AUDITION INFO AN ANGSTY ROCK MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF THE SEMINAL PLAY ABOUT THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF GROWING UP Hills Musical Company Inc. WAKENING SPRINGAUDITION INFO 10-25 November, 2017
SPRING AWAKENING 2017 BOOK AND LYRICS BY STEVEN SATER MUSIC BY DUNCAN SHEIK BASED ON THE ORIGINAL PLAY BY FRANK WEDEKIND LICENSED EXCLUSIVELY BY MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (AUSTRALASIA). ALL PERFORMANCE MATERIALS SUPPLIED BY HAL LEONARD AUSTRALIA. ABOUT THE PRODUCTION It is so exciting to have the opportunity to bring this multi-award-winning production to the Stirling Community Theatre in November 2017. This musical is an edgy choice for the Hills Musical Company which we hope will invigorate and inspire our younger members both on stage and in our audiences. Winner of 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Spring Awakening celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with power, poignancy, and passion. Adapted from Frank Wedekind's 1891 expressionist play about the trials, tears, and exhilaration of the teen years, the themes explored are as relevant today as they were back then, particularly when considering the skew that social media and the online world impact upon youth development and navigation of the world's pressures. Thematically, we're aiming to portray the joy, fear, beauty and energy of what lies underneath in a repressed society. THE TEAM Producer: Hills Musical Company Inc. Director: Hayley Horton Musical Director: Mark DeLaine Choreographer: Thomas Phillips Original Broadway Cast KEY DATES 2017 Auditions: Saturday 3 June and Sunday 4 June (by appointment) Scotch College, Carruth Road, Torrens Park (map attached) First rehearsal: Monday 21 August, 7.30pm Intensive weekend: Saturday 14 October and 15 October Production week: 5-9 November Performances: 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 November at 8pm 19 and 25 November at 2pm Cast will be called for a "dry run" on 16 and 23 November THE HILLS MUSICAL COMPANY IS AN AMATEUR COMMUNITY THEATRE GROUP BASED IN STIRLING, SA MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.HILLSMUSICAL.ORG.AU PAGE 1
PLEASE NOTE: There are other events happening at Scotch College on the day and parking will be limited. Please arrive early to allow sufficient time to find parking and the audition location. If you find yourself lost on campus, please call 0466 118 153 (on the day only - NOT for audition enquiries)
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS Auditionees will be asked to read a short section of dialogue provided as well as complete some group movement and sing set audition pieces. Please review the information following to ensure you give yourself the best possible chance of a successful audition. In addition to the set music pieces (see character breakdowns following for specific info), you may choose to bring a song of your own choice. This song should be in the style of the show. Please bring music for the accompanist in the correct key and with any cuts clearly marked. No backing tracks are allowed. For dialogue/songs we suggest a neutral English accent. TO MAKE AN AUDITION BOOKING, GO TO Please note: We may not hear all prepared material. If we cut you short it is not because you haven t done a good job, it simply means we have heard what we need to. Comfortable clothing/shoes is recommended for the movement portion of the audition WWW.HILLSMUSICAL.ORG.AU/SPRING-AWAKENING/ AND CLICK ON THE LINK PROVIDED. THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO OUR ONLINE AUDITION BOOKING SITE. WE ALL HAVE OUR JUNK, AND MY JUNK IS YOU
CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS & REQUIREMENTS THIS IS AN ENSEMBLE PIECE REQUIRING EVERYONE ON STAGE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE AND A LEVEL OF MATURITY TO DEAL WITH THE POWERFUL AND OFTEN MOVING CONTENT OF THE PERFORMANCE. PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING REQUIREMENTS ARE INDICATED WITH EACH CHARACTER DESCRIPTION. A NOTE ABOUT AGES & U18 PERFORMERS Ages indicated for each character are stage ages only. Actual performer age may vary. The Hills Musical Company Inc and the production team consider working with children an important responsibility and endeavour to ensure a safe working environment at all times. Please note, this production includes strong language, sexual references, simulated sexual acts, adult themes regarding abuse, suicide and abortion. Auditions are open to performers 16 years and older (at the date of auditions). Any auditionees who are under 18 years at auditions must present a signed parent/guardian permission slip (included with this pack and available at the