www.samtc.org.uk Tuesday 7 th Saturday 11 th November 2017 Evenings at 7.45pm & Wednesday (tbc) and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm at the Alban Arena AUDITION PACK Auditions on Sunday 21 May 2017 We are looking for talented performers for our exciting new production of the great musical West Side Story St Albans Musical Theatre Company 1
Director: Alan Cox Music Director: Clive Ogden Choreographers: Katherine Iles, Edd Mitten, Henry Cox, Claire Stanley An amateur production by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York. Based on a conception of Jerome Robbins; Book by Arthur Laurents; Music by Leonard Bernstein; Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Original production directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins and produced on Broadway by Robert E Griffith & Harold Prince by arrangement with Roger L Stevens. Synopsis Inspired by the timeless story of Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story takes Shakespeare s star-crossed lovers, and places them in the vibrant battleground of New York City s West Side in the 1950s. In the midst of the deep-seated rivalry between the Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks, and the white gang, the Jets, Maria and Tony discover that ancient grudges are no match for true love. Their warring factions, however, refuse to back down, and the rumbles, romance, and resentment lead to the lovers ultimate, tragic conclusion. With soaring, sophisticated, and diverse melodies, energetic and athletic dance battles, and its remarkably salient social message, West Side Story remains one of musical theatre s most revolutionary and most loved treasures. Bernstein's score for the musical includes Something s Coming, Maria, America, Somewhere, Tonight, Jet Song, I Feel Pretty, A Boy Like That, One Hand, One Heart, Gee, Officer Krupke, and Cool. St Albans Musical Theatre Company will be bringing West Side Story to the stage of the Alban Arena from 7 11 November 2017. Can you afford to miss out on being a part of such a great experience? St Albans Musical Theatre Company 2
Auditions Auditions are open to members of the Company. Everyone who wishes to be in the show is expected to audition. If you wish to audition for West Side Story, please complete the Audition Form on pages 8-9 below and send it to samtcwss@gmail.com Non-members may also complete the Audition Form but must join the Company prior to the West Side Story auditions. Membership details are at the bottom of this page. The Auditions on Sunday 21 May will start at 9.45 am with a warm-up for the dance workshop from 10.00-11.00 am. Dialogue and singing auditions will take place from 11.00 am onwards and you will be notified of individual timings nearer the time. Audition outcomes will be notified via the SAMTC West Side Story Auditions Facebook closed group. All those cast in West Side Story will be required to pay a show fee in addition to their normal 45 annual membership fee. The show fee will be about 50. Audition pieces The West Side Story characters and the lists of their dialogue and music audition pieces are set out on pages 4-6 below. You will be sent copies of the vocal score and libretto audition pieces by email on receipt of your completed audition form. All those auditioning (other than for the adult roles) are required to do the dance audition. Katherine Iles will be teaching this from 10.00 11.00am on Sunday 21 May with a warm-up at 9.45am. ALL Girls and Boys wishing to audition for a part in the show are expected to attend this workshop. Please come suitably attired, in dance gear, for the dance workshop. Girls should wear heels / new Yorkers and a circular skirt. Pre-audition sessions You are invited to attend the following pre-audition sessions at Garden Fields JMI School. Thurs 4 May at 7.45pm Launch event and first sing through Thurs 11, Tues 16 & Thurs 18 May at 7.45pm Music and dance pre-audition rehearsals Audition Panel The audition panel for this show will consist of the Director, Music Director, Choreographer, the SAMTC Chairman and an external Independent Person. Membership Membership details are available at www.samtc.org.uk/join/membership. Please complete the membership form and send it to membership@samtc.org.uk. New member auditions will take place on Tuesday 9 May 2017 from 7.45pm. If you are accepted into the Company as a performing member, you will be required to pay your membership fee prior to Sunday 21 May 2017. St Albans Musical Theatre Company 3
