Abbey Musical Theatre s Production of Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Book by Winnie Holzman Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire Orchestrations by William David Brohn Musical Arrangements by Alex Lacamoire & Stephen Oremus Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia). All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia. Director Scott Andrew Musical Director Barry Jones Choreographer Teesh Szabo Regent on Broadway 10-25 August 2018 AUDITION INFORMATION
Abbey Musical Theatre s season of WICKED will be the NZ Consortium North Island premiere. WICKED is the second highest grossing musical in Broadway history, with more than two million people attending the New York season to date. The original season won three Tony s, six Drama Desk Awards and a Grammy for the cast album. There will be a strictly limited season opening at the Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North, on Friday, 10 August 2018. About WICKED WICKED tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students at Shiz University; the blonde and very popular Glinda, and a misunderstood green girl named Elphaba. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power while Elphaba s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences for her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. AUDITION information Auditions will be held on Saturday, 3 March 2018, and Sunday, 4 March 2018, at the Wallace Development Company Theatre (Centennial Park, Centennial Drive, Palmerston North) as follows; DANCE AUDITION (for ALL on stage auditionees) o Saturday, 3 March 2018 9.00 11.00 a.m. o The audition combination taught will consist of Develope s (leg raises), plie s and turns please wear appropriate dance attire for this, including shoes you can spin on easily. o Appropriate footwear must be worn jazz shoes or dance trainers but no sneakers/running shoes and definitely no bare feet, please. SINGING AUDITIONS for on stage auditionees (individual 10 minute auditions) o Saturday, 3 March 2018 From 12.00 p.m. o Sunday, 4 March 2018 From 9.00 a.m. SINGING AUDITIONS group audition for Backing Vocalists o Sunday, 4 March 2018 At 1.00 p.m. RECALLS for Principals & Ensemble o Sunday, 4 March 2018 From 2.00 p.m. o Recalls will begin with a dance/movement component and then be followed by a workshop which will include acting, singing and dancing. TO BOOK AN AUDITION TIME To audition, please book an audition time, by Friday, 2 March 2018, with; Kay Nagy (Production Secretary, WICKED) E: aknagy@inspire.net.nz / M: 021 890 806
GENERAL INFORMATION All auditionees must complete an AMT audition form. Audition forms can be accessed from AMT s website www.abbeymusicaltheatre.co.nz on the Auditions page. On your audition form you are required to show your vocal range. Not only should you put Tenor or Baritone (for example), but you will also need to indicate what your bottom and top notes are if known. All roles available are on an unpaid basis. You should put everything you ve got into your audition. We want you to be able to relax on the day and enjoy learning from the audition experience. We do, however, want you to be prepared it shows us that you ve put some thought and commitment into this. Please bring a recent photo of you attached to your audition form. THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW We are seeking cast members of diverse ethnicity and ages (although roles are limited to performers aged 16 and over). All roles are open to audition. Please arrive for your audition a minimum of 15 minutes prior to your booking for administration and to allow yourself adequate time for personal preparation. PRINCIPAL / ENSEMBLE / BACKING VOCALIST AUDITIONS Individual singing auditions for Principal or Ensemble roles will be in intervals of 10 minutes. Please choose a song from WICKED as your audition song. Additionally, please prepare a brief song from either modern musical theatre standards or a contemporary pop song. It is recommended that you take into account the music that WICKED is based on. For your second selection, please either bring sheet music (in the right key no chord charts) as there will be an accompanist provided or a backing track (without vocals) we will provide backing track playback facilities for smart devices. There will be a group audition for those people wanting to audition to be a Backing Vocalist on Sunday, 4 March 2018. REHEARSALS You must be prepared to commit to rehearsals and the performance dates. If for any reason, you may not be able to attend any of the rehearsals, you must detail this on your audition form and this will be considered in the audition process. Your participation in this production requires a huge commitment in both time and professionalism in order to ensure a production of the highest possible quality. Therefore, please do not audition if you are not in a position to commit to the rehearsal schedule. While talent is the primary consideration when casting, level of commitment will also be a consideration and final choices for principal and ensemble roles will be made with this in mind.