audition venue) confirming acceptance of the adult themes and mature requirements of this show. If an under 18 auditionee is successful in being cast in this production, further consents and guidelines will be discussed with the parent/guardian and cast member. Auditionees may be asked to present ID confirming their age at auditions. WENDLA FE Innocent. With every passing day, she grows more curious about the world around her and her changing body. Both vulnerable and a willing participant in her evolution. Explores her newly-found sexuality with Melchior. Challenges: Heterosexual kissing, heavy petting and simulated sex scene with Melchior, various states of undress (no nudity). Audition piece: Whispering and Mama Who Bore Me MELCHIOR A smart, headstrong boy who refuses to bow down to society's rules. An atheist and radical student. Struggles with his intense feelings for Wendla and his awakening sexual urges. Vocal range: Top B4 to bottom G2 Challenges: Heterosexual kissing, heavy petting and simulated sex scene with Wendla, various states of undress (bare buttocks). Audition Piece: All That's Known and Totally Fucked PAGE 3
CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS & REQUIREMENTS MARTHA FE Ages indicated for each character are stage ages only. Actual performer age may vary. MORITZ THEA FE A schoolgirl who faces constant physical abuse from her father. She harbours a secret crush towards Moritz. Audition piece: The Dark I Know Well HANSCHEN A rather narcissistic schoolmate of Melchior's. He is comfortable with his own sexuality and uses his looks and intelligence to captivate Ernst. Vocal range: Top D5 to bottom Ab2 Challenges: Homosexual kiss, simulated masturbation (no nudity). Melchior's best friend, a troubled student. He desperately tries to please his father, but always seems to disappoint him. His haunting sexual dreams and academic failures eventually drive him to suicidal thoughts. Vocal range: Top A4 to bottom C3 Audition piece: And Then There Were None and Don't Do Sadness Wendla's best friend. A schoolgirl who tries to stay innocent and pure. Audition Piece: Mama Who Bore Me (Reprise) ERNST A schoolmate of Melchior's. Naive and easily manipulated, which allows him to fall in love with Hanschen Vocal range: Top A4 to bottom Ab2 Challenges: Homosexual kiss Audition Piece: The Word of Your Body (Reprise) and Bitch of a Living Audition piece: The Word of Your Body (Reprise) and Bitch of a Living ILSE FE Martha's sister, who was also abused and has run away from home to live in an artists' colony. She reaches out to her old friend Moritz in the last moments of his life. Audition piece: The Dark I Know Well and Song of Purple Summer ACCENTS SUGGESTED: NEUTRAL ENGLISH ANNA FE A schoolgirl and Martha's best friend. Optimistic and a bit naive, she has a difficult time understanding Martha's trials. Vocal range: Top C5 to bottom E3 Audition piece: Mama Who Bore Me (Reprise) OTTO A classmate of Melchior's. He struggles with feelings he considers inappropriate. Vocal range: Top D5 to bottom Ab2 Audition Piece: Bitch of a Living GEORG A clumsy schoolmate of Melchoir's. He is overcome with his feelings for his piano teacher. Vocal range: Top D5 to bottom Ab2 Audition piece: Bitch of a Living ADDITIONAL GENERAL ENSEMBLE MAY BE ADDED TO THE GIRL/BOY CAST SUBJECT TO AUDITION TALENT PRESENTED. PAGE 4
CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS & REQUIREMENTS ADULT WOMAN 40-50 YRS Plays a variety of rigid adult roles. Characters include: Frau Bergman, Wendla's mother; Faulein Knuppeldick; Fraulein Grossebustenhalter; Frau Gabor, Melchior's mother; and Frau Bessell, Martha's mother. Vocal range: Top A4 to bottom D3 Audition piece: Song of Purple Summer ADULT MAN 40-50 YRS Plays a variety of rigid adult roles. Characters include: Herr Sonnenstitch, the boys' teacher; Headmaster Knochenbruch; Herr Neumann, Ilse's father; Herr Rilow, Hanschen's father; Herr Steifel, Moritz's father; Father Kaulbach; Doctor von Brausepulver; Herr Gabor, Melchior's father; and Schmidt. Audition Piece: Song of Purple Summer I DON'T DO SADNESS, NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT! JUST DON'T NEED IT IN MY LIFE DON'T WANT ANY PART OF IT! I DON'T DO SADNESS! PLOT SYNOPSIS FOR THE SHOW CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING LINK. IF YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE STORY WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THIS BEFORE AUDITIONING. WWW.MTISHOWS.COM/SPRING-AWAKENING REHEARSAL COMMITMENT If you are successful in gaining a place in the cast of Spring Awakening you will be required at most rehearsals scheduled for: Mondays 7.30pm - 10.30pm Wednesdays 7.30pm - 10.30pm Sundays from 10.00am - 1.00pm All cast selected