The Hartland Players
announce auditions for
WEST SIDE STORY
Based on Conception of : Jerome Robbins Book by: Arthur Laurents Lyrics by: Stephen Sondheim Music by: Leonard Bernstein
Based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Audition dates:
Monday & Tuesday, June 2 & 3 at 6:30 pm
in the Hartland Music Hall, 3619 Hartland Road, Hartland
Audition packets available at the
Cromaine Library, Crossroads and Main branches in Hartland.
Sunday, June 1-
by appointment only, if you are unable to attend on the above dates.
Call 517-548-7055 or micheljb@peoplepc.com
Performance dates:
August 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 2008
in the Hartland High School auditorium, 10635 Dunham Rd, Hartland
Choreographed by Karen Whittaker Directed by Bruce & Julie Michel
We are looking for a large cast of 14-28 year olds (15-20 males, 15 females) also 4 adult roles of any age (3 male, 1 female).Interested in crew? Crew forms will be available on audition dates.
Rehearsals:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 6:30 - 9:30pm. First Rehearsal - Monday,
June 9.
Possible dance rehearsals on weekday or Saturday morning depending on casts
availability.
Full cast may not be required to attend all rehearsals; schedules published 2
weeks in advance.
Crew Work Days: Friday 6 -10pm or Saturday 9am-2pm or Sunday 1- 4pm as needed. Crew will also be scheduled at rehearsals as needed.
ALL: you will need contact info as well as calendars with conflicts, work schedules, vacations, etc.
All conflicts from June 9 Aug 11, 2008 must be submitted on the audition form. If conflicts are known ahead of time we will try and accommodate.
CREW: a crew meeting will be held at 6:00pm, Monday, June 9. All interested crew members are encouraged to attend. We need backstage talent in all of the following areas. Light, Sound, Costume, Set, Props, Makeup, Publicity, House Manager, Stage Manager, Cast Manager, Music Performance Operator, Dance Captain.
CAST: pick up your audition packet containing forms, instructions, and songs at the Cromaine Library, Crossroads & Main branches, Hartland, Available after May 12, 2008. Please fill out forms prior to auditions.
Prepare the audition song as directed in the packet. Come prepared to show your musical ability, enthusiasm, charisma, energy level, and dedication through your performance.
Be prepared to demonstrate the ability to perform simple dance steps that you will learn during the audition. We are looking for vocal projection, vocal & facial expression, body language & movement, and story telling through your song and dance.
Audition song - Prepare to the best of your ability; this means vocally as well as dramatically.
Choose the song from those listed below that best suits your voice.
Jet Song
Cool
I Feel Pretty
A Boy Like That
Come prepared to show your musical ability, enthusiasm, charisma, energy level, and dedication through your audition performance. Memorization not required.
Audition dance - Be prepared to demonstrate the ability to perform simple dance steps that you will learn during the audition. Wear appropriate SHOES & clothing.
The script is available for perusal at the Cromaine Library, Crossroads & Main branches.
Questions? Call or email Bruce or Julie Michel at 517-548-7055 or micheljb@peoplepc.com.
The Cast
Jets
Riff - The intelligent yet slightly wacky current leader of the Jets. Type: lead Age Range: 15 22 Gender: male Voice Part: tenor/baritone Dancing: intense
Tony (Anton) - Riff's best friend and former Jet leader who has turned to an honest life; he falls in love with Maria. He is good-looking, self assured, and passionate. Type: lead Age Range:16 25 Gender: male Voice Part: tenor Dancing: medium
Action - A Jet who acts first and thinks later. Hot-tempered and bitter; takes over upon Riff's death. Type: supporting Age Range: 15 25 Gender: male Voice Part: baritone Dancing: intense
Diesel - The largest Jet and their best fighter, physically imposing. Second in command of the Jets; however, Action takes over after Riff dies. Type: supporting Age Range: 16 25 Gender: male Voice Part: baritone Dancing: intense
A-Rab - A Jet who is homeless with an alcoholic father. The Sharks jump him and pierce his ear in the prologue. Type: supporting Age Range: 14 22 Gender: male Voice Part: baritone Dancing: intense
Baby John - The youngest and least violent member of the Jets; biggest "scaredicat." Type: supporting Age Range: 14 19 Gender: male Voice Part: baritone Dancing: intense
Big Deal - A Jet Type: supporting Age Range: 16 25 Gender: male Voice Part: any Dancing: intense
Anybodys - A tomboy who wishes to be included in the gang but is rejected by the gang members . Type: supporting Age Range: 14 19 Gender: female Voice Part: any Dancing: medium
Snowboy - The comedian of the group. Type: cameo Age Range: 14 19 Gender: male Voice Part: baritone Dancing: intense.
