AUDITION BRIEF Performances - 26-28 November 2015 Hornsby RSL Club ABOUT SYDNEY YOUTH MUSICAL THEATRE Sydney Youth Musical Theatre is now in its 38 th year of staging productions in the Sydney region, and it remains the only exclusively youth musical society in Australia. Each year, we stage two productions: one in July for our 14-25 year- old members, and a November production for our 10-18 year- old members. We aim to develop and nurture a passion for the performing arts in young people by providing opportunities to become involved in a range of areas, both on and off stage. We are a not- for- profit community group that relies on the help and support of members and their families to continue producing top- level productions. ABOUT The legend of Peter Pan has been delighting children for over 100 years and this faithful new version is a festive adventure, perfect for the whole family. Featuring music and lyrics by the award- winning duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, we join Peter and the Darling family as they are whisked away to the famous land full of colorful characters including the Lost Boys, Tiger Lily and, of course, the dastardly Captain Hook. With a spectacular mix of swashbuckling adventure, jaw dropping flying and an infectious score, Peter Pan is guaranteed to bring forth one's inner child, and send you reeling "Just Beyond the Stars." DATES Orientation: Saturday 1 August 2015 2-3pm Auditions: Saturday 8 August 2015 12-5pm Sunday 9 August 2015 10-5pm Rehearsals: Venue: Saturday afternoons, 1-5pm (commencing 15 th August) West Pennant Hills Scout Hall Wilga Street, West Pennant Hills
We are looking for performers between the ages of 10 and 18 as of November 2015. SYMT reserves the right to cast beyond this. Auditions can be booked at orientation day at www.symt.org.au. Booking a time for your audition is required, as walk- ups on audition day are not possible. If you have any enquiries, don t hesitate to contact us at peterpan@symt.org.au. Production Manager/ Musical Director: Director: Choreographer: Assistant Musical Director: Assistant Choreographer: Andrew Bartle Elizabeth Hogan Melissa Ayers Matthew Reid Matt Hourigan THE AUDITION PROCESS All up, your audition should take around an hour. All auditionees will be required to complete a singing and dance audition. Those going for principal roles may be asked to perform a reading. These can be found at the end of this pack. Singing All auditionees will be required to prepare and perform approximately 90 seconds of a song of their choice that approximately matches the style of the show. A proficient pianist will accompany your audition. It is essential that you bring clear, readable sheet music for the accompanist. Backing tracks and a cappella auditions are not acceptable. Most songs you might choose for your audition can be found online on sites such as musicnotes.com. Dance As part of your dance audition, all auditionees will learn a short dance routine to be taught on the day. Auditionees should wear comfortable clothing and enclosed footwear that they can move freely in. Acting If you would like to audition for a principal or named role, you may be asked to do a short reading from the script on the day of the audition. Attached are four character readings that you may like to familiarize yourself with. If the role you are auditioning for is not below, we may possibly get you to read the character that is the closest in character dynamic. You do not need to memorise any of the parts for the audition, but good preparation will only help you. If you are auditioning for Peter Pan or Wendy you may also be asked to do a cold read on the day. The script for this will be given to you on the day. HOW WILL I KNOW IF I HAVE BEEN CAST? All successful auditionees will be contacted by phone. Those who are unsuccessful will be notified by email in a timely manner following auditions. Those who are successfully cast will be required to pay a cast fee of $210 to cover your annual membership to SYMT, insurance, a cast t- shirt, a disc of professionally taken photos from the show and other production costs (e.g. Hall hire, sound, lighting). Fees will be due by Saturday, 29 th August 2015. Non- payment of cast fees will jeopardise your place in the show. 2
