Monthly Archives: February 2015

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER, the Broadway Musical
Audition Information

Audition Dates/Times:

• Saturday March 21, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
• Monday March 23, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Tuesday March 24, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Please go to BartsBards.org to download the audition form to bring with you to the auditions.

Location:

The Disciples Room (above the Gymnasium) of the Fr. William F. Krumpe Activity Center (KAC)  at
St. Bartholomew Church
9375 Winton Rd.
Cincinnati, OH  45231

Enter via the front doors of The Fr. Wm. Krumpe Activity Center (KAC). Make an immediate left in the Disciples Room.

Anyone aged 6 years of age to 100 years of age are encouraged to audition! Be prepared to sing no more than 32 bars of a song that showcases your abilities (No songs from the show). Your song may be cut shorter than 32 bars. Bring sheet music for accompanist; CD’s are ok. Be prepared to dance a few basic steps and to do a cold reading with others who are auditioning. Quick headshots and measurements will be taken at the time of audition. Auditions will be closed, meaning no friends, family or parents in the audition room. Any questions? Please contact Richard Waldeck at  tomsawyerdirectorbartsbards@gmail.com

Or please visit BartsBards.org

Performance Dates: June 18, 19, 20 & 21st  2015

Production Staff:
Richard Waldeck – Director
Jessica Steuver – Music Director

Characters:
AUNT POLLY
Tom’s Aunt. She tries to discipline and keep him in line but is at her wit’s end. Ever so patient, she loves both Tom and Sid and does her best to single-handedly take care of them both.
Female, 40-50 yrs old
Range: E3 – E5

BECKY THATCHER
An utterly beautiful woman. Bright, smart, youthful, and funny. She is the new girl in town and falls for Tom instantly.
Female, 12-15 yrs old
Range: B3 – F5

BEN ROGERS
The ringleader of Tom’s classmates. He is not as mischievous as Tom, but still a typical boy on the verge of manhood. Slightly jealous of Tom in an idolizing manner.
Male, 12-15 yrs old
Range: B3 – A5

DOC ROBINSON
A pompous, unpleasant man with a chip on his shoulder. He is bossy, thieving, and impatient. An all around “bad guy.”
Male, 45-55 yrs old
Range: E4 – F5
ENSEMBLE FRIENDS
(JOE, GEORGE, LYLE, ALFRED); SCHOOLMATES (AMY LAWRENCE, LUCY HARPER, SABRINA TEMPLE, SUSIE ROGERS); TOWNSMEN

HUCKLEBERRY FINN
Tom’s best friend. He is stubborn, loyal, proud, and good-natured. Lives a life of free will and enjoys it that way.
Male, 12-15 yrs old
Range: C4 – A5

INJUN JOE
A proud, bitter, downtrodden man whose sharp face and hollow cheeks makes him look like death himself. Half Indian and half white, he has been treated with contempt his whole life. He now has a heart as black as wood smoke.
Male, 40-50 yrs old
Range: D4 – E5

JUDGE JOSIAH THATCHER
Becky’s father. A widower trying to raise a girl as best he can. He is handsome and craggy.
Male, 40-50 yrs old
Range: A3 – F5

LEMUEL DOBBINS
The schoolmaster and village demagogue. Prides himself on being strict but has a soft, poetic side as well.
Male, 25-45 yrs old
Range: B3 – E5

MUFF PORTER
A vagrant and derelict drunk. Not a bad man, he just doesn’t have the backbone to say no when others lead him astray.
Male, 60-70 yrs old
Range: D4 – E5

REVEREND JOSHUA SPRAGUE
Eagle-eyed and severe. He is the village Reverend. Stately and poised preaching with a ‘fire and brimstone’ mindset, full of passion and verve.
Male, 40-50 yrs old
Range: B3 – E5

SIDNEY SAWYER
Tom’s half-brother and an insufferable goody-goody who dislikes Tom and does everything he can to get him into trouble.
Male, 10-13 yrs old
Range: E4 – A5