Other Jets - Gee-tar, Mouth Piece, Tiger The "American" gang made up mostly of teenage dropouts from abusive homes. Type: chorus Age Range: 14 27 Gender: male Voice Part: all Dancing: intense
Graziella- A sexy, girly girl who has a way with the boys. Leader of Jet girls. Type: cameo Age Range: 15 23 Gender: female Voice Part: spoken Dancing: intense
Velma- Riff's girlfriend and Graziella's friend, youngest of the Jet girls and certainly not the sharpest tool in the shed. Type: cameo Age Range: 14 22 Gender: female Voice Part: spoken Dancing: intense
Pauline- A quick witted Jet girl with the fire to fight. Type: cameo Age Range: 14 22 Gender: female Voice Part: spoken Dancing: intense
Their Other Girls- Minnie, Clarice Type: chorus Age Range: 14 25 Gender: female Voice Part: spoken Dancing: intense
Sharks
Bernardo - The leader of
Puerto Rican gang, "The Sharks". He is Maria's brother and Anita's boyfriend.
On the surface, he is a seemingly cool character. But inside, he is
filled with passion and anger. Type: lead Age Range:
16 28 Gender: male Voice Part:
baritone Dancing: intense
Maria - The beautiful, younger sister of Bernardo who has recently arrived
from Puerto Rico. She is excited and enthusiastic, yet obedient; falls in love
with Tony. Type: lead
Age Range: 14 20 Gender: female
Voice Part: soprano Dancing: medium
Anita - Bernardo's intelligent, flashy and sexy girlfriend. Type: lead Age Range: 16 28 Gender: female Voice Part: mezzo- soprano/alto Dancing: intense
Chino - Bernardo's best friend and Maria's fianc้. He takes over Bernardo's leader position after the rumble. Quiet, intense, and angry. Type: supporting Age Range: 16 25 Gender: male Voice Part: any Dancing: intense
Pepe - Pepe is the youngest member of the Sharks. He has a big mouth which sometimes gets him into trouble. Type: cameo Age Range: 14 20 Gender: male Voice Part: any Dancing: intense
Consuela - Anita's cousin. She is the blonde bangled beauty of the bunch. Sings "Somewhere". Type: cameo Age Range: 15 25 Gender: female Voice Part: mezzo Dancing: intense
Rosalia - A Shark's girl who misses Puerto Rico. Not the most intelligent. Sings "America".Type: cameo Age Range: 14 25 Gender: female Voice Part: mezzo Dancing: intense
Other Sharks - Indio, Luis, Anxious, Nibbles, Juano, Toro, Moose. The Puerto Rican gang with members who are bitter from the difficulties of the assimilation process. Type: chorus Age Range: 16 27 Gender: male Voice Part: all Dancing: intense
Their Other Girls - Teresita, Francisca, Estella, Margarita Type: chorus Age Range: 14 25 Gender: female Voice Part: all Dancing: intense
Adults
Officer Krupke - A large, goon-like police officer in uniform; tries to prevent the gangs from feuding. Type: cameo Age Range: 26 45 Gender: male Voice Part: spoken Dancing: N/A
Doc - fatherly owner of the drugstore where the Jets and Sharks hang out; confidante to Tony. Type: supporting Age Range: 40 60 Gender: male Voice Part: spoken Dancing: N/A
Glad Hand - Local social worker; fidgety chaperone at the dance. Type: cameo Age Range: 30 55 Gender: male or female Voice Part: spoken Dancing: N/A
Lieutenant Schrank - Krupke's superior. He's a rather taunting cop that wants to rid the neighborhood of the two gangs. A ruthless, yet sometimes charming, plan clothes detective. Type: supporting Age Range: 40 60 Gender: male Voice Part: spoken Dancing: N/A
Set on Manhattan's Upper West Side, the musical, West Side Story, explores the rivalry between two teenage gangs of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The young protagonist, Anton ("Tony"), who belongs to the white gang, falls in love with Maria, the sister of the leader of the rival Puerto Rican gang. The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in American musical theater. Bernstein's score for the musical has become extremely popular; it includes "Something's Coming", "Maria", "America," "Somewhere," "Tonight", "Jet Song", "I Feel Pretty", "One Hand, One Heart", and "Cool".
When West Side Story opened, America was just waking up from its postwar slumber. Euphoria had given way to McCarthyism and bomb shelters. We were now living in an Age of Anxiety. The melting pot was boiling over (again). And teenagers, suddenly a market force to be reckoned with, were no longer content to speak only when spoken to. West Side Story's Dream Team took all that stress and strain and fashioned a work of art that may well live as long as Romeo and Juliet has, as long as there are tribes of youth blinded by love and hate.
In spite of its sadness West Side Story ends on a positive note with the idea that out of the violence and hatred a better society can be created in which different groups can live together.
For more information about West Side Story visit: http://www.mtishows.com/show_plot.asp?ID=000077