THOMPSON HOUSE ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS FOR WORLD PREMIERE OF LOCAL NEW MUSICAL
NEWPORT (KY.) – Thompson House Newport – Cincinnati’s live music and creative hub – is proud to present the new musical VARIABLES Feb. 21, 23, 28 and March 2, 2013.
Open auditions for the world premiere production take place from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, and from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, in the Heaven Lounge at Thompson House, 24 E. 3rd Street Newport. Write markdmotz@gmail.com to schedule an audition time.
A brief show summary, character breakdown and vocal ranges for the characters are attached with this release. Prospective cast members should prepare 16 bars of a contemporary musical theater song (bring your sheet music; a pianist will be provided for the music auditions; no prerecorded accompaniment or a capella auditions), a 30-second monologue and a joke (no knock-knocks). Be prepared to do group and individual improvisations, as well as readings from the script.
VARIABLES is the rock musical story of five friends out for a night on the town, whose evening is interrupted by some disturbing news. Local composer Jered S. Ryan conceived the comic story with deeper undertones and wrote the score; Mark D. Motz wrote the book and lyrics. VARIABLES is their first collaboration.
VARIABLES is also the first time Thompson House ventures into producing an original theatrical work.
“This is a great fit for us,” said Cathy Creason, artistic director. “We’re committed to the local arts community and have a lot of different venues – all under one roof – available to make Thompson House a place where the public and artists alike can find a home.”
“We’re very excited to work with Thompson House to get this show on its feet,” Ryan said. “They’ve been extremely generous and supportive.”
“Having the opportunity to take something out of your head and put it on an actual stage is what everybody who writes a show dreams,” Motz said. “This opportunity is priceless.”
“This is the direction Thompson House wants to take,” said Kirt D. Lee, Thompson House operations partner. “We want to be known as a leader in the Greater Cincinnati arts community and fostering fresh talent is a big part of that. We want this production to be the first in an ongoing series of new shows we can help develop and launch.
“Whether it’s theater, music, visual art, film or poetry, we want people to have an opportunity to express themselves in a variety of ways.”
For more information on Thompson House Newport, please visit www.thompsonhousenewport.com.
VARIABLES (A New Musical)
Music by Jered S. Ryan, Book and Lyrics by Mark D. Motz
OVERVIEW
VARIABLES is the story of five good friends out for a night drinking, talking, hanging out, being guys. Nothing earth shattering, but something both entertaining and revealing, a window into one night out with the boys.
The story is pretty simple. STEVE is out for a night with his friends MICHAEL, NEIL, BRENT and ULYSSES. He wants to tell them about his dad, who is sick and probably dying. All the guys place Steve’s dad on a pedestal, but Steve and his dad have some unresolved issues. While Steve usually is the one the guys go to for advice or help, tonight he needs them. However, as is often the case, the boys just want to be boys when they’re together and don’t give Steve much of a chance to talk.
The other main character is NATALIE, the bartender, who has a very good ear and sharp tongue, both necessities in her profession.
The book of the show advances in quick – occasionally caustic – banter. The score is rock and pop, featuring a number of opportunities for solo and group singing.
The title VARIABLES alludes to all the different things that can go on in a seemingly normal night out with the guys. While it’s mostly a good time, a lot is bubbling beneath the surface with each of the main characters. How they approach their issues tonight would almost certainly be different the next night, two months from now or a year later. Not all the questions will be answered, though there is resolution for some of the guys. We want you to be entertained, but to think a little, too, wonder what happens the next day with these guys. What will their next meeting as a group be like? What’s the next chapter?
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION, VOCAL RANGES
All the principle guys are life-long friends, ages late 20s to early 40s. Ideally the five principal men will look roughly the same age. Seeking actors with strong improvisational skills and singing voices. Some stylized movement required, but no traditional choreography.
STEVE – The dependable one, the glue for the group. He’s the one who brings them together, who the other guys go to for advice when they have serious issues. His central conflict is with his father, a guy all the others love and admire, though they don’t know he was less than perfect behind closed doors with Steve and his mother. Steve spends much of the night trying to tell the guys his father is ill and likely dying. He wrestles with the idea he and his dad are too much alike for his taste. Rock tenor – A-flat
MICHAEL – The player. Good looking. He has money and doesn’t mind spending it on cars and clothes and women, with whom he has been legendarily successful. That said, he has no interest in or ability to keep any kind of real relationships, to a certain extent even with these best friends. Pure narcissist. Rock tenor – High A
NEIL – Sickeningly happy about being married, but otherwise mostly without ambition. He’s a dreamer without the wherewithal to follow through on any of his grand plans, despite being bright and capable. He knows he’s half a fraud and is afraid others know it, too. But at the end of the day he can give up on the finer things he dreams about in favor of love. Baritone – E
BRENT – Never left the frat house. The first to buy a round, but also to pass out or get arrested. Has addictive problems. He makes the easy choice, follows the path of least resistance. Has had a series of jobs, but never a career. He’s ultimately lonely and looking for something to fill the void. Baritone – F
ULYSSES – Unhappily married, working on questions of fidelity, fatherhood, boredom. Looks up to/envies Michael. Looks at Neil and sees nothing familiar to his life. Very much a follower and goes whichever way the wind blows. Rock tenor – High B
NATALIE – The bartender. Not quite omniscient, but a very quick study of group and individual behavior. Can hold her own – and then some – in bantering with the guys. Relates with Michael and helps him sort through his issues. A keen observer and commentator. Mezzo soprano – E
COMPANY – A few men and women in and around the bar; the women have a few lines and all will serve as periodic backup singers. All vocal ranges.
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