OPEN AUDITIONS Ages 6 18 Auditions: Thursday, November 30 th 5:30-8:30pm and Friday, December 1 st 5:30-8:30pm Callbacks: Saturday, December 2 nd 1:00-3:00pm At the Forever After Rehearsal Studio at the PARC 650 Church Street, Suite 107 Plymouth, MI 48170 The Audition Process 1. Read through this packet COMPLETELY. 2. Prepare your vocal audition using the provided music selections. Students new to auditioning will be helped through this portion of the audition. 3. Pick ONE audition day. It does not benefit auditionees to attend both nights of auditions. 4. Enter the Forever After Rehearsal Studio through the activities entrance and register at the counter. 5. Arrive between the set auditions times and expect to stay for at least an hour. 6. There is a $5 audition fee and can be paid in cash or a check payable to Forever After Productions. 7. Hand in your completed Audition Form and headshot. A school picture or snap shot is fine. 8. Auditionees only are allowed in the audition room. 9. Auditionees needed to sing for specific character roles, to be seen again will be asked to return Saturday, December 2 nd for Call Backs at our Rehearsal Studio. DO NOT CONTACT Forever After Productions regarding Call Backs. DO check your email and iheartforeverafter.com on December 1 st receiving a Call Back does not guarantee a specific part in the show, nor does not being Called Back mean a casting rejection.
10. The Cast List will be sent out via email on Saturday, December, 2 nd by 10pm and will also posted at www.iheartforeverafter.com 11. Orientation will take place from 2 3 pm Sunday, December 3 rd at The Forever After Rehearsal Studio Participation Requirements PARENTS & PARTICIPANTS: BY AUDITIONING, YOU AGREE TO THESE CONDITIONS Those given a role in this production agree to take the part (or notify us immediately if they decline). As well as attend EVERY DRESS REHEARSAL and PERFORMANCE. Exceptions are granted in rare circumstances. Performers may not be permitted to perform in sections of the show if they miss rehearsal for those sections. If you may miss multiple rehearsals you are strongly encouraged not to audition. Forever After will provide costumes for this show for a costume fee of $65. Young Performers: This production is done to enhance a regular education. Therefore, performers under the age of 18 are expected to keep up their grades. Young Performers: You understand that supervision will not be provided for your child any earlier than the beginning of the rehearsal and no later than fifteen minutes after rehearsal. You must sign in and sign out your child at every rehearsal and performance they attend (if they are under 14). Scripts will be provided to every child cast in the show and may be kept. All cast members will be expected to pay Forever After Productions your actor participation fee of $210 at cast orientation via check or cash. You must notify Forever After Productions on or before December 9, 2017 if you choose to withdraw without obligation. There will be no rehearsals scheduled over Christmas Break. Every cast member or family is REQUIRED to contribute volunteer hours including at least 2 hours of volunteer during load-in (our first day moving into the theater). We will need help during the Pre-Production Weeks (the weeks leading up to the show and Production Week (The week of the show) with things such as set building, costuming, publicity and much more. No experience is necessary when coming to help. This is a learning experience for everyone! Every cast member or family is REQUIRED to contribute at least 2 hours during strike after the last show. A contract and deposit will be required to ensure required hours are fulfilled. Opt out is available for a fee.
Schedule Overview Rehearsals may be held on Tuesday s, Thursday s, Sunday s. If you have a regular conflict on any of these days, please indicate it on the Audition Form. NOTE: all performers will not be called to every rehearsal. Dress Rehearsals and Performances PERFORMERS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND EVERY DRESS REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE. DO NOT AUDITION if you are unable to attend every dress rehearsal and performance, unless requesting approval in advance. Dress Rehearsals are Sunday, March 4 th - Wednesday, March 7 th in the evening. We anticipate rehearsals running until about 9:30pm. Cast members will be required to arrive at least 1.5 hours pre-show for every performance. Performances for Mary Poppins Jr. will be: Thursday, March 8 th at 7:00pm Friday, March 9 th at 7:00pm Saturday, March 10 th at 2:00pm and 7:00pm Sunday, March 11 th at 1:00pm and 5pm About The Production idisney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins JR. Your favorite practically perfect nanny takes center stage in this Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious adventure based on the awardwinning Broadway musical and classic Walt Disney film. ng characters have been removed: Based on one of the most popular Disney movies of all time and the Broadway musical that played for over 2,500 performances and received multiple Olivier and Tony Awards nominations, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins is capturing hearts in a whole new way: as a practically perfect Broadway Junior musical!
The jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it." Character Breakdown Bert The narrator of the story, is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert is a chimney sweep and a sidewalk artist, among many other occupations. With a twinkle in his eye and a skip in his step, Bert watches over the children and the goings-on around Cherry Tree Lane. He is a song-and-dance man with oodles of charm who is wise beyond his years. Cast your strongest male singer, dancer, and actor in this role. George Banks Husband to Winifred and father to Jane and Michael, is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding "precision and order" in his household, he is a pip-and-slippers man who doesn't have much to do with his children and believes that Miss Andrew, his cruel, strict childhood nanny, gave him the perfect upbringing. George's emotional armor, however off-putting, conceals a sensitive soul. A baritone, George may speak-sing as necessary and should be among your strongest male actors and singers. Winifred Banks George's wife and Jane and Michael's mother. She is a loving homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband's social aspirations while striving to be a model wife and mother. Cast an actor who can portray a great warmth and depth of feeling. Winifred should have a pure vocal tone and be one of your stronger actors and singers. Jane Banks The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Banks, bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness. Cast a wonderful actor and a strong singer who can take the audience on an emotional journey. Michael Banks
The cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Excitable and naughty, he adores his father and longs desperately for his attention. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents. Michael should be a great actor and singer. Ideally, he reads onstage as younger than Jane. Mrs. Brill The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked, she s always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. She does not have to be a strong singer, but she should be a solid actor. Robertson Ay The houseboy to the Banks family. Forgetful and clumsy, he often bungles simple tasks. He doesn t do a lot of singing, but he should be a good comedic actor. Note: his last name is pronounced like eye. Mary Poppins Jane and Michael Banks s new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet very particular, and sometimes a little frightening, but she is always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. The role calls for an excellent singer and actor who should be able to move well. Since she carries a majority of the show, precision and diction are key. Ensemble Groups & Featured Roles All ensembles require group singing; featured roles require either solo singing or solo acting, or both. For each featured role, the pages showcasing the character's lines or vocals are listed. Ensemble & Featured Characters include: Katie Nanna, Park Strollers, Statues, Neleus, Bird Woman, Honeybees, Clerks, Miss Smythe, Chariman, Von Hussler, John Northbrook, Vagrants, Buskers, Passerby, Mrs. Corry, Customers, Miss Andrew, Kite Flyers, Chimney Sweeps, Policeman and the Messenger. Katie Nanna Katie Nanna is Jane and Michael s nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children. This role is perfect for a performer who is not quite ready for a larger role. Park Strollers
The Park Strollers are citizens of London who go from drab and dreary to bright and colorful as they get swept up in Mary Poppins s adventures in the park. Statues The Statues are stone sculptures. Thanks to Mary Poppins, these works of art come alive and dance with Bert and the Park Strollers. Neleus Neleus is a statue who, once brought to life by Mary Poppins, is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael. This role is a wonderful opportunity to feature one of the strong dancers in your ensemble. Vocal range top: Eb5 Vocal range bottom: Bb4 Bird Woman The Bird Woman is covered in a patchwork of old shawls, her pockets stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell the crumbs to Passersby, who ignore her as if she doesn t exist. While she should be a good singer, there can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the difficulties of her situation. Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: G3 Honeybees The Honeybees are conjured by Mary Poppins to help teach the children the benefits of A Spoonful of Sugar. These roles require good movers who can sing. Clerks The Clerks, like George, are employees at the bank. These roles require actors who can sing. Miss Smythe Miss Smythe is the bank Chairman s humorless secretary. This smaller role is great for a performer who is new to the stage. Chairman Chairman, the head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed shirt. He does not need to be a strong singer, but he should be a good actor with great stage presence.
Von Hussler Von Hussler is a businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. This is a great character role for a fantastic actor who can command the stage with pomposity. John Northbrook John Northbrook is an honest businessman seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. This is a great role for a good actor and solid singer who may not be ready to tackle a large part. Vagrants, Buskers, and Passerby Vagrants, Buskers, and Passerby are citizens of London passing by the cathedral during Feed the Birds. They can also be play the Park Strollers earlier in the show. Mrs. Corry Mrs. Corry owns a magical Talking Shop. She is a mysterious woman of indeterminate age, but has plenty of spirit and is sharp as a tack. Cast an excellent actor who s not afraid to be over the top in this fun role. Customers The Customers are bright, colorful British citizens visiting Mrs. Corry s Talking Shop. This group can be the same Park Strollers and Passersby from before. Miss Andrew Miss Andrew is George s overbearing and scary childhood nanny. With her bottle of nasty- tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things: her way. Cast one of your stronger singers in this featured role. Kite Flyers Kite Flyers consist of families flying kites in the park. They can also be comprised of the same ensemble members as the Park Strollers, the Passersby, and Mrs. Corry s Customers. Chimney Sweeps
Chimney Sweeps (including Sweep 1, Sweep 2, Sweep 3, and Sweep 4) are Bert s cheerful, friendly, and agile friends who keep London s chimneys in working order. These actors should be great dancers and good singers, capable of bringing the show-stopping number Step In Time to life. Policeman and the Messenger The Policeman, a neighborhood patrol officer, and the Messenger, who delivers a summons to George from the bank, are great roles for students new to the stage that might not be ready for a large role.