PRODUCTION SCHEDULE Before booking an audition, ensure you read the production schedule carefully and only book an audition if you are able to commit to the rehearsal period and all performances. Unexplained absences from rehearsals will forfeit your position in the show. Week Date Event Time Venue Week 1 15- Aug Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 2 22- Aug Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 3 29- Aug Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 4 5- Sep Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 5 12- Sep Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 6 19- Sep Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 7 26- Sep Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 8 3- Oct Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 9 10- Oct Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 10 17- Oct Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 11 24- Oct Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 12 31- Oct Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 13 7- Nov Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 14 14- Nov Rehearsal 1pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 15 21- Nov Rehearsal 12pm- 5pm WPH Scout Hall Week 16 22- Nov Bump In + Sitzprobe + Tech Rehearsal 8am- 10pm Hornsby RSL Monday 23- Nov Dress Rehearsal 6pm- 10pm Hornsby RSL Tuesday 24- Nov Dress Rehearsal 6pm- 10pm Hornsby RSL Wednesday 25- Nov NIGHT OFF Hornsby RSL Thursday 26- Nov Performance #1 (7:30pm) 5:30pm call Hornsby RSL Friday 27- Nov Performance #2 (7:30pm) 5:30pm call Hornsby RSL Saturday 28- Nov Performance #3 (2pm) 12 noon call Hornsby RSL Performance #4 (7:30pm) Hornsby RSL 3
CHARACTERS Peter Pan Wendy Captain Hook. Smee Storyteller The clever, adventurous, and confident leader of the Lost Boys. While at times he is boastful and self- centered, there is a side of Peter that is caring and joyous. His desire to stay a child forever allows him to continue his adventures unburdened by the realities of growing up. He is the embodiment of youthful naïveté. Songs: Neverland, Build A House, The Cleverness of Me, When I Kill Peter Pan, One Big Adventure, There s Always Tomorrow A girl befriended by Peter Pan and who flies with him to Neverland to be a mother for him and the Lost Boys. Songs: Neverland, The Cleverness of Me, Just Beyond The Stars (Reprise), One Big Adventure The sinister pirate captain. Carries himself with an elegance that shows him to be a different class from his crew. Songs: When I Kill Peter Pan, Rose Tinted Eye- Patch, A Pirate with a Conscience Captian Hook s off- sider. Has the best intentions but is not very smart. Songs: Rose Tinted Eye- Patch, A Pirate with a Conscience The female narrator of the story, who joins in the plot nearing the end. Songs: Something In The Air Tonight, Just Home Michael/John The two Darling Boys. Playful children who love Wendy s stories and enjoy adventure Songs: Neverland Mrs. Darling Mr. Darling The Darling s sweet and nurturing mother. Songs: Just Beyond The Stars The Darling s grumpy and demanding father. Think Mr. Banks from Mary Poppins. Songs: Something In The Air Tonight The Lost Boys Peter Pan s gang of boys without parents. 6 named characters (+ lost boys ensemble) Pirates Captain Hooks band of pirates includes 7 named characters (+ pirate ensemble) 3 Mermaids Three mermaids who the Lost Boys encounter The ensemble will make up the Pirates and Lost Boys. All ensemble will double as Londoners, and some will double as mermaids and Indian braves. 4
Audition Excerpts Peter Pan Auditions 2015 If auditioning for a lead role, please familiarise yourself with the relevant excerpt for the role that you are auditioning for. You do not need to memorise your lines and may wish to bring a copy with you for your audition. Reading #1 If auditioning for Smee or a named Pirate role, read the lines marked SMEE. HOOK SMEE HOOK SMEE HOOK SMEE Observe, Smee: rank carelessness. Indulging in the untroubled sleep of childhood that refuses to face grown- up responsibility. Aaah! Bless the angel, Captain. You could pluck out his little heart, this instant, and he wouldn't know a thing about it. Except that it is my intention to attend upon it that Pan does not die painlessly. He shall die oh- so slowly and suffer an eternity with every passing second - how best to administer the concoction? (He spots the Collinson's bottle and snatches it up) Shark's teeth, Smee! That medicine bottle is identical to the one that holds the poison! (Examining the bottles) Peas in a pod. Except that