Yearly Archives: 2018

The Footlighters, Inc. announces auditions for Chicago The Musical

Book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins
Script adaptation by David Thompson

Directed by Bill Geraghty
Assistant Directed by Megan Horton
Vocal and Music Direction by Alan Masters
Choreography by Kyle Fisher
Produced by Freida Houck, Peggy Kenney, and Laura Petracco

Auditions:

• Monday, December 3rd 7-9:30pm
• Tuesday, December 4th 7-9:30pm

Callbacks: Wednesday, December 5th 7pm

The Stained Glass Theatre, 802 York Street, Newport KY 41011

Please bring 16-32 bars of two contrasting songs that show your vocal range. Please have your music marked with the 16-32 bars that you want to sing for each song in advance. If you start at the top of the song, the accompanist will be instructed to stop playing after 32 bars. An accompanist will be provided.  Please don’t audition with anything from Chicago. A dance combination will be a part of the initial audition after you have sung.

Click here to sign up for an audition slot:
https://m.signupgenius.com/?fbclid=IwAR2AEnHQx05iF2BYZQ9IH9BhAJmy3kHm22cwNJsjAbpTZhqA05ggjLLdj38#!/showSignUp/10c0448aeae2babfc1-auditions2

Performance dates: May 9-25, 2019

Synopsis:
Chicago is a dazzling and satirical look at fame, justice, and the media machine. Set in 1920’s Chicago and based on real-life murders and trials, Chicago follows Roxie Hart, a wannabe vaudevillian star who murders her lover and is arrested, despite her attempts to convince her pushover husband, Amos, to lie for her. In the Cook County Jail, Roxie meets her hero, the famed double-murderess and nightclub performer Velma Kelly. When both acquire the same lawyer, the greedy and lustful superstar, Billy Flynn, tensions come to a head as they vie for the spotlight– though instead of onstage, they’re mugging for the flashbulb of the newspaper reporters.

Character Breakdown:

• Roxie Hart: Age 25-40. Innocent, sexy, desperate, selfish. Roxie never thinks about the consequences of her actions before she says or does anything. Every move is selfish, every idea foolish, and yet she remains strangely sympathetic due to her childish nature. `Needs to be a strong actress, singer, and dancer. Mezzo-soprano.
• Velma Kelly: Age 25-45. Sarcastic, sexy, tough, funny. Velma is a former vaudeville performer. Guilty of killing her husband and sister after finding them together. Needs to be a strong actress, singer, and dancer. Alto.
• Billy Flynn: Age 35-60. Sexy, persuasive, manipulative, masculine. Billy is a suave, educated lawyer who can persuade anyone to do anything. He loves money. If the facts don’t suit his needs, he’ll simply change them. Needs to be a strong character actor who can sing and dance well. Baritone.
• Amos Hart: Age 30-50. Charming, funny, vulnerable, timid man. Amos is an average guy, not very good looking, not very smart. Manipulated easily, Amos is one of the only characters whose motives are entirely pure and never selfish. Strong character actor who can sing well. Baritone.
• Matron ‘‘Mama’’ Morton: Age 35-65. Sexy, funny, powerful and tough. The matron of the Cook County Jail who believes that all favors she gives should be reciprocated or paid for. Needs to be a strong actor/singer. Alto.
• Mary Sunshine: Any age. Looking for a male soprano or counter tenor who can sing legitimately up to a high B flat who must play a woman with the image of a good natured talk show hostess but is actually a high powered gossip columnist. Must be a good comedian. Soprano.

The rest of the cast is made up of the Female/Male Ensemble: Ages 18+. All people in the ensemble will play multiple roles. Looking for strong dancers, contortionists, and singers. Featured acting roles include:

• Hunyak: One of the Six Merry Murderesses of the Cook County Jail. Accused of chopping off her husband’s head. She is innocent, but because she only speaks Hungarian and refuses to plead guilty, she is hanged.
•  Liz: One of the Six Merry Murderesses of the Cook County Jail. Killed her husband with a shotgun because he ‘‘popped’’ his gum.
• Annie: One of the Six Merry Murderesses of the Cook County Jail. Found out her husband had several wives and killed him with Arsenic.
• June: One of the Six Merry Murderesses of the Cook County Jail. Killed husband with a knife after he found out she cheated on him.
• Mona: One of the Six Merry Murderesses of the Cook County Jail. Killed her boyfriend after she found out he was sleeping around.
• Go-to-Hell Kitty: Kills her boyfriend in her apartment after coming home and finding him with two girls. She is wealthy and goes crazy telling everyone to ‘‘go-to-Hell.’’
• Master of Ceremonies: This person is responsible for introducing all the ‘‘Vaudeville Acts.’’ Must have strong speaking ability, lots of energy and presence.
• Fred Casley: Sleeping with Roxie Hart and is shot and killed. Must play a ‘‘regular guy’’ in the first scene but play an overly dramatic version of himself in the courtroom scene.
• Sergeant Fogarty: Police detective who interviews Amos after Fred is murdered. Typical ‘‘Chicago’’ cop who has been through this kind of thing a lot.
• Aaron: Court appointed lawyer who tries to defend the Hunyak. Frustrated because he can’t understand her language and she refuses to plead guilty.
• Foreman: This person only has one line—however, he/she will play the part of all or half the jurors in the jurors’ box by switching chairs and swapping out hats and various disguises. Must have good comedic timing.
• Harrison: District Attorney who is prosecuting Roxie.
• Judge: Plays the judge in the courtroom scene.
• Tailor/Bailiff/Court Clerk/Doctor/Reporters, etc: These are small roles that will be played by members of the chorus.