PERFORMANCE DATES Friday 10 August 2018 7.30 p.m. Opening Night Saturday 11 August 2018 7.30 p.m. Sunday 12 August 2018 4.00 p.m. Wednesday 15 August 2017 7.30 p.m. Thursday 16 August 2018 7.30 p.m. Friday 17 August 2018 7.30 p.m. Saturday 18 August 2018 7.30 p.m. Sunday 19 August 2018 4.00 p.m. Wednesday 22 August 2017 7.30 p.m. Thursday 23 August 2018 7.30 p.m. Friday 24 August 2018 7.30 p.m. Saturday 25 August 2018 7.30 p.m. Final Night (Total = 12 performances)
ROLES AVAILABLE ELPHABA Vocal Range: Mezzo Soprano (F3 to F5) Elphaba is the main protagonist who becomes known as the Wicked Witch of the West. She is intelligent, honest, likeable but misunderstood. Her internal goodness is juxtaposed to the oppression of the world around her a conflict she battles internally and externally. Powerful pop/rock voice required. G(a)LINDA Vocal Range: Soprano (G3 to C6) Glinda is a complex character, nowhere near as superficial as she seems at first. She is as cunning as she is bubbly a passionate, popular and lovable individual who uses her intelligence and social standing to manipulate her colleagues and friends. Becoming known as Glinda the Good, she also wrestles with the disparity between her social and moral values. Vocally, Glinda requires a high soprano and vocal belt and a strong sense of comedic timing. MADAME MORRIBLE Vocal Range: Alto The headmistress at Shiz University and the only classic villain in this musical tale. She is dignified, powerful and haughty, and has a dark side. She takes Elphaba under her wing, training her in sorcery. Requires a strong, comical character actress with formidable presence. Strong vocals also required. NESSAROSE Vocal Range: Alto Elphaba s lonely, compassionate, attractive younger sister, Nessarose was favoured by their father and has spent her life crippled in a wheelchair. She gets involved with Boq and becomes the Wicked Witch of the East. Needs a commanding actress with a strong singing voice able to show a capacity for expressing deep longing and loneliness that, through experiences of emptiness, turns to darkness. FIYERO Vocal Range: Tenor A handsome Winkie prince, a carefree college-age hedonist, fellow student and love interest, Fiyero is a wealthy party boy. He is very handsome with a good physique and striking presence. Sexy, attractive, initially hedonistic, shallow and self absorbed who proves to be a person of principle. Glinda pursues him but he is much more intrigued by Elphaba. Needs a strong, high pop/rock singing voice and should be a strong dancer/mover. BOQ Vocal Range: Tenor An unusually tall Munchkin who is enamoured with Glinda, who pays him no mind. Boq is helpless and quirky, and reluctantly becomes involved with Nessarose. Needs a comical actor with a strong high singing voice. (Height should be 172cms [5 8 ] or shorter.] THE WIZARD Vocal Range: Baritone An old carnival huckster who blew into Oz in a hot air balloon and became a false faced leader. Strong, distinctive and engaging, with a sweet character. Requires an actor with a powerful presence. A singing role but must be comfortable with basic choreography. ensemble Age Range: 16 60 Includes male and female comprises students, citizens, guards and various minor characters. All ensemble members need to be able to move and be strong singers and actors. DR DILLAMOND Vocal Range: Baritone Dr Dillamond is the moral compass. A teacher of life sciences and a philosopher, he is warm, noble and fatherly. He is also a goat and, as such, is an active campaigner for equal rights. His individualism is reflected in his intellect, morality and strength of character. Dr Dillamond requires a strong character actor, comic timing and a baritone voice. DANCERS Age Range: 16-40 Includes male and female dancers will also be students, monkeys, guards and citizens. Dancers are not required to be good singers (although will still be expected to sing) but are required to be strong dancers and actors.