proudly announces the production of A Spoonful of Magic ADULT AUDITION PACK Blenheim Musical Theatre brings everyone s favourite practically perfect nanny to the stage in this supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical adventure. 20 April to 5 May 2018 Mary Poppins is an enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breath-taking dance numbers, and astonishing stagecraft. Based on the stories by P.L. Travers, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh s Mary Poppins delighted Broadway audiences for over 2,500 performances and received nominations for nine Olivier and seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Music and Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Book: Julian Fellowes. AUDITIONS Personnel Director: Duncan Whiting Choreographer: Jeannie Mark Musical Director: Kevin Moseley Vocal Director: TBA
INFORMATION EVENING An Adult pre-audition evening will be held at the BMT Rooms, 81a Lakings Road, Blenheim on 15 August 2017 at 7:30pm. Come along and get answers to your questions and hear about how the auditions will run and rehearsal expectations. AUDITION FORMAT Auditions will be held over the weekend of Friday 25 August to Sunday 27 August 2017 at BMT rooms, 81a Lakings Road, Blenheim. On the day please arrive at least 5 minutes prior to your audition to allow time for administration. You need to be 16 years or over to audition for Adult roles. All auditionees must bring their completed audition form with them along with a recent picture attached. Download the audition form from our website www.bmt.net.nz. If you are preparing a song of your own choosing, it does NOT have to be from Mary Poppins. Please consider the style of the show and the character(s) you are auditioning for when choosing your song. The song is to show your vocal range and ability. There will be a pianist available at the auditions. You are to bring sheet music (not chord chart) for the pianist. You can provide your own pianist if preferred. You can sing from a backing track if preferred but it must be backing only. There will be an audition panel of approximately four people, plus the pianist. Your audition may be videoed. All roles being offered for audition are on an unpaid basis. If unable to make the audition, please phone to either cancel or arrange another time.
AUDITION APPOINTMENTS Please ensure you book a time for your audition. Audition appointments can be made by emailing or phoning the Production Manager Neville Patchett at thepatchetts@xtra.co.nz or mobile 027 579 4880. Principals - Friday 25 August from 6:30pm Principals and Ensemble - Saturday 26 August from 10am Ensemble and Backing Vocals - Saturday 26 August from 1pm Dance Workshop - Saturday 26 August from 4pm Recalls - Sunday 27 August from 10am and 1.30pm Principals and Ensemble please be available, if required, to attend the dance workshop on Saturday 26 August from 4pm. You will be advised after your audition if you are required. If you are auditioning for Mary Poppins, Bert or Mrs. Banks, once you have made your audition appointment, if you request it, we will email you the sheet music for your audition. Sheet music for these songs are available for purchase on the net if you require the music earlier. REHEARSALS Rehearsals will be held at the BMT rooms at 81a Lakings Road, Blenheim, the exact days of the week will be advised in due course. The first cast get together will be before Christmas, date to be advised. The rehearsal schedule may change from time to time and additional rehearsals may be scheduled if the Production Team feels that they are required. PRIOR COMMITMENTS This section of the audition form must be completed and signed by every auditionee prior to auditioning. Please list any commitments you will have during the rehearsal period. RECALLS Recalls (if needed) will be held on Sunday 27 August from 10am. Please be prepared for the possibility of a recall. Getting a recall does not guarantee a role. Likewise, you may be cast even if you are not recalled. CASTING NOTIFICATIONS Notification of your audition result will be made via email. Please expect a minimum of two weeks after auditions before these notifications are sent.