the poison bottle has got that label on it and t'other one's got this. My old granny, bless her lace- trimmed bonnet, used to give me Collinson s for every minor ailment. What are you up to now, Smee? (Taking a swig at the Collinson s bottle) Evoking the tastes of childhood, Captain. Not bad. Not bad at all. It savours of grandmama's eau- de- cologne with perhaps the merest hint of caraway biscuits SMEE swaps the labels. He completes the task and then compares the bottles, ruefully) Does it have to be like this? It ain t a properly piratical means of killing someone. We should have come lambasting aboard with cutlasses to hand and pistols blazing. That's the way Blackbeard would have done for him - and Morgan. 5
Reading # 2 If auditioning for Peter Pan, John, Michael and a Named Lost Boys, read the lines marked PETER PAN. TIGER LILY TIGER LILY LOST BOYS Well fought, Tiger Lily - the pirates are in full retreat they re miles away by now. Don t you ever get tired of ridding the world of wrong- doers, TigerLily? Not so long as there is air to breathe, ground beneath my feet and territories to be defended. (Catching her mood) And life is one long never- ending whirl of excitement. We re so alike, you and I (He yawns) Except that sometimes I do feel the need to rest Then go. Sleep undisturbed. We shall stay here to guard you. I m home! They re not in bed already? It isn't all playtime, Peter, being a parent. They've had their bedtime story. Tell them another one. Yes, please, mother! All of you - back to sleep! It is only pretend, isn't it, that I'm their father? If you say so. But they are ours to take care of, Peter. Yours and mine. But not really? Not if you don't wish it. Good - I don't. What are your exact feelings for me, Peter? Those of a devoted son, Wendy. I thought so. You are strange. Tiger Lily is just the same, there is something or other she wants to be to me, but she says it is not my mother. Indeed it is not. Then what is it? It s not for a lady to say. Girls are a puzzlement. 6
Reading #3 If auditioning for Wendy, Mrs Darling, Storyteller or Tiger Lily, prepare the following excerpt. MRS DARLING George, we must keep Nana - and for one good reason. When I came into this room tonight, I saw a boy s face at the window. He was trying to get in, and not for the first time. A week ago. I had been drowsing here by the fire when I looked around and saw that same boy then - in this same room. I screamed. The boy escaped - but his shadow did not have time to get out. The window swung shut sharply and cut it clean away from him. It turned instantly to dust, George, and drifted to the floor. I had Liza sweep it up, of course, with the dustpan and brush. Do you think I would dispose of a child's God- given shadow? (She takes down a screw- top glass jar containing the glittering 'shadow dust' from off a wardrobe) I put it here for safety, out of the children's reach. I think that boy came back tonight to look for it. George, I haven't told you everything. I am afraid to. (pause) The boy was not alone that first time. He was accompanied by - how can I describe it? By a ball of light - no bigger than my thumbnail - it darted hither and thither about this room, like a living thing. It left with the boy. George, what can all this mean? 7
Reading #4 If auditioning for either Hook or Mr Darling, please prepare the following excerpt. HOOK Pull that trigger and you're shark's meat, Starkey. I don't want one Lost Boy - I want them all. Scatter and seek them out (SMEE pipes the order on his bosun's whistle and the PIRATES disperse, leaving only himself and HOOK who continues confidentially: Most of all, I want their Captain, Peter Pan. It was him that sliced off my good right arm. I have waited long to shake his hand with this. (He runs his forefinger around his shiny hook and produces a musical hum, as if he were stroking the rim of a wineglass) Oh, I'll tear him, Smee. Had I been born a mother, I would pray to have my children born with a sharp steel claw attached to their right wrist - and not a namby- pamby fleshy thing with wriggly fingers. (Then, peevishly) Pan flung my arm to a passing crocodile. That crocodile would have gobbled down the whole of me long since - except that, by a lucky chance, it had swallowed an alarm clock - which goes tick, tick, tick inside its innards and warns of its approach. That is the fear that haunts my days and fills my nights with dread. 8