are subject to a 4-week probationary period from the commencement of rehearsals. Due to the ensemble nature of the show absentees will be tricky to manage, however we do encourage auditionees to include any dates/times for which they are unavailable so that a detailed rehearsal schedule might be worked around these commitments. The intensive weekend on 14 and 15 October (9am to 6pm) will be compulsory for all cast and anyone accepting a role is confirming their availability for this entire weekend. It will be a great time to really polish the show and come together as a team. Most rehearsals will be held at the Stirling Theatre. However, due to the shared nature of the venue, there will be rehearsals held at other venues, and these will be communicated to the cast on the rehearsal schedule. PAGE 5
SHOW: Spring Awakening Personal Details (please print clearly) Name* Address* AUDITION FORM Telephone* Vocal Range (we ll scale you anyway) Email* Date of Birth* If under 18, please ensure a parent/guardian signs the permission section of this form (over the page). Auditionees may be asked for ID for proof of age 16 yrs+ on the day. Previous Experience (if insufficient space please attach CV) Year Role Company Show Production Details (if insufficient space please use reverse or attach CV) Preferred Role/s: If not selected for the preferred role(s) you audition for, would you still like to be considered for the another role? If you are not selected for the cast, are you able to assist the company in other areas such as set construction, crew, front of house, publicity, sewing etc? If yes, which areas? YES / NO YES / NO Please list any dates/times that you would be unable to attend rehearsals. Scheduled rehearsals are Monday evenings, Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings
Please turn over Before Auditioning for this Production, please read the following and sign below to indicate your agreement: Fees Rehearsals Casting All cast members are required to become a 2016 member of Hills Musical Company ($20). This fee is to be paid at the first rehearsal. Cast members who have not paid may be excluded from rehearsals and/or replaced in the cast. Membership to HMC is $20.00 (or you may prefer to become a subscriber for $60.00 see Subscription Brochure for the benefits of subscribing). Membership to HMC is payable only once per calendar year. Rehearsals are as listed on the attached Information Sheet. Please read the list through carefully prior to auditions. Please note any dates or times where you have pre-existing personal or work commitments which would mean you would be unavailable to rehearse on any of the listed times. Having unavailable times will not preclude you from being cast in the show. HMC and the Production Team would rather know of such dates ahead of time. HMC reserves the right to replace you in the show if, after being cast, you then inform us of dates you cannot rehearse. HMC will contact all auditionees within one week of the auditions being completed. Contact will be by telephone or email, to the contact details given on this form. If you haven t heard from anyone in this time, please email the HMC Secretary (info@hillsmusical.org.au) Other Costs Under 18 Auditionees In addition to the Membership Fee listed above, cast members are expected to provide a number of costume items (e.g. shoes, socks/stocking) and their own makeup and hair products for the production. Some of these items will be specified by the Costumer and/or Director. Auditions are open to performers 16 years and older (at the date of auditions). Any auditionees who are under 18 years at auditions must have the section below signed by a parent/guardian. Auditionees may be asked to present ID confirming their age at auditions. I have read the above information and agree to abide by the rehearsal requirements for this show, and all policies and procedures of Hills Musical Company and the Production Team. I acknowledge that signing below is an indication of my commitment to this production in all respects. Signature Date I, as parent/guardian of this auditionee confirm that I am aware that the production Spring Awakening includes adult themes (suicide, abortion, abuse) and sexual references. I understand that the roles of Wendla, Melchior and Hanschen include simulation of sexual acts on stage and that there are musical numbers that include strong language. If the auditionee is successful in gaining a role in this production, I agree to discuss the nature of the role with the HMC production team or its representatives, and will provide consent and adhere to additional support/requirements to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their participation in the production. Signature Date