WVPT CASTING INFORMATION

West Virginia Public Theatre (WVPT), a summer theater foundered by Executive Producer, Ron Iannone, is celebrating their 26th season. WVPT works under an AEA LOA (Letter of Agreement Contract) referenced to CORST (Council of Resident Stock Theaters) Our minimum Equity Salary last season was $464 per week—that figure is subject to yearly negotiations with Actors’ Equity. Typically, we average eight AEA contracts per show in various Principal-Chorus contract combinations. WVPT will hold Equity Principal and Chorus auditions in New York. As required by our contract with AEA, Equity Actors are given priority at all of our regional auditions. We ask that Equity Actors to kindly identify themselves when calling for an audition appointment.

We also hire non-union actors. These positions are paid and commensurate with experience. Housing is provided for all actors jobbed in. All non-union actors, unless considered a “local jobber”, must be members of the EMC (Equity Membership Candidate) program. For more information on Equity or the EMC program, you can visit the following website: http://www.actorsequity.org/membership/emc.asp

We accept pictures and resumes by e-mail at the following address: casting@wvpublictheatre.com. However, to secure an audition time for calls outside of New York, you must call the office at 304-291-4117. Pittsburgh audition appointments will be taken after February 8, 2010. Appointments for Morgantown a will be taken after March 29, 2010. New York auditions are not by appointment and subject to AEA audition guidelines.

Actors should prepare a short song selection. Actors who are not members of AEA should prepare 32 bars and be prepared to sing additional selections should they be asked. Music should be clearly marked. An accompanist will be provided.

Since we are casting seven productions, singing material from or similar to the shows for which you’d like to be considered is recommended.

Dancers should bring tap shoes.

2010 AUDITION SCHEDULE

2010 SEASON AND CASTING BREAKDOWN

HAIRSPRAY

Music: Marc Shaiman,
Lyrics: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman,
Book: Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan
Director: Michael Licata
Choreographer: Chris Saunders
Music Director: TBA
Rehearsals: June 14
Opens: June 22
Closes: June 27

ALL TEEN CHARACTERS SHOULD READ HIGH SCHOOL AND BE EQUALLY STRONG SINGER/DANCERS

Tracy Turnblad: Late teens. Attractive, pleasantly plump teen. Strong willed “rabble rouser” with a passion for dance and equality.

Edna Turnblad: 40’s (Played by a man) Tracy’s portly mother.

Penny PIngleton: Late teens. Tracy's supportive, somewhat dorky best friend

Link Larkin: Late teens. Handsome, teen heartthrob.

Corny Collins: Over thirty. Host of a 1960’s dance TV show.

Seaweed J. Stubbs: Late teens .Charismatic, African American dancer.

Amber Von Tussle: Late teens. Bratty, spoiled princess who aspires to be a teen beauty pageant queen

Velma Von Tussle: 40s’ Amber's scheming, pushy backstage mother who produces the Corny Collins TV show.

Wilbur: 40’s + Tracy's quirky father who owns a joke shop
Prudy Penny's prudish, fanatically strict mother

Motormouth Maybelle: 40’s +. Sassy African American lady who sings very well

Little Inez: Early teens. Seaweed's little sister

All other roles cast out of the ensemble.

ALWAYS PATSY CLINE

Written by Ted Swindley
Director: TBA
Music Director: RJ Nester
Rehearsals: June 21
Opens: June 29
Closes: July 4

LOUISE SEGER: Late 30’s to mid 40’s. Texas Divorcee and avid fan. Strong actress who sings very well.

PASTY CLINE: The legendary country singer. Vocal and physical similarity to Pasty Clone is required.

FORTY SECOND STREET

Music by HARRY WARREN
Lyrics by AL DUBIN
Book by MICHAEL STEWART & MARK BRAMBLE
Director: Bob Durkin
Choreographer: Laura West
Music Director: Brian Moats
Rehearsals: June 28
Opens: July 6
Closes: July 11

Julian Marsh: Late 30’s plus. Slick, director/producer. Sings wells

Maggie Jones: Late30’s plus. Half of the ”Pretty Lady” Writing team.. Sings and Dances

BERT BERRY: Late30’s plus. Other half of the ”Pretty Lady” Writing team. Sings and Dances

Dorothy Brock: Mid Thirties plus. Temperamental Musical Theater leading lady. Sings and Dances

Billy Lawlor: Late 20’s; Juvenile/Leading Man. Strong Dancer and Singer

Peggy Sawyer: Early 20’s. Wide eyed, naïve “just off the bus” ingénue. Strong Dancer and Singer

Pat Denning: 30’s Dorothy’s Boy Friend- Good looking leading man look.

Abner DILLON: 50’s + Dorothy’s rich Texas man friend

Other roles such as cast out of ensemble.

THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES

Book by Peter Stone
Music Composed and Arranged by Cy Coleman
Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Director: David S. Sollish
Choreographer: TBA
Music Director: TBA
Rehearsals: July 5
Opens: July 13
Closes: July 18

Will Rogers (Baritone): is played over a 30 year period, from his early 20’s to age 55. Engaging, compassionate man of integrity known for his down-to-earth humor and zest for living life. Must spin a lariat and play the guitar and harmonica. Must sing and move very well.

Betty Blake (Alto): Will’s wife of 25 + A striking beauty with a strong salt-of-the-earth, will. Must sing and move well.