Characters & Audition Pieces TONY: Good natured, sincere, charismatic, former leader of the Jets. A dreamer, not ashamed to show his heart, but strong when he needs to be. He finds himself violently torn between his friendships and love. Falls in love with Maria. Needs strong vocal and movement/dance. Playing age 20-25 Dialogue: LIB: Pages12 15, 31 33 &117-119 Vocal: SCORE: Something s Coming Page 129 from Start Page 131 Bar 133 and Maria Pages 136-138 Whole song MARIA: A hopeless romantic, a mix of youthful innocence blended with strength, stubbornness and intelligence. Guided by her heart and not afraid to let her passions lead her. Falls in love with Tony and finds herself at the centre of the violent conflict between the two gangs. Puerto Rican. Strong classical vocal and dance required. Playing age 16 21 Dialogue: LIB: Pages 63 67 & 84-87 Vocal: SCORE: A Boy Like That / I have a Love Page 196 Bar 34 Page 200 Bar 103 and Balcony Scene Pages 140-141 Bar 52 82 (Tonight Song) RIFF: Quick tempered. Relishes his role as the new leader of the Jets. He seeks to eliminate the Sharks and establish his own gang s dominance. He is a loyal friend to Tony and, in many ways, a boy in a man s body. Good mover/dancer essential and any tumbling a plus! Playing age 20 29 Dialogue: LIB: Pages 12 15 & 52-57 ANITA: Feisty and assertive Puerto Rican. Sharp-tongued, impassioned and highly sexual. Has a temper and is highly protective of her family. She dispenses older sister advice to Maria and tries to shield her from the dangers of the gangs. Strong belt vocal and energetic and flexible dancer essential. Playing age 20-29 Dialogue: LIB: Pages 61-63 & 103 114 Vocal: SCORE: America Page 147 Bar 50 Page 148 Bar 79 and A Boy Like That Page 195 Bar 3 to Page 196 Bar 34 BERNARDO: A proud and strong Puerto Rican. Leader of the Sharks. Passionate, street hardened and has a chip on his shoulder. Loyal to his heritage and the people he loves. He seeks to carve out a territory as a sense of identity for him and his friends. Maria s brother and Anita s boyfriend. Strong vocals and dance needed, tumbling a plus! Playing age 20 29 Dialogue: LIB: Pages 37 42 & 73-76 CHINO: An angry and, at times, naïve Puerto Rican. Suitor to Maria and friend of Bernado s. An introvert who turns murderous and vengeful. Good vocals and dance St Albans Musical Theatre Company 4
needed. Playing age 18 25 Dialogue: LIB: Pages 84-86 ACTION: A coiled spring literally ready to burst. Aggressive, jumpy, a proud member of the Jets and always ready for a fight. Strong vocals and dance essential. Playing age 18 29 Dialogue: LIB: Pages 45-51 A-RAB: Explosive, filled with youthful energy. A bit of a joker. His only real commitment is to the Jets. Always looking to prove himself. Strong vocal and dance. Playing age 18-25 Dialogue: LIB: Pages 91 94 BABY JOHN: The youngest of the Jets. Sweet, innocent and vulnerable. In awe of most things, desperately trying to prove he is a man when he is still a child. Strong vocals and dance. Playing age 16-21 Dialogue: LIB: Pages 91-94 ANYBODYS: A tomboy who is desperate to become one of the Jets. Full of energy and heart. A fighter. Tough and streetwise. A teenage girl who doesn t quite fit in. Good mover. Playing age 18-25 Dialogue: LIB: Pages 5 6 & 117 118 Vocal: See GIRLS below ROSALIA/CONSUELA: Puerto Rican girls, Friends with both Maria and Anita. Fiery dispositions and quite cheeky in a group situation. Strong vocals and dance essential. Playing age 20-29 Dialogue: LIB: Pages 78-83 Vocal: See GIRLS below TERESITA/FRANCISCA AND OTHER SHARK GIRLS: Sexy, athletic, energetic with strong stage presence. Excellent dance ability and strong vocals essential. DANCE & VOCAL AUDITION ONLY Vocal: See GIRLS below SNOWBOY/BIG DEAL/DIESEL/GEE-TAR AND OTHER JETS: Good stage presence, physically strong and energetic. Athletic and aggressive. Good vocals and dance essential. Playing age 18 29 DANCE & VOCAL AUDITION ONLY St Albans Musical Theatre Company 5
GRAZIELLA/VELMA AND OTHER JET GIRLS: Strong, sexy and athletic. Good vocals and strong dance essential. Playing age 18 29 DANCE & VOCAL AUDITION ONLY Vocal: See GIRLS below PEPE/INDIO/LUIS/ANXIOUS AND OTHER SHARKS: Athletic with good stage presence. Physically strong and tough. Good vocals and dance needed. Playing age 18-29 DANCE & VOCAL AUDITION ONLY SOMEWHERE SINGER: Strong female vocalist who sings this number in Act 2. Will be one of the company. Vocal: SCORE: Somewhere Pages 183-184 Bar 123 to end SHARKS / JETS Vocal: SCORE: Officer Krupke Page 187 from Start Page 188 Bar 47 and Tonight Ensemble opening Page 161 Start Page 163 Bar 50 GIRLS Vocal: SCORE: America Page 147 Bar 50 Page 148 Bar 79 THE ADULTS - speaking roles only DOC: Owner of the drug store where the Jets hang out. Sweet tempered, caring and compassionate. Has a paternal love for Tony. Playing age 40 65 Dialogue: LIB: Pages 47-60 & 114-116 SCHRANK: a plain clothes cop. Has a strong commanding presence on the street. Uses his charm and pleasant manner to disguise his anger to the gang warfare. Playing age 35-50 Dialogue: LIB: Pages 58-59 GLAD HAND: in charge of the dance at the gym. Overeager and cheerful to the point of annoyance. A square trying to be cool with the kids. Playing age 30-40 Dialogue:LIB: Page 22 KRUPKE: a goon-like uniformed police officer. Not very bright. Enjoys using his power to intimidate the kids on the street. Playing age 30 45 Dialogue:LIB: Pages 92-93 St Albans Musical Theatre Company 6