PRINCIPAL ROLES 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 always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. She should be able to move well. 20-35 yrs old Gb3-C6 Practically Perfect and/or song of own choice BERT The narrator of the story and a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including hurdygurdy player, sidewalk artist, and chimney sweep. Bert watches over the children as well as the goings on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent, and is a song-and-dance-man. 25-35 yrs old B2-F#4 Chim Chim Cher-ee and/or song of own choice GEORGE BANKS The father to Jane and Michael Banks. He is a banker to the very fibre of his being. Demanding precision and order in his household, he is a pipe-and-slippers man who doesn t have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armour, however, conceals a sensitive soul. 40-45 yrs old Bb2-Eb4 Own choice WINIFRED BANKS George s wife and Jane and Michael s mother. A former actress, she is a loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband s desire to only associate with the best people as well as be a model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she s not up to the job of being Mrs. Banks, yet, she is, and more. She has a great warmth and simplicity to her tone. 30-40 yrs old A3-D5 Being Mrs. Banks FEATURED ROLES MRS. BRILL The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harassed, she s always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn t have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular. F#3-D#5 Own Choice ROBERTSON AY The houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy, and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. 20-30 yrs old F3-G#4 Own Choice BIRD WOMAN Covered in a patchwork of old shawls, her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs for the birds to passers-by, who ignore her as if she doesn t exist. She has a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life. Gb3-C5 Own Choice MISS ANDREW George s overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nastytasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things - her way. 40-60 yrs old Gb3-F5 Own Choice ADMIRAL BOOM A retired Royal Navy man and neighbour of the Banks family. A physically large man with a loud and booming voice, he speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbour, Miss Lark. Any Own Choice BANK CHAIRMAN The head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed. He is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt. C3-D4 Own Choice
ENSEMBLE ROLES ENSEMBLE s x10 s x 10 Required to prepare a song of their own choice. Dance training an advantage especially tap. There are a number of smaller roles and solos to be played by members of the ensemble e.g. Valentine and other Toys, Chimney Sweeps (played by male and female), Park-goers. Not all ensemble will dance. The ensemble will double as some of the following specialty roles. SPECIALTY ROLES Neleus 1x male ballet dancer to play the role of Neleus. Must have classical trainning. This role is primarily dance but also has dialogue and a little solo singing. Statues 2x female statues. Katie Nanna The last in a long line of nannies for the Banks children before Mary Poppins arrives, she is overwhelmed and upset and has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children. She will speak with a Cockney accent. Will double as ensemble. 20-40 yrs old Speaking role Mrs. Corry Owns a magical gingerbread letter shop which has been around for a long, long time. She is a mysterious and larger-than-life woman who is of no real place or time and appears ageless. May double as ensemble. 25+ yrs old D4-C5 Mezzo Soprano or Alto Policeman A neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of households on his beat. Will double as ensemble. He will speak with a Cockney accent. 30-50 yrs old Speaking role Park Keeper Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations.. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood. He will speak with a Cockney accent. May double as ensemble. 20+ yrs old Speaking role Von Hussler A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent. Will double as ensemble. 30-50 yrs old C3-D4 Baritone John Northbrook An honest business man seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. He speaks with an accent from Northern England. Will double as ensemble. 30-50 yrs old C3-D4 Baritone BACKING VOCALS We are looking for a strong group of approximately 12 backing vocalists as vocal support for the on-stage company. This will be a mix of both male and female. Backing vocalists do not appear on stage.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE DAY DATE TIME # Friday 20 April 7;30pm 1 Saturday 21 April 2.00pm 2 Saturday 21 April 7.30pm 3 Sunday 22 April 2.00pm 4 Monday 23 April No show Tuesday 24 April 7.30pm 5 Wednesday 25 April 7.30pm 6 Thursday 26 April 7.30pm 7 Friday 27 April 7.30pm 8 Saturday 28 April 2.00pm 9 Saturday 28 April 7.30pm 10 Sunday 29 April 2.00pm 11 Monday 30 April No show Tuesday 01 May 7.30pm 12 Wednesday 02 May 7.30pm 13 Thursday 03 May 7.30pm 14 Friday 04 May 7.30pm 15 Saturday 05 May 2.00pm 16 Saturday 05 May 7.30pm 17