TOM SAWYER
Our story’s title character. A boy on the verge of manhood full of mischief and hope, suffering greatly from the pangs of growing up. He very likable, intelligent, intuitive and carefree.
Male, 12-14 yrs old
Range: A3 – A5

WIDOW DOUGLAS
A pretty, older woman of some wealth. Kind-hearted and giving, she offers Huck a home with a bed and cooked meals.
Female, 60-70 yrs old
Range: A3 – E5

Overview:
The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer is the irresistible story of a fourteen-year-old boy growing up in the heartland of America based on the classic novel. Filled with foot-stomping, toe-tapping songs by Don Schlitz (“The Gambler”) and a book by Ken Ludwig, this musical adventure is a tale of thrilling escapes, comedy and inspiration for the whole family.Set in 1840 Missouri, The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer is the tale of young Tom Sawyer and the never ending mischief of which he so often finds himself a part of; whether it’s matching wits with Aunt Polly, tricking his friends into white-washing a fence for him, or narrowly escaping the clutches of a murderous villain. Along with best friend Huckleberry Finn and love interest Becky Thatcher, the greatest Tom Sawyer exploits are plucked from the book and plopped on the stage.Aside from having one of the most recognizable titles from literary history, The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer is a superb family-friendly show.

Synopsis:
ACT ONE
The curtain rises on Tom Sawyer happily fishing in a meadow outside St. Petersburg, Missouri in 1840. When his friends arrive, Tom, the obvious leader, joins them in a game of Robin Hood. Tom’s strict, but kindly, Aunt Polly sends him off to school – where he tricks the schoolmaster, Mr. Dobbins, into letting the class have the day off. Aunt Polly, Mr. Dobbins and the preacher, Reverend Sprague lament what a rascal he is, but they will try their best with him all the same (“Hey Tom Sawyer”).The next morning, Aunt Polly orders Tom to whitewash the fence in front of their house. Tom’s half-brother, Sid, an insufferable goody-goody, couldn’t be happier about Tom’s punishment. Frustrated, Tom plans to run away some day and have adventures (“Here’s My Plan”). As Tom procrastinates, Becky Thatcher, a beautiful newcomer to St. Petersburg, walks past his house. They’re instantly attracted to each other. She is Judge Thatcher’s only daughter; when he and Aunt Polly establish they are both raising children alone, they bond. Then, Tom’s best friend in the world arrives: Huckleberry Finn, the town outcast. When Huck comments that painting the fence looks like fun, Tom gets an idea. Moments later, Tom tricks his schoolmates into painting the fence for him – and gets them to pay him for the privilege (“Smart Like That”)!That night, Tom and Huck go on an adventure and visit the local graveyard. Huck has told Tom that he can get rid of warts by swinging a cat in a graveyard. Hidden behind a gravestone, the boys see Injun Joe, a troublemaker, Doc Robinson, and local vagrant, Muff Potter, digging up a grave. Injun Joe and Doc Robinson get in a fight over how much Doc is paying them (“Hands All Clean”). In the fight Muff gets knocked unconscious. Injun Joe murders Doc Robinson with Muff’s knife. Tom and Huck have witnessed the entire thing.The boys run off. Tom wants to tell someone, but Huck convinces him that Injun Joe will come after them if they do. They swear in blood to keep mum forever about the bloody deed (“The Vow”). Meanwhile, Injun Joe convinces Muff that he killed Doc and Injun Joe agrees to help Muff in exchange for half of Murrell’s gold. Muff has a treasure map leading to the gold and agrees.The next morning, on the way to church, Aunt Polly and Judge Thatcher, both single parents, commiserate about raising children on their own (“Raising A Child”). Later that day, in church, Tom tries to impress Becky Thatcher by tricking Reverend Sprague into awarding him the coveted Bible Prize, much to Sid’s dismay (“It’s In The Bible”).On the way to school the next day, Tom tries to convince Huck to learn to read, but Huck is afraid. A few minutes later, Huck saves kindly old Widow Douglas from the advances of the town drunk – his father. In gratitude, she also offers to teach Huck how to read. She even offers him her home as a place to live. Huck declines (“It Just Ain’t Me”). In school that day, Tom saves Becky from getting into trouble. Moments later, they declare their undying love for each other. Tom says they should become ‘engaged’ and she agrees (“To Hear You Say My Name”).A few days later, Muff Potter is arrested for murder. Muff doesn’t realize that Injun Joe has framed him, and he pleads with Joe to save him from hanging. Joe says he’ll help, as long as he gets the gold. Muff gives him the map (“Murrell’s Gold”). As Muff is taken to jail, Tom faces a terrible choice: should he tell the truth about the murder and save Muff Potter thereby incurring the wrath of Injun Joe? Or should he keep his vow to Huck and let Muff hang (“Murrell’s Gold Reprise”)?At the trial, Injun Joe sells Muff out and testifies that he saw Muff kill Doc Robinson. Then, Tom takes the stand. He tells the truth and swears that Injun Joe committed the murder. Huck, inspired by Tom’s honesty, admits that he, too, saw the crime. Injun Joe springs from his seat and threatens Tom. He throws a knife at him, then races from the courtroom amid a hale of gunfire (“The Testimony”).