Rehearsals Rehearsals are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting promptly at 7.45pm unless otherwise stated on the rehearsal schedule. There is a Sunday rehearsal on 23 July from 2-6pm for everyone in the ballet sequence and further Sunday rehearsals for all cast from 1pm in the weeks leading up to show week. Rehearsals take place at Garden Fields JMI School, Townsend Drive, St Albans, AL3 5RL. No smoking or alcohol are allowed on school premises. All cast will receive a detailed rehearsal schedule after casting has been completed. Please check it carefully. Please note that attendance at rehearsals for which you are called is necessary and a register will be taken. We will try to schedule rehearsals around any known absences (eg holidays) notified on your Audition Form. If you are absent from a setting rehearsal please ask another cast member to take notes for you and liaise together before the next rehearsal. If you are unable to attend a rehearsal for which you are called, please notify the Production Manager as far in advance as possible. Regretfully, the Committee reserves the right to remove cast members in the event of poor attendance or lack of commitment to the show Golden Guidance 1 You are expected to prioritise the show and are not expected to miss more than three rehearsals for which you are called. 2 You are expected to attend all rehearsals for which you are called in the month prior to show week. 3 You are expected to notify all absences in advance to the Production Manager 4 You are asked not to disturb rehearsals with socialising in the rehearsal hall(s) or with mobile phones. These should be switched off or set to silent. 5 You are responsible for the safe keeping and good condition of any scores or libretto you borrow 6 You are expected to contribute to the team effort needed for the huge amount of work required to prepare for and stage the show, including for example publicity and promotional activities, refreshments, tidying up after rehearsals, helping with get in and get out tasks. The Company Rules are available at www.samtc.org.uk/about-us/policies/ St Albans Musical Theatre Company 7
ST ALBANS MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY WEST SIDE STORY AUDITION FORM AUDITIONS: Sunday 21 May 2017 at Garden Fields JMI School from 9.45 am Please arrive for 9.45am for the warm-up for the dance workshop from 10.00-11.00 am. Dialogue and singing auditions for all roles will take place from 11.00am onwards and you will be notified of individual timings for these nearer the time. You may be asked to stay on and be seen with your potential opposite number and/or as a group. You should come prepared for all parts of the audition: dialogue, singing and dance. NB: Everyone is required to fill out an Audition Form PLEASE RETURN YOUR COMPLETED FORM TO samtcwss@gmail.com BY TUESDAY 16 MAY 2017 Name Address Post code Tel No. Mobile No. Email Facebook name (Please note that we will be using a West Side Story closed Facebook Group to notify you of the outcome of the auditions and for all rehearsal and show information) I wish to audition for the following roles in West Side Story 1) 2) 3) If I am not cast in a role I auditioned for, I am happy to be cast in Another Role: YES / NO Please indicate your Voice: Soprano / Alto / Tenor / Baritone / Bass Gender: MALE / FEMALE Please state your HEIGHT St Albans Musical Theatre Company 8
Please let us know below of any dates you are unavailable to rehearse or participate in publicity and promotional activities during the West Side Story rehearsal period, including any other show commitments you have. Signed: Date: PHOTOGRAPHS I hereby give my consent for SAMTC to collect and use my personal images in rehearsal and other official photography. I acknowledge these may be used on the SAMTC website and for promotional purposes as well as in Newsletters and other publications. I understand that my consent can be withdrawn at any time by giving written notice by email to samtcwss@gmail.com Signed: Date: The SAMTC Privacy Policy is available at www.samtc.org.uk/about-us/policies/ ALL AUDITION APPLICANTS MUST BE CURRENT MEMBERS OF ST ALBANS MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY. Adult Membership Fee: 45 Adult Show Fee: 50 (including dress rehearsal photographs) All cast members are expected to provide their own shoes for the show. St Albans Musical Theatre Company 9