, Community Center, 12pm-3pm Sunday 5/01 Rehearsal, Community Center, 1pm-4pm Saturday 5/07 Rehearsal, Community Center, 1pm-4pm Sunday 5/15 Rehearsal, Community Center, 1pm-4pm Saturday 5/21 Inventory Day, Community Center & Nature Center, Time TBD Sunday 5/22 Rehearsal, Community Center, 1pm-4pm Saturday 5/28 Memorial Day Parade, DMV Parking Lot, Time TBD Saturday 6/04 Inventory Day [RAIN DATE] Sunday 6/05 Rehearsal, Community Center, 1pm-4pm Wednesday 6/08 Rehearsal, Community Center, 6:30pm-8:30pm Sunday 6/12 Rehearsal, Community Center, 1pm-4pm Wednesday 6/15 Rehearsal, Community Center, 6:30pm-8:30pm Saturday 6/18 Rehearsal, Community Center, 1pm-4pm Wednesday 6/29 Rehearsal, WHS, 5:30pm-9:30pm Thursday 6/30 Rehearsal, WHS, 5:30pm-9:30pm Friday 7/01 Rehearsal, WHS, 5:30pm-9:30pm Tuesday 7/05 Rehearsal, WHS, 5:30pm-9:30pm Wednesday 7/06 Rehearsal, WHS, 5:30pm-9:30pm Thursday 7/07 Rehearsal, WHS, 5:30pm-9:30pm Friday 7/08 Rehearsal, WHS, 5:30pm-9:30pm Saturday 7/09 Rehearsal, WHS, 12pm-5pm Sunday 7/10 Rehearsal, WHS, 12pm-5pm Monday 7/11 Rehearsal, WHS, 5:30pm-9:30pm Tuesday 7/12 Rehearsal, WHS, 5:30pm-9:30pm Wednesday 7/13 Rehearsal, WHS, 5:30pm-9:30pm Thursday 7/14 Rehearsal, WHS, 5:30pm-9:30pm Friday 7/15 Rehearsal, WHS, 5:30pm-9:30pm Saturday 7/16 Cue to Cue, WHS, 9am-9pm (WTTC Olympics) Sunday 7/17 Tech Week, WHS, 12pm-6pm Monday 7/18 Tech Week, WHS, 5pm-10pm Tuesday 7/19 Tech Week, WHS, 5pm-10pm Wednesday 7/20 Tech Week, WHS, 5pm-10pm Thursday 7/21 Call: 5pm Curtain: 7:30pm Friday 7/22 Call: 5pm Curtain: 7:30pm Saturday 7/23 Call: 11:30am Curtain: 2:00pm & 7:30pm Sunday 7/24 Strike and Cast Party, Time and Location TBD Please note that there will not be rehearsals July 2 nd to July 4 th. Not everyone will be needed for each rehearsal (information forthcoming). Also, Fridays in July may be used for activity nights (TBD).
Cast Breakdown and Vocal Ranges FREDERIC is the male ingénue of the show. He should have a great voice that is polished. Frederic should also have looks that qualify as "dreamy" if at all possible. Think Taylor Lautner, Joe Jonas, Zac Efron, or anyone who may be worthy of the cover of Teen Beat or Teen People. Vocal Range: F3-G4 (optional Bb4) MABEL is the female ingénue. She must have a strong, polished, operatic or legitimate voice with a very wide range and the ability to sustain higher notes and handle vocal runs with ease. Vocal Range: Eb4-G6 (Ab5 extremely common) THE PIRATE KING is a great comic role for someone who is self assured, a bit of a ham, and great at physical comedy and can hold a tune. This role is for someone who is inventive, fearless and willing to take positive risks. RUTH is a humoristic tour-de-force for a young comedian. She should be able to play matronly but still be vibrant and full of energy. Ruth should be an actor with a good voice and comic timing who can be bigger than life and be able to hold a vocal harmony by herself. Vocal Range: G3-E5 SAMUEL is a pirate and serves as the second in command to the Pirate King. Where the Pirate King is self-assured, assertive, and strong, Samuel is more bookish. Think of him as the accountant to the Pirates. KATE, EDITH, and ISABEL are the leaders of General Stanley's daughters. These three should be good singers, dancers, actresses and Edith should be able to hold a complex vocal harmony by herself. Vocal Ranges: Ab3-G5 (Bb3-F5 possible) MAJOR-GENERAL STANLEY is one of the signature character types in any Gilbert and Sullivan show. He delivers a rapid fire patter song. This comedic role requires an actor with excellent rhythm and impeccable timing with superior diction and articulation. THE SERGEANT should be a good singer and a natural leader when on stage. The Sergeant leads a bumbling police force. Vocal Range: G2-C4 THE DAUGHTERS of Major General Stanley range in type and talent from great singers, dancers and actresses to any combination of the three. Though mostly on stage as a group, each of these ladies is unique, possessing individual characteristics. [Ensemble] Vocal Range: Ab3-G5 (Bb3-F5 possible) THE POLICE should are a group of bumbling men, so performers who are very funny and physically adept will be great in this group. [Ensemble] THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE are the most rowdy, loud, and loveable motley crew of sealoving Pirates to ever set sail on the high seas. This kooky band of outlaws is a hodgepodge of individual personalities as wide as the actor's imagination will allow. The more creative the actors, the more this group of hammy hooligans will shine. [Ensemble]
Wethersfield Teen Theater Company Audition Form Name: Birthday: / / School: Grade: Home Address: Home Phone #: Cell Phone #: E-mail: Name of Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Email of Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Vocal Part (circle): Soprano Alto Tenor Bass Unknown Vocal Range (if known; include comfortable range and extension): Role(s) Desired: Will you accept another part, including Ensemble?: Yes No Please list any and all theater, vocal, and dance experience you have below. Use the back if necessary. Where applicable, please note how long you have participated and where you participate, including listing vocal/dance instructors. Please review the attached rehearsal schedule and note below any and all summer plans/possible conflicts you have. Use the back if necessary.