ACT TWO
A few weeks later, school is dismissed for the summer and the children and their parents celebrate (“Ain’t Life Fine”). Tom, however, is on edge. He cancels his plan to go to the picnic with Becky, and she gets upset with him – threatening to go with Joe Harper instead. They have a fight and end their ‘engagement.’ That night, in his bedroom, Tom tells Aunt Polly he isn’t going to the picnic. Aunt Polly assures Tom that Injun Joe is in Mexico and tells him to go to bed; she puts him to sleep with a lullaby (“This Time Tomorrow”). Tom has a terrifying nightmare about Injun Joe, much to Sid’s delight. Aunt Polly comforts him and puts him back to bed (“This Time Tomorrow – Reprise”). The next morning, after weeks of secret tutoring by Widow Douglas, Huck at last learns how to read. He and the Widow celebrate (“I Can Read!”).Everyone arrives at the annual town picnic. The festivities begin with the exploration of McDougal’s Cave, a cavern of frightening size and darkness. As the townsfolk head for the cave, we learn that Injun Joe is back in town. He, too, is going into the cave to find Murrell’s Gold (“Murrell’s Gold – Reprise”). Tom and Becky have been paired as Cave exploring partners, much to their chagrin. However, as they explore the caves, they make up. The bell rings for them to go back to the surface, and Tom and Becky realize that they are lost. Aunt Polly and Judge Thatcher are frantic, and they and the rest of the town begin searching for the two children (“Angels Lost”).Underground, Tom and Becky desperately try to find a way out of the cave. Becky is very scared, but Tom urges her to stay positive and promises they’ll get out (“Light”). Tom leaves Becky alone for a moment, trying to find a way out; she prays (“Angels Lost – Reprise”). Injun Joe springs from a passage and grabs her, demanding to know where Tom is. Suddenly, Tom jumps out from behind a rock and a moment later, Huck shows up. With great courage, the three friends battle Injun Joe and defeat him. Tom and Becky then find Murrell’s Gold. It is a vast treasure of gold coins. They realize that Huck is badly hurt; this is especially problematic, as Huck is the one who knows the way out. Just then, Tom sees a ray of daylight shining through a crack in the wall. Exhausted, they manage to get Huck to his feet and they all crawl out of the cave, safe at last, with gold in tow.The next day, the people of St. Petersburg are holding a funeral service for the lost children (“Light – Reprise”). During the service, Tom, Huck and Becky limp into town. They peek into the church – and realize that they’re watching their own funeral! They sneak into the church and watch all the nice things being said about them. Reverend Sprague discovers the children in the pew, and the town goes wild with happiness. Aunt Polly is overjoyed to have Tom back. Sid is not. In the final moments of the play, Huck reveals to Tom that he’s learned how to read, and the two friends run off to celebrate with the rest of the town (“Finale”).