Clem Rogers (Baritone): Plays 40s-70s. Will’s father – Strong comic sense. Sing and move well.

Ziegfeld’s Favorite (Belter): Beautiful Chorus girl of the Ziegfeld Follies. Must sing & dance very well.

Wiley Post (Speaking only): A fellow Oklahoman and friend of Will’s, famous for his two round-the-world flights. Will double as the Voice of Florenz Ziegfeld.

Vaudeville Specialist: Must be adeptly skilled at several specialty tricks including rope spinning, riding a unicycle, and juggling.

Ziegfeld Girls: The female ensemble of singers and dancers. Must tap. Play Will’s six sisters and Betty’s six sisters.

Cowboys: The male ensemble of singers and dancers. Must tap.

The Four Rogers Children - (Will Junior, Mary, James and Freddie) Must be able to play
ages 8-14. Must sing and move well.

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Director/Choreographer Chris Saunders
Music Director: Brian Moats
Rehearsals: July 12
Opens: July 27
Closes: July 25

NARRATOR: Energetic lady in her twenties strong belt/mix. ( Low B to High G)

JACOB / POTIPHAR (Low B to B)

JOSEPH: Wholesome Late teens (Tenor low B to F)

MRS. POTIPHAR / WIFE: Tall Leggy Dancer

PHAROAH (ELVIS) / ISHMAELITE

BROTHERS: (will also play Pharaoh’s Guards, Baker, Butler and other roles)

REUBEN- (oldest brother, “One More Angel”)

SIMEON – (second oldest, “Those Canaan Days”)

JUDAH – (fourth oldest, “Benjamin’s Calypso”)

LEVI, DAN, NAPHTALI, GAD, ASHER, ISSACHAR, ZEBULON, BENJAMIN (YOUNGEST)

WIVES: 5 plus MRS. POTIPHAR
 (Will also double as Mrs. Potiphar’s Servants, Pharoah’s Girls, etc. and the Hairy Ishmaelites)...

LOCAL CHILDRENS CHORUS

Carousel

Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics and Book by Oscar Hammerstein II
Director: Joe Deer
Choreographer: Teressa Wylie McWilliams
Music Director: RJ Nester
Rehearsals: July 19
Opens: July 27
Closes: Aug 1

Julie Jordan Lyric Soprano, (16 – 28)
Young, shy Mill girl. A modest but passionate innocent who follows her heart.

Billy Bigelow (Tenor/Baritone, 25 - 35)
Carousel barker. Handsome, virile, arrogant with a degree of vulnerability.

Carrie Pipperidge (Alto/Mezzo, 18 - 28)
Simple-minded, quirky, best friend of Julie. Sensible and loyal.

Enoch Snow (Tenor, 22 - 32)
Carrie's husband, a kindhearted and hardworking fisherman. Stuffy but sincere.

Nettie Fowler (Soprano/Mezzo, 40’s)
Julie's cousin. Provides a home for Julie & Billy. Weathered, earthy.

Jigger Craigin (Baritone, early thirties)
A sleazy criminal sailor who leads Billy astray

Louise (Non-Singing 16, major dance role - Strong ballet technique)

Billy and Julie's daughter. Endures the aftermath of her father's actions.

Mrs. Mullins (Non-Singing, 40’s)

Carousel owner. Jealous rejected lover of Billy.

David Bascombe (Non-Singing,50's)

Owner of the mill.

1st Heavenly Friend Non-Singing, 40’s +Brother Joshua.

Starkeeper (Non-Singing, 50+)

Enoch Snow, Jr (Non-Singing, 16 - 21, some dance) Carrie & Enoch's son.

THE FULL MONTY

Music: David Yazbek
Lyrics: David Yazbek
Book: Terrence McNally
Rehearsals: July 26
Opens: August 3
Closes: August 8
Director: Michael Licata
Choreographer: Liz Rossi
Music Director: Andrew Austin

DAVE BUKATINSKI: Unemployed, somewhat overweight, depressed worker. Sings well. Late thirties plus. Moves very well.

JERRY LUKOWSKI. Recently divorced, ringleader. Sings well. Age range is mid thirties. Moves very well.

ETHAN GIRARD: Kind, gentle, unemployed worker. A closeted gay man in the. Sings well. Late twenties. Moves very well.

MALCOLM MACGREGOR: Working as a security guard and living with his mother. Also a gay man in the closet. Sings and moves well. Early thirties.

NOAH SIMMONS: African American. Sings and moves well. Late 40’s plus.

BUDDY WALSH: Handsome well built male stripper. Dances. Mid to late twenties.

HAROLD NICHOLS: Former supervisor at the plant with a knack for dancing. Sings and dances well. Late thirties plus.

GEORGIE BUKATINSKY. Dave’s wife who is struggling to deal with his depression. Sings very well. Thirties.

JEANETTE BURMEISER: The rehearsal pianist. Spunky character actress who sings. 60’s plus

PAM LUKOWSKI. Jerry’s ex-wife. Sings very well. Late twenties/early thirties.

VICKY NICHOLS. Harold’s wife. Sings and dances well.

ESTELLE GENOVESE. Jerry’s somewhat loose girlfriend. Sings and moves well.

NATHAN LUKOWSKI. Jerry’s son. Strong actor around 12 years old.

Other roles will be cast out of